Author: Nick Linford

A petition signed by more than 10,000 people that called on the government to “stop further funding cuts to adult education” has been delivered to 10 Downing Street. Shadow Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy Chi Onwurah was joined yesterday (October 29) by five members of the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) when presenting the […]

A cash-strapped Midland college’s past financial management has been branded “not acceptable” as Skills Minister Nick Boles told it the “next few months will be critical”. Mr Boles sent FE Commissioner Dr David Collins in to Birmingham Metropolitan College (BMet) in August, after it requested “exceptional financial support” from the Skills Funding Agency (SFA). The […]

More than 50 employers and apprentices have been recognised in the latest round of National Apprenticeship Awards ceremonies. The event took place for the South East region on Wednesday (October 21), and Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Staffordshire, and South West, Thames Valley and Solent last night (October 22). Awards and special commendations went to 26 […]

The government’s planned apprenticeship levy has been described as a “massive game changer” by chief executive of the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (Niace) David Hughes. Mr Hughes (pictured above) was glowing in his praise for the levy, which was first announced by chancellor George Osborne in July and has come in for fierce […]

A hotly anticipated Ofsted report will warn of a slump in the quality of apprenticeships that often fail to give learners the skills and knowledge needed by employers, FE Week can reveal. The results of the inspectorate’s inquiry into apprenticeships are not due out until Thursday (October 22), but an Ofsted spokesperson has given FE […]

Further Education Commissioner Dr David Collins (pictured) has revealed his early findings from the first wave of post-16 area reviews. Scores of people came to hear Dr Collins speak at this year’s Higher and Further Education Show, in London’s ExCel, on Wednesday, October 14. He discussed the reviews in Birmingham and Solihull, Greater Manchester, Sheffield, […]

Business Secretary Sajid Javid has ruled out a degree apprenticeships target — warning it would be “too complex” and could “lead to the wrong kind of behaviour”. The Bromsgrove MP was grilled by members of the House of Commons Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee on Wednesday (October 14) in a one-off evidence session. They […]