FE Week Reporter | FE Week

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 […]

Advertisement: Think Apprenticeships First

This Apprenticeship Week 2012 Pearson have put together a support package to help businesses and demonstrate the real added value that implementing an Apprenticeship programme can have… Click here to find out more!

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 […]

WorldSkills UK – The Skills Show announced by John Hayes MP

The skills minister announced a UK successor to the WorldSkills London 2011 competition at the House of Commons last night. The new annual showcase, named ‘WorldSkills UK – The Skills Show’, will be held at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham from November 15-17, 2012. John Hayes MP, speaking at the Parliamentary Reception for […]

LSIS hires new apprentices for National Apprenticeship Week

More than a tenth of the staff at the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) will soon be made up by apprentices. The organisation has hired nine new apprentices to join three existing learners at the company. LSIS will soon be offering an additional two apprenticeships to make a grand total of 14 out of […]