FE Week Reporter | FE Week

McVitie’s man is Rep of the Year

A union member has taken home a top award for introducing hundreds of colleagues to learning. USDAW member Jonathan Waterhouse was awarded Union Learning Rep (URL) of the Year today (Tuesday) in a ceremony at TUC Congress, in London. Jonathan, who works on the Penguin biscuit production line for McVitie’s in Manchester, gained his own […]

Latest apprenticeship policy slammed

The Shadow Minister for Further Education and Skills, Gordon Marsden, has hit out at a Government policy designed to cut the data returns and audit requirements needed to deliver apprenticeships. Gordon Marsden spoke exclusively to FE Week and said: “The Government can talk about cutting red tape all they like. “Any actions the Government takes […]

The FE Week guide to Twitter

The concept of Twitter sounds ridiculous. Millions of people, businesses and organisations who choose to document their daily lives through short messages of 140 characters or less. To many, it looks like another social networking fad similar to MySpace – and let’s be honest, keeping on top of your e-mails is bad enough, right? Wrong. […]

Group adds to Careers Service debate

A membership body which represents 27 further education colleges has called on the government to think again on the future of the Careers Service. The 157 Group has been enthusiastic about proposals for an all-age guidance service. However, it fears proposed changes to the service for young people will deny many the opportunity for a face-to-face […]

Dame Ruth Silver, chair, Learning and Skills Improvement Service

“I told them to get lost a thousand times,” says Dame Ruth Silver, of the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) of which she is now chair. Having announced her impending retirement from Lewisham College, she was intending to “have a break and not do anything,” and certainly wasn’t looking for another big challenge. But […]

FE Week mini-mascot (edition 1)

Follow the adventures of FE Week’s biggest and smallest fan! Mostly this week I have been keeping mummy and daddy awake” And you can follow our FE Week mini-mascot on Twitter @daniellinford

12 week apprenticeships still advertised

Despite increased criticism in what the Chief Executive of the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) called ‘hot-housing’, many short NVQ and apprenticeship programmes are still being advertised. In June FE Week reported on the rise of 12 week apprentices, and referred to the call centre training provider Synapse. Since then the Synapse website simply states: “Synapse […]

ALT delegates seek technological innovation despite challenging times

[Click here to download the FE Week ALT conference double page spread (3mb)] The education sector is seeking innovation at a time when budgets are increasingly being slashed. Colleges are now looking to technology not only as a way of improving efficiency and running costs, but as a means to improving the student experience in further […]

City & Guilds allocated more than £8m for 25,000 Asda apprentices

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) has allocated more than £8m to City & Guilds in order to deliver 25,000 apprenticeships at Asda. The funding will be used to train employees from May 2011 to July 2012, comprising of £736,824 until the end of July 2011 with a further £7.7m between August 2011 and the end […]