FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Where next for 14-19 vocational qualifications?

The Department for Education’s recent cull of more than 3,000 vocational qualifications taught in schools sparked a media response that exposed the bitter rift that continues to dog the thinking about our children’s education. The print and broadcast media fastened onto – and belittled – nail technology and fish farming as examples of worthless qualifications. […]

Jason Holt takes charge of employer-led review into SMEs and apprenticeships

Social entrepreneur and jeweller Jason Holt is to head-up an employer-led review into apprenticeships. Mr Holt, CEO of Holts Group of Companies, will speak to the sector about what can be done to encourage small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to hire an apprentice. Skills minister John Hayes announced the appointment earlier today. He said: […]

Youth unemployment on the rise despite apprenticeship initiatives

Youth unemployment rose by 22,000 in the three months leading up to December 2011, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The unemployment rate for people aged 16 to 24 rose to 22.2 per cent in the quarter, an increase of 0.3 percentage points from July to September 2011. The labour market statistics, published […]

Employers think apprenticeships are most suitable for young people, YouGov survey reveals

Less than three per cent of employers think an apprenticeship is most relevant to someone aged 22 or above, a YouGoV survey has revealed. The research, commissioned by Pearson in partnership with NIACE, asked more than 1,000 businesses what they thought of the apprenticeship programme. In contrast, 57 per cent of survey respondents said an […]

AELP backs minimum duration for young apprentices at end of #NAW2012

The new minimum length of delivery for all apprentices aged 16 to 18 has been backed by the head of the association of employment and learning providers (AELP). Graham Hoyle said the new policy, announced by John Hayes MP last December and effective from August 2012, reflects current industry practice. “We have of course already […]

BIS Select Committee to visit Sheffield for apprenticeship inquiry

The Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Select Committee has announced it will be visiting Sheffield as part or its ongoing inquiry into apprenticeships. The committee will hold a number of formal oral evidence sessions between March 5-6, 2012 with employers who promote or offer apprenticeships, as well as learners currently enrolled on apprenticeship schemes. Adrian […]

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EMA replacement is inadequate and under-funded, says Barnardo’s

Young learners from disadvantaged backgrounds are being let down by the 16-19 Bursary Fund because it is inadequate, inconsistent and under-funded, according to a report by Barnardo’s. The children’s charity says the replacement for the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is discouraging poor students from staying in further education because they are unable to pay for […]

Apprentice team of the year contest launched

Eight teams from some of the country’s most successful businesses are battling it out to become “apprentice team of the year”. The Brathay Apprentice Challenge, which kicked off today with a 10-mile whaler boat race across Dorney Lake, includes teams of apprentices from Bentley, the Co-Operative, Virgin Media and Rolls Royce. Jez Anderson from the […]