Skip to content
18 April 2026

Author: Nick Linford

Movers and Shakers: Edition 164

Alice Barnard has started in her position as the new chief executive of the Edge Foundation. She takes over from David Harbourne, Edge’s director of policy and research, who has been acting chief executive since Jan Hodges’ retirement last April. Ms Barnard moves from her position as leader of the Peter Jones Foundation, which she […]

Frustration over ‘misleading’ Libor answer

The Shadow Skills Minister has been left frustrated with a “misleading” answer to a parliamentary question he lodged over what happened to Libor fine cash for apprenticeships promised by the Prime Minister. David Cameron announced last April that if he won the general election, his government would fund 50,000 apprenticeships and traineeships for unemployed 22 […]

Principal blamed as college sent into administered status

The FE Commissioner has singled-out former principal Jacqui Mace (pictured) for failings at a London college that has been placed into administered status. Dr David Collins said this in a report published on Thursday (February 18) on Stanmore College, which was led by Ms Mace until December. A letter published on the same day, from […]

Lead providers step in after subcontractor ‘collapses’

Four lead providers based in the north east have said they are taking steps to ensure more than 160 apprentices get qualifications after their subcontractor was said to have ceased trading. Learning Curve Group (LCG) chief executive Brenda McLeish (pictured) told FE Week on Tuesday that her company had been informed by Sunderland-based Xiscad Training […]

You must adapt to survive, SFA boss tells FE leaders

The chief executive of the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) has warned providers that failing to adapt to changes in the FE sector could put their future in the market at risk. Peter Lauener (pictured), who is also chief executive of the Education Funding Agency, described recent changes in the sector as radical and stressed the […]

Funding rate cut from April for popular apprenticeship framework

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) will reduce funding rates for the level three ‘IT, Software Web and Telecom Professionals’ apprenticeship framework by around £2,000 from April 1. The agency warned in it’s Update bulletin this afternoon that it would be reducing the funding values for the Level 3 competence qualification. The rate for the competence qualification […]

Hackney Community College and Tower Hamlets College set to merge in August

Hackney Community College and Tower Hamlets College have announced plans to merge from August this year. A spokesperson for the two London colleges said their intention is to create a “single, larger and more sustainable college” that is “better able to meet current and future local needs”. Both colleges will keep their individual existing campuses, […]

Three-day Festival of Skills announced for staff in FE

An exciting new continuing professional development (CPD) event has been announced today by the organisers of The Telegraph Festival of Education for the FE and skills sector. The Festival of Skills will take place at Capel Manor College’s 74-acre site in North London from July 7 to 9 later this year. Hosted by Summerhouse Events, […]