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19 April 2026

Author: FE Week Reporter

Key appointment at Derby College

Derby College has appointed Paul Deane as Deputy Principal – Registrar, with responsibility for the cross-College functions that impact on the learner journey. Paul, who joins Derby College from Lincoln College where he was Vice Principal – Planning and Funding,  will oversee Funding, Registry and Information Services, Student Services and Inclusion, Marketing, and IT functions […]

Painting the Forth Bridge

I read recently that the phrase “painting the Forth Bridge” will soon be redundant – they have come up with some sort of new paint that will last almost indefinitely! I have always thought of improvement in FE and skills as a bit like “painting the Forth Bridge” …a never ending quest, as wherever we […]

Lynne Sedgmore, CEO, 157 Group

When Lynne Sedgmore passed the 11 plus, it made the local news.  Few children from her council estate went to grammar school, and that year, she was one of four to make it. “I was brought up on one of the most problematic miners’ estate in Newcastle-under-Lyme,” she says. “If you were a Crackley kid […]

Youth unemployment at record high

Figures released this morning (Wednesday) show youth unemployment is at a record high. The Office of National Statistics (ONS) said the number of unemployed people aged from 16 to 24 increased by 74,000 over the quarter from June to August to reach 991,000. Although the figure is high, reports earlier this week suggested the rate could […]

‘Plumber’s Apprentice’ statue unveiled at Cannon Street Station

  A sculpture of the ‘Plumber’s Apprentice’ has been unveiled by the Duke of Gloucester at Cannon Street Station. The seven-foot tall, bronze statue has been built to represent the industry’s history with London and the company’s commitment to training young plumbers. Chris Sneath, Master of the Worshipful Company of Plumbers, said: “The statue is […]

WorldSkills London 2011: Opening with a bang

With a rush of activity and a buzz of excitement, the world’s largest international skills competition arrived on UK shores. WorldSkills London 2011 – dubbed the skills Olympics – engulfed ExCel London, on Wednesday ahead of four-days of competition to find the best-of-the-best the skills sector has to offer. Before the 944 competitors, representing 51 […]

250 apprentices at risk of derailment at Bombardier

Around 250 young people will be affected by lost apprenticeships and engineering jobs at Bombardier, a union has warned. Rail union RMT said the firm will be forced to reduce apprenticeships from the Bombardier Centre of Excellence in Derby, if the Government fails to reverse the decision to send the Thameslink fleet contract overseas. The […]

WorldSkills London 2011: Triumph for Team UK

Christopher Berridge, Gold medal winner in the Stonemasonry competition. All pictures by Nick Linford for FE Week. Team UK bagged 12 medals at WorldSkills London 2011, making it their best performance to date. UK competitors received four Gold, two Silver and six Bronze at the awards ceremony in the packed out O2 Arena last night […]