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16 April 2026

Author: Freddie Whittaker

Halfon plays down apprenticeship levy ‘gaming’ fears

The apprenticeships minister Robert Halfon has sought to play down fears in the business community that some companies will “game” the new apprenticeship levy system to subsidise their own in-house training. Halfon told a fringe event at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham this morning that although it was “inevitable” that there may be some “gaming […]

Apprentices ‘discouraged’ by schools demand better careers advice

Apprentices should be sent into classrooms to tell school pupils about vocational career and training options, according to two learners who chose apprenticeships despite having been discouraged by their schools. Ellie Newton (above left) and Liberty Hobbs (above right), both business administration apprentices with Pimlico Plumbers, told a fringe event at the Conservative Party Conference this morning […]

Rayner backs ‘important’ appenticeships campaign at Labour conference

The shadow education secretary Angela Rayner has reaffirmed her support for FE Week’s #SaveOurApprenticeships campaign at a Labour Party Conference rally this evening. Speaking at the rally in the Pullman Hotel in Liverpool, Rayner described it as a “really important campaign”, and one which is very close to her heart. The campaign aims to send […]

Sue Pember, education consultant

A veteran of the skills sector, Dr Sue Pember has worked under eight Secretaries of State, from David Blunkett to Dr Vince Cable. But despite having left her government job for a life of freelance consultancy work earlier this year, the 59-year-old mother-of-one still won’t say who was her favourite boss. “I definitely have favourites, […]

Joe Vinson, vice president, NUS

Like many young people given power and responsibility early in life, National Union of Students (NUS) vice president for FE Joe Vinson certainly comes across as old beyond his years. But there remains a hint of the naivety that led to an unwise tweet he sent soon after he was elected one of the youngest […]