Author: Nick Linford

The chair of a group of influential MPs has slammed the government’s progress on apprenticeship reform, saying he doesn’t see a “hope in hell” of the target for 3m new apprenticeships by 2020 being achieved. Speaking from the stage at FE Week’s Annual Apprenticeship Conference 2016, Iain Wright (pictured), chair of the Business, Innovation and […]

LATEST: Nescot accepts former £360k a year principal was unfairly dismissed The University and College Union (UCU) has spoken out to say it is “unacceptable” that college principals are receiving salaries of over £200,000, at a time when the sector is engaged in an ongoing row over pay. A spokesperson for UCU said the salaries, […]

A new white paper unveiled this morning by Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has spelled out her vision for the next five years. The report set wide ranging ambitions for schools and 16 to 19 providers, including closer tracking of English and maths progress, an expansion of University Technical Colleges (UTCs), more curriculum stability, better careers […]

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) has announced that it will fully fund all “high quality” 16 to 18 apprenticeships from August 2015 to March 2016. The announcement, which also covered traineeships, was made on the agency’s website this afternoon. It said: “We will fully fund all high-quality 16 to 18 apprenticeship and SFA-funded 16 to […]

The new boss of the Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) has laid out his top priorities. Ahead of his first speech as chief executive — which he will deliver at the FE Week Annual Apprenticeship Conference (AAC) tomorrow — Mark Dawe told FE Week that getting the levy right, making sure employers are fully […]

Employers will receive a 10 per cent top-up to their monthly levy contributions as a result of today’s budget. Chancellor George Osborne only briefly mentioned the levy in his speech to the House of Commons at lunchtime. However, the 10 per cent top-up plans were unveiled in a budget report subsequently published by the Treasury. […]

Extra money is set to be made available for 16 to 18 apprenticeships following today’s budget announcement, FE Week understands. Chancellor George Osborne is due to deliver his budget speech to the House of Commons at around 12.30pm today. FE Week understands it is unlikely Mr Osborne will announce the 16 to 18 apprenticeships increase […]

Association of Colleges chief executive Martin Doel travelled to Buckingham Palace yesterday to collect his CBE awarded in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list. Mr Doel (pictured above), who was recognised for his work in the FE sector, was presented with the medal by Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge. Mr Doel said it was […]