FE Week Reporter | FE Week

FE is ‘very different kettle of fish’

The fast-approaching FE loans policy has been labelled as “very complex to implement”, “difficult to market” and cause for “real worry” from key figures in the sector. A roundtable debate, held at the FE Week office and attended by a representative from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the University and College Union […]

The future of adult learning

Tom Wilson, director, UnionLearn, TUC David Hughes, chief executive, NIACE Ever-rising levels of unemployment, lack of skills among sections of the population, equality, changing policy and funding rates are just some of the issues that those in further education need to battle on a daily basis. But how do they move forward? The […]

FE loans to be called “24+ Advanced Learning Loans”

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has revealed to FE Week that the new FE loans system will be called “24+ Advanced Learning Loans” when it’s introduced next year. A BIS spokesperson told FE Week: “It is important that the name for the loans reflects the type of learners and learning that it will apply […]

UKCES appoints four new commissioners

The UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) has appointed four new commissioners. Gail Cartmail, assistant general secretary for Unite the Union, Scott Johnson, chief executive of Chas Smith Shopfitters Ltd, Toby Peyton-Jones, HR director at Siemens UK & North West Europe and Neil Mclean, chair of the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership have […]

Derby College starts work on new Academy

Work has started on Derby College’s new £3.5 million Construction Academy in Pride Park which is due to open to students this September. The college is working with developers Cedar House to construct a 3,000 sq metre building on land currently owned by the Homes and Communities Agency and originally earmarked by former East Midlands […]

Chesterfield College staff set to strike

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) at Chesterfield College today (Friday) voted to take industrial action in a row over jobs and pay. Nine in ten (88 per cent) of those who voted voted for strike action. A date for the action will be announced next week. The union’s action is in response to […]

Weston College students pamper pensioners

Weston College pampered 24 pensioners to help launch Age UK Somerset’s year-long ‘Joining in Together’ service to reduce isolation. Men and women aged from 50 to nearly 90 enjoyed £5 professional facials, manicures and pedicures at the College’s bespoke salon. Dennis Newbury, 82 of Worlebury, who had top to toe treatments, said: “I’ve never had […]

Aspirational students at Doncaster College

Doncaster College’s Academy of Commercial Enterprise hosted its own version of The Dragons’ Den and MasterChef as part of Aspirations Week. For the third year running, students from all programme areas of the Academy have been involved in a variety of activities designed to raise their aspirations and motivate them to consider the next step […]

Stratford-upon-Avon college hosts Guild of Bricklayers Competition regional heat

Stratford-upon-Avon College’s new Construction Academy was given a thorough workout when it hosted the regional heat of the Guild of Bricklayers Competition. The £750,000 Academy, opened in February by MP Nadhim Zahawi, was the venue as young bricklayers from schools and colleges from across the West Midlands took part across three age categories with the […]