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13 May 2026

Author: FE Week Reporter

Department for Education launch 16-19 Funding Formula Review

The Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove has launched a consultation to reform and simplify the ‘16-19 funding formula’, for implemtation in 2013/14. The announcement, published by the Department for Education (DfE) last Thursday, states: “Proposals in the consultation include moving away from the current complex system of funding on the basis of ‘payment […]

An inconvenient truth

In August of this year the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) published a report of an enquiry into value for money in the education of those aged 16-18. It followed an investigation by the National Audit Office on the same subject but the committee itself took additional evidence from a number of expert witnesses. Sadly the […]

UCT sells Ufi Limited to Lloyds TSB Development Capital (LDC)

The Ufi Charitable Trust (UCT) has sold part of its business to Lloyds TSB Development Capital (LDC) for £40 million. Ufi Limited, which is known for its management of the Learndirect brand, was sold to the private equity house on Wednesday. Sarah Jones, Chief Executive of Learndirect, said: “The change in ownership will allow us […]

Talks to address apprenticeship concerns

Apprenticeship providers plan conference as criticism mounts over numerous “worthless” delivery models Training providers have called for talks on issues surrounding apprenticeships in the wake of heavy criticism. A conference led by providers is being arranged for early next year to discuss concerns such as short apprenticeships. It comes following numerous reports by FE Week […]

Exclusive World Skills Poster ~ support Team UK

DOWNLOAD, PRINT OUT AND PUT UP OUR ‘SUPPORT TEAM UK’ POSTER: CLICK HERE (8mb) The world’s biggest competition for young people with vocational skills is set to launch in London today. WorldSkills 2011, dubbed by many as the ‘skills Olympics’, will pit Team UK against some of the toughest and most skilled countries on the […]

WorldSkills London 2011: The people who make it happen

It takes a lot of people to run the globe’s largest skills competition – but WorldSkills London 2011 will not be in short supply of help. For this week’s event, held at ExCel London and dubbed the skills Olympics, around 2,500 volunteers have been recruited to ensure everything goes off without a hitch. From greeting […]

Union warns of lost Bombardier apprenticeships

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

FE Week reporter has a go in Colleges Week

To get into the spirit of Colleges week, education reporter, Nick Summers went to Lewisham College to have a go at welding Welding and journalism are two professions that couldn’t possibly be more different. While one involves typing frantically on a laptop and wearing a shirt and tie, the other involves using industrial machinery, grubby […]

FE Week gate-crashes the Labour party conference

At this time of year the news is awash with political headlines from party leaders promising what they are going to do for Britain. Conference season is one of the busiest times of the year for any political party. It is an opportunity to showcase a party’s credentials and talents, in the hope of gains […]