FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Peter Cobrin, national education director, notgoingtouni

Having worked in journalism, teaching, public relations, consultancy and even as a mini cab driver – including a spell driving the actor Kenneth Williams to the Shepperton film studios – notgoingtouni.co.uk’s national education director Peter Cobrin has had the ultimate portfolio career. Raised in Brighton, where he enjoyed an idyllic childhood and developed a lifelong […]

Sale of NSA due to be finalised

Conference and event organiser Neil Stewart Associates (NSA) has been sold within three days of going into administration. Andrew Stoneman and Matt Bond, from the financial advisory and investment banking firm Duff & Phelps, were appointed joint administrators to the firm, which hosts events in sectors including further education, on March 5. However, on March […]

BIS Select Committee to hear evidence from the CEO of Elmfield Training Ltd

Elmfield Training Ltd has been called upon by the Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Select Committee to give evidence for their inquiry into apprenticeships. The training provider is one of six organisations, including Morrisons, Microsoft, Carillion, Babcock and Robinson Brothers, which has been contacted by the committee to give evidence. Gerard Syddall, company director and […]

Landslide leadership victory at the UCU for Sally Hunt

The general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU) is pledging to put more resources at the frontline after securing a landslide re-election. Sally Hunt retained the post after defeating her only opponent Mark Campbell by a margin of 6,835 votes. She won 73 per cent of votes cast. The huge margin of victory […]

Accounting for apprenticeship durations

NAS confirm that 12 month minimum duration will apply to each level of the apprenticeship Apprenticeship providers should not be able to deliver multiple levels of a framework in less than 12 months, according to the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS). The NAS say they are working with training providers such as Aspire Achieve Advance Ltd, […]

Commissioners needed for panel on adult vocational learning

Applications are being invited for commissioners from across further education to join a new independent panel on adult vocational learning. It follows the news last week that Frank McLoughlin CBE, principal of City and Islington College will chair the independent Commission on adult vocational pedagogy. The Commission, which was announced by Government in New Challenges, […]

Colleges secure more than half of degree student places

More than half of ‘margin’ student places – with tuition fees of less than £7,500 – have been handed to further education (FE) colleges. A total of 20,000 places have been divided by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) between 190 universities and colleges. However, 9,643 places have been distributed between 35 higher […]

UKCES publish tender documents for Employer Ownership of Skills pilot

The UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) has released the application forms and guidance document for the Employer Ownership of Skills pilot. The tender documents, released last Tuesday, outline how businesses can bid for up to £250 million of direct government funding over the next two years. The first round of provision, worth £50 […]

Sally Hunt re-elected as head of UCU

Sally Hunt has been re-elected as general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU) in a landslide victory. Hunt defeated her only opponent, Mark Campbell, by a margin of 6,835 votes, taking 73 per cent of the votes cast. The margin of Hunt’s victory is more than five times greater than when she was […]