FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Weston College launch women’s touch rugby

Bath Rugby Union stars have teamed up with Weston College to launch women’s touch rugby for students. Full-back Jack Cuthbert and prop, Nathan Catt, put the women through their paces at Weston-super-Mares Drove Road Rugby Club along with new England Rugby Football Union Development Officer, Julie Price, and Neil Davies, who runs Bath’s Touch Leagues. […]

Birmingham Metropolitan College gets visit from the Doctor’s companion

Doctor Who actor Arthur Darvill (centre) was the star of the first seminar held by Birmingham Metropolitan Academy of Performing Arts (BMAPA) in 2012. Mr Darvill, who has played the character Rory Williams in the last three series of Doctor Who, shared his experiences of working as a voice and stage actor, musician and composer […]

City College Norwich cuts the ribbon at their £1.2m StartUp Lounge for enterprise

A new £1.2m facility for teaching enterprise and entrepreneurship skills has been officially opened at City College Norwich. Gazelle entrepreneurs Priya Lakhani, founder of Masala Masala and SOCO, and Ben Ramsden, founder of Pants to Poverty, alongside City College Norwich Principal Dick Palmer, joined more than 100 students from City College Norwich and partner schools […]

Brent Cross shopping centre hosts live Barnet and Southgate College showcase

Barnet and Southgate College held a Creative Winter Showcase of live music, photography, fashion, hairdressing and beauty at the Brent Cross shopping centre. The two day event was a chance for students to demonstrate all of the creative skills they have picked up during their studies at the college. Fashion and hairdressing students were able […]

Prince visits Blackpool and The Fylde College on Queen’s Diamond Jubilee tour

Students were treated to a Royal visit when Prince Edward dropped into Blackpool and The Fylde College. The Prince headed into the University Centre as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee tour, where he spent time chatting to a number of students and staff, before enjoying performances from musical theatre degree students and the college […]

SFA ‘strongly encourage’ 12 month minimum

Providers are being urged to introduce new apprenticeship duration requirements immediately. The Skills Funding Agency is calling on existing apprentices aged 16-18, where possible, to be given a 12-month minimum programme. It comes after the skills minister John Hayes’ announcement last year of the year-long minimum for teenage apprentices, which will come into effect on […]

Holt heads-up employer-led review of apprenticeships

Social entrepreneur and jeweller Jason Holt is to take charge of an employer-led review into how businesses can be encouraged to hire an apprentice. Mr Holt, chief executive of Holts Group of Companies, will talk to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) about what the government can be doing to reduce bureaucracy and simplify the process […]

Adult Basic Skills qualifications to be scrapped

Basic skills qualifications in numeracy and literacy for adults will cease to be funded for new starts from August. The Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) is no longer funding a centrally held test bank which supports Adult Basic Skills (ABS) qualifications and Key Skills Communication and Application of Number qualifications at Levels 1 […]

Banks ‘invest’ in more than 1,500 apprentices

Three high street banks are launching new apprenticeship schemes to try and help young people launch a career in the financial services sector. HSBC, Barclays and Santander announced they will be creating more than 1,500 places at a financial services sector round table held in Canary Wharf during National Apprenticeship Week. Skills minister John Hayes […]