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4 June 2026

Degree apprenticeships a ‘concern’, says skills minister

The skills minister has highlighted the “risks” associated with degree apprenticeships after her predecessor evangelised about how they are his “two favourite words”. Anne Milton and Robert Halfon engaged in a heated exchange about the high level qualifications during a fringe event at the Conservative party conference. Mr Halfon, now chair of the education select […]

Crisis-hit 3aaa up for quick sale – with government support

Beleaguered apprenticeship giant Aspire Achieve Advance has put itself up for sale with the government’s backing. The decision has been made following a suspension on its recruitment while an Education and Skills Funding Agency investigation is carried out into the company’s achievement rates. It is the second government investigation into the provider in the last […]

Dame Asha quits West Notts college amid financial crisis

The principal of a high-profile college in financial crisis has resigned with immediate effect, FE Week can reveal. Dame Asha Khemka (pictured), who is one of the highest paid FE leaders in the country, stepped down from the top post at West Nottinghamshire College following a “special meeting of the board of governors”. It was […]

EuroSkills 2018: Russia tops medal table

The Russian Federation reigned supreme at EuroSkills 2018 after their team claimed nine golds, eight silvers, two bronzes and 10 medallions of excellence in Budapest. Following up in second place was Austria while France finished third (full table below). Russia, which is hosting next year’s WorldSkills competition in Kazan, took 37 young people to compete […]

EuroSkills 2018: ‘Awesome’ finish to competitions for Team UK

It’s been a tiring and testing week but Team UK are feeling “amazing” and “awesome” to have today finished competitions at EuroSkills 2018. Hairdressing competitor Gavin Jon Kyte, who works and trains at Reds Hair Company in Herefordshire, had huge support from friends and family throughout his journey in Budapest. “I didn’t even know my […]

You beauty! Team UK wins gold at EuroSkills 2018

Team UK is celebrating tonight after competitors bagged one gold and three bronze medals to retain its top-10 position at EuroSkills. The team finished in ninth place overall when these successes were combined with its medallion of excellence haul of seven. Picking up Team UK’s gold was Holly-Mae Cotterell (pictured), who was voted Europe’s best […]

EuroSkills 2018 Budapest: watch the closing ceremony LIVE

The 10th EuroSkills will draw to a close tonight after 28 countries completed three gruelling days of competition. A closing and awards ceremony will be streamed live from Budapest from 6.30pm BST and finish at 8.30pm where we will find out how Team UK performed. Representing the UK was 22 young trades people who competed […]

Revealed: DfE damning investigation into 3aaa

Crisis-hit Aspire Achieve Advance was given a £7 million apprenticeships contract increase two years ago despite an investigation that found dozens of funding and success rate “overclaims”, FE Week can reveal. In recent weeks the apprenticeship giant has come under heavy scrutiny after its co-founders resigned and the Education and Skills Funding Agency suspended it […]

EuroSkills 2018: FE grandees fly out to support Team UK

Two grandees of the FE sector landed in Budapest today to witness “the best of the best” and cheer on Team UK at EuroSkills 2018. Sir Gerry Berragan, chief executive of the Institute for Apprenticeships, and Sue Husband, the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s director of employer engagement, touched down in Hungary this morning to […]