Author: Nick Linford

Three apprenticeship reform advisory groups, set up by the government, were never told of plans to cut 16- to 18-year-old framework rates by up to 50 percent, FE Week can exclusively reveal. As previously reported, our exclusive analysis of government plans shows that, despite a £1000 provider incentive, the funding to deliver apprenticeship training and assessment to young […]

A new baseline test is being launched by REED NCFE to transform how providers can boost their study programme learners’ employability skills. Baseline Employability Skills Test (BESTest), developed in conjunction with the University of Leeds, measures key skills and personal qualities. The idea is to help providers identify their learners’ strengths and weaknesses, and develop […]

The 157 Group is set to rename and announce new ‘ambitions’ next month, less than a year after completing a strategic review. It comes just 10 months after the group, which has over 30 college members, completed a strategic review which included six themes, such as “diversifying revenues” and responding to the “devolved skills agenda”. […]

Proposed funding for 16 to 18 year-old apprentices will result in current rates to colleges and training providers being cut by around 30 per cent, rising to over half for those apprentices living in the most deprived areas of central London, FE Week can exclusively reveal. Astonishingly, this compares with the funding for many learners aged 24 and over going up, particularly […]

Nearly all employers will only have to contribute 10 per cent to the cost of an apprenticeship from April 2017, the Department for Education has announced this morning. The news, previously reported when leaked to FE Week, comes as part of a three week consultation which details how much colleges and training providers would be paid for apprenticeships once […]

Today’s long-awaited release of proposals for widespread apprenticeship reform include plans for a new register of apprenticeship training providers. The government wants the new register to work alongside the existing register of training organisations. Providers will have to meet strict criteria to be included on the register, which will then be used by employers looking for training for […]

Harlow MP Robert Halfon has been handed ministerial responsibilities for apprentices and skills. FE Week broke the news that Mr Halfon had been appointed minister of state at the Department for Education (DfE) on Sunday. But when asked if the role would involve the FE and skills responsibilities previously held by Nick Boles, the department would […]