FE Week Reporter | FE Week

CBI report reveals basic skills deficit

Employers remain dissatisfied with school and college leavers’ basic skills according to a report by CBI. Around a third of employers said that young people lacked the necessary skills for work – the same amount as a decade ago. CBI, a business lobbying organisation, found that 42 per cent of businesses had to provide remedial […]

Richard Review interview

Entrepreneur Doug Richard is to lead an independent review into the future of the apprenticeship programme in England. The former Dragon’s Den investor has been commissioned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and Department for Education (DfE) to look at how the government can build on the record number of new apprentices. […]

It’s a disaster for workplace learning

I am a huge advocate of Functional Skills. I believe it represents our best chance in a decade to address the skills crisis in the UK, highlighted only a couple of days ago by the latest CBI/Pearson survey which showed that four out of ten companies are now carrying out remedial training in maths and […]

BIS publishes final impact assessment reports for FE loans

The final impact assessment and equality impact assessment reports have been published by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). The government estimates the “total net present value” for the FE loans scheme – which will affect all learners aged 24 and above studying at level three or higher from 2013 – to be […]

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Havering College hosts live BBC webcast

University fees, pension cuts for doctors and Olympic refreshment prices were among the hot topics that politicians and a TV celebrity were grilled on at Havering College. The College hosted a live webcast debate after winning the BBC’s Schools Questions and Answers competition. On the panel were David Willetts, the universities and science minister, Liberal […]

Lewisham College student is The Skills People’s 1,000th apprentice this year

Lewisham College student Connor Holgate is the 1,000th apprentice to be signed up by The Skills People this year. The bartender at Shepherd Neame’s Ye Olde Whyte Lyon in Kent has started a Level 2 hospitality apprenticeship with the College. Connor said: “My ambition is to run my own pub. Being an apprentice will teach […]

Leicester College’s £1 meal challenege

As part of the ‘Live Below the Line’ worldwide initiative, Christian Aid has partnered with Leicester College to set a tough challenge to its learners – cooking a silver-service standard meal on just £1 worth of ingredients. Anne Wood, programme area manager for hospitality and food, who put the Level 1 Catering learners to the […]

Newham College puts on beautiful performance

Newham College students let their imaginations run free during a massive beauty performance. Students’ creations captured sports such as tobogganing and cycling, landmarks like the London Eye, and Hollywood’s golden age. Tessa Sanderson, an Olympic gold medal winner, took time off from promoting sport from the College to watch the event. During the evening, she […]