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13 April 2026

Author: Billy Camden

WATCH: Debate on why diversity and inclusion is critical for the future success of UK businesses

This morning on the last day of FE Week’s Annual Apprenticeship Conference a panel debated the “inclusion revolution” and why diversity and inclusion is critical for the future success of UK businesses. Watch the session, which featured comedian and ‘the guilty feminist’ podcaster Deobrah Frances-White, below. Debate title: The inclusion revolution | Why diversity and […]

Let’s not undermine a much-needed and loved institution

The triple whammy facing the much-loved Northern College can be avoided, writes Sue Pember, a former DfE director who now leads adult education membership body HOLEX Northern College has been a beacon in the world of adult education and a forerunner in what we know is a fantastic way to kickstart career change – one […]

Plans to limit apprenticeship providers by sectors move forward

The Education and Skills Funding Agency has moved a step closer to limiting apprenticeship providers’ delivery to the sectors they have experience in. Under new conditions published last week for the refreshed register of apprenticeship training providers, providers must prove their “experience of managing and delivering training to learners and are established within the sectors […]

Crawley College evacuated following suspected shooting

Staff and students have been evacuated from Crawley College after a suspected shooting near its campus. Two people have been injured and a man has been detained after gunshots were reported this afternoon, according to the police. A statement released by Sussex police said: “We have responded to reports of gunshot fire near Crawley College. […]

Minister orders investigation into ‘astonishing’ apprenticeship drop-out rate

The skills minister has ordered an investigation into the “astonishingly” high drop-out rate for apprenticeship standards. Official government data published in March showed that just 60.2 per cent of apprentices training on new-style standards stayed on their programme until the end in 2019/20. This figure sat at 48.3 per cent the year before. The retention […]

Chartered Institution for Further Education relaunches

“If you are funded by government, you can’t use your voice in the same way, you’re influenced in a certain way,” says deputy chair Dawn Ward as she describes the “importance” of the Chartered Institution for Further Education (CIFE) becoming independent. Supported by former skills minister John Hayes in 2013 to grant chartered status to […]

Fastest growing apprenticeship provider goes bust amid ESFA investigation

England’s fastest growing apprenticeship provider has gone bust amid a government investigation into the speed and scale of its recruitment. Logistics.com (UK) Ltd filed for insolvency last month with close to £1 million debts, after the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) banned new apprenticeship starts and stopped making monthly payments in November. The company […]

Sadiq Khan slams mayoral exclusion from local skills improvement plan pilots

Sadiq Khan has slammed the government for cutting mayoral authorities out from leading new local skills improvement plan (LSIPs) pilots. Employer representative bodies were this week asked to come forward to spearhead trials of the policy that are central to the FE white paper reforms. The plans will aim to make colleges align the courses […]