FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Bosses swap jobs with apprentices

Chief executives and directors in companies across the UK recently swapped jobs with apprentices to mark National Apprenticeship Week. MediaCom boss Karen Blackett swapped roles with marketing and communications apprentice Robyn May, 19. Karen said: “It was good to go back to the floor. I was impressed to see how integral Robyn is to her […]

Adonis talks of ‘apprenticeship revolution’

UCAS should be the “principal route” into apprenticeships to ensure they were as “accessible and credible” as universities, Lord Adonis told a packed conference. The organisation responsible for managing applications to higher education was “up for it” if the government was, said the Labour politician, and academic during a speech at Unionlearn’s annual apprenticeship conference […]

Cameron’s ‘new norm’ wisdom

The Prime Minister wants apprenticeships to become the “new norm for young people,” with work-based training sitting “at the heart of our mission to rebuild the economy”. Speaking at a Buckinghamshire training academy during the sixth National Apprenticeship Week, he called on employers, educators and MPs to expand apprenticeships for young people. “They are at […]

Traineeships ‘will start in September’

The first traineeships, the new government programme targeted at young people to help them acquire work-related skills and attitudes, are on track to start in September this year, says FE minister Matthew Hancock. He told training providers, business leaders, apprentices and awarding bodies at a Voice of Apprentices conference in London last week that the […]

Value of new FE quality kitemark questioned

Sector bosses have called into question the “worth” of a new quality marker launched by FE Minister Matthew Hancock. Sir Geoff Hall, chair of the Information Authority, asked if chartered status for top providers was “worth doing”. His query came during a workshop at an Association of Colleges conference, on information and accountability in FE. […]

Get past the rhetoric and down to business

Learning by doing should be valued equally with academic learning, says David Harbourne. But vocational education first must meet the highest possible standards Education must provide a wide range of knowledge, skills and attributes that are best represented by a spread of qualifications of equal status and value. There are, after all, many paths to […]

An ‘end-to-end’ professional development

The Credit Services Association is determined that debt collection become an industry with real career prospects, writes Stephen Morley Debt is set to top the agenda for some time to come. Therefore, it is paramount that talented youngsters are attracted into the credit services industry and that those involved in collecting debt are recognised as […]

Out of the starting blocks

Bob Harrison reflects on the first meeting of the Further Education Technology Action Group Matthew Hancock’s inaugural gathering of some key people in the worlds of FE and technology was all about action. More than 20 strong, the membership is an interesting mix of public and private sector providers as well as the usual representatives […]

Mike Hopkins, principal, Middlesbrough College

The smiling principal of Middlesbrough College seems like an unlikely sea captain. Just look at him in this week’s Campus Round-up where he’s showing off the soles of his feet painted blue and green. But, last year, Mike Hopkins found himself in his element in a Force 8 gale when out sailing at night with […]