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13 May 2026

Author: FE Week Reporter

Looking forward to the Richard Review

David Way is interviewed by Chris Henwood in the mobile newsroom on the top floor of the Hyatt Birmingham Employers should be given greater ownership of the apprenticeship system, according to National Apprenticeship Service chief executive David Way. He spoke to FE Week at the Association of Colleges conference, in Birmingham, where he offered a […]

FE Week’s glitzy auction in aid of HKF

An FE Week charity auction night held in the grand setting of Birmingham’s Grade II-listed Council House raised at least £5,500 for the Helena Kennedy Foundation. More than 100 guests attended the event on Tuesday, November 20, including National Institute of Adult Continuing Education chief executive David Hughes and Learning and Skills Improvement Service chair […]

Employer ownership criticised as ‘top-slicing’

An FE leader blasted new training incentives for businesses worth £150m as “top slicing” funds from the adult skills budget. Maggie Galliers, president of the Association of Colleges (AoC), was speaking at this year’s annual AoC conference where FE Minister Matthew Hancock announced the cash pot for businesses to help “build a skilled workforce”. During […]

Functional skills funding to double

The FE Minister has pledged to double the amount of money available for adult English and maths skills branding it a “scandal”many Britons “couldn’t read or add up properly” Matthew Hancock (pictured) made the announcement welcomed by FE leaders during a speech at AoC’s annual conference in Birmingham. “And there is one area where Britain […]

Panel sets out to define FE Guild

From left: Martin Doel, Peter Davies, David Hughes and Graham Hoyle on the panel at the Association of Colleges annual conference and exhibition 2012 Leaders of the new FE Guild proposals have told of their hopes for the new body, but said they were prepared for it to be rejected by the sector. A consultation […]

Shadow minister’s care blow for FE leaders

The Shadow minister for Education has “disappointed” FE leaders after casting doubt on colleges’ ability to “care and support” 14-year-olds recruited full-time from schools. Labour MP Karen Buck’s comments came at AoC’s annual conference when she was asked if she supported government proposals that could see pupils directly funded to complete a mixture of GCSEs […]

Report warned of merger costs

A cash-strapped college that recently got a government warning about its finances went ahead with a “costly” merger despite a report critical of the move, it has emerged. Under-fire K College, in Kent, has a £6.4m deficit and in August became the first provider to get a government warning that could lead to the withdrawal […]

Martin Doel, chief executive, Association of Colleges

On the day he should have been sitting his maths A level, Martin Doel was in hospital after being hit by a cricket ball. And it wasn’t the first or last time sport got in the way of his studies. Growing up in Romsey, Hampshire, he spent most of his time playing “football, rugby, cricket, […]