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19 April 2026

Author: Fraser Whieldon

MOVERS AND SHAKERS: EDITION 351

Your weekly guide to who’s new and who’s leaving. Lisa Wilson, Group director of apprenticeships and employer services, Nottingham College Start date: March 2021 Previous job: Director of apprenticeships, RNN Group Interesting fact: She has run the Manchester half marathon and taken part in a number of ‘Tough Mudders’ Chris Malish, Principal, Hull College Start […]

Does Labour employ any apprentices?

The shadow education secretary has refused to reveal if the Labour Party employs even one apprentice. At FE Week’s Annual Apprenticeship Conference shadow education secretary Kate Green was quizzed on how many apprentices work for the political party, which often criticises central government for not employing enough of the learners. But while admitting it was […]

Revealed: Thousands of level 5 management apprentices dropped-out last year

Thousands of apprentices on a new level 5 management programme have already dropped out of the course, official figures have revealed. The operations or departmental manager standard had a retention rate of just 53.5 per cent last year for 4,250 “leavers”. That means 1,980 apprentices – 47 per cent – who were due to finish […]

Revealed: Finalists announced for the 2021 AAC Apprenticeship Awards

The national finalists for this year’s FE Week and AELP AAC Apprenticeship Awards have been revealed. From 350 entries the shortlists for the 21 awards, being run in partnership with Open Awards, were announced at a virtual ceremony on Thursday evening, hosted by comedian and impressionist Rory Bremner. They will now go forward for the […]

Labour ‘interested in exploring’ devolved apprenticeships funding

Labour is “interested in exploring” greater devolution of skills budgets to mayoral combined authorities, its shadow education secretary has said. Speaking to the FE Week Annual Apprenticeship Conference this morning, Kate Green would not say definitively whether Labour would hand over a greater amount of funding to metro mayors, many of whom already control their […]

Apprenticeship quality remains ‘troubling’, says Ofsted chief

Ofsted’s chief inspector has warned the quality of apprenticeship training is still “troubling”. Following the resumption of new provider monitoring visits, Amanda Spielman today told FE Week’s Annual Apprenticeship Conference inspectors had made 100 such visits since mid-March. It was “concerning,” she said, that a third of them resulted in at least one ‘insufficient progress’ […]

Level 2 business admin apprenticeship replacement could arrive as soon as September

The apprenticeship regulator is reviewing a proposal for a level 2 business administration replacement, which employers hope to have ready for delivery from September. Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) chief executive Jennifer Coupland told FE Week’s Annual Apprenticeship Conference today they are mulling over a “public sector organisation administrative assistant” standard. This has […]

Finalists for AAC Apprenticeship Awards 2021 to be announced tonight LIVE

The finalists for the FE Week and AELP AAC Apprenticeship Awards 2021 will be revealed at a virtual celebration event tonight – and you’ve been invited to watch the announcement live. Hosted by comedian and impressionist Rory Bremner, the ceremony, being held in partnership with Innovate Awarding, will be shown on the FE Week News […]

MOVERS AND SHAKERS: EDITION 350

Your weekly guide to who’s new and who’s leaving. Katie Easey, Director of education, community learning, The WEA Start date:June 2021 Previous job: Chief executive, Community Learning in Partnership Interesting fact: She was a crew member on a 43-foot catamaran travelling from Cairns in Queensland to Christmas Island. Sam Windett, Deputy director, Learning and Work […]