Nick Linford | FE Week

Dozens of National Apprenticeship Awards winners announced in ceremonies across England

[slideshow_deploy id=’40567′] Dozens of high achieving apprentices and employers have been recognised at National Apprenticeship Awards ceremonies across England. The events for London (pictured above), the South West, North West (including Liverpool, Cumbria and Lancashire), Yorkshire and the Humber, West Midlands, and North East took place between Thursday (October 8) and yesterday (October 15). It […]

Apprenticeship exam costs concern at CBI as AELP issues ‘don’t start Trailblazers without fees info’ warning

CBI calls for ‘clarity’ on Trailblazer assessments AELP warns against new starts without knowing costs The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has hit out over fears that companies and providers could be hit by costly new apprenticeship exams with big awarding organisations (AOs) yet to say what they’ll charge. In an exclusive interview with […]

Five ‘no confidence’ votes principal steps down

A Midland college principal hit with five votes of no confidence by staff has stepped down. Beverley Smith has resigned from her position as principal of Stafford College with immediate effect, the college has confirmed. It follows reports in local media this month that 14 members of staff at the college had been made redundant, […]

Taking a closer look at the FE college sector’s ‘financial meltdown’

The Public Accounts Committee next week looks deeper into the FE college sector over fears it was heading for “financial meltdown,” explains Meg Hillier. As Shane Chowen wrote in his FE Insider column earlier this month, the government has committed to investing £411bn in national infrastructure, but we lack the right skills to deliver the […]

Public Accounts Committee to look at FE ‘financial meltdown’

Concerns the FE sector is heading for “financial meltdown” are set to be investigated by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). The committee will next week “challenge government” as it picks up on the findings of the National Audit Office (NAO), which in July reported that the financial health of the FE college sector had been in decline with […]

Could Matthew Hancock be facing his biggest test yet with IT system role in large employers’ apprenticeship levy?

This is the man with the daunting task of implementing a new cross-government IT system for large employers to pay into the proposed apprenticeship levy — and he’s got to do it in just 18 months. In an exclusive interview with FE Week, Cabinet Office Minister and ‘earn or learn’ taskforce chair Matthew Hancock opened […]

Trust launches 16 new tech-based projects to help boost digital learning in FE

The University for Industry (Ufi) Trust has officially launched 16 tech-based projects that it hopes will revolutionise digital learning in FE. The VocLearnTech projects, which involve for example augmented reality simulators, 3D printed robots and interactive chemistry platforms, have been backed by the trust with £750K funding. The launch event held last night (October 8) at […]

Boles addresses apprenticeship standard quality concerns

Skills Minister Nick Boles (pictured above) addressed concerns about how the quality of apprenticeships will be policed as the government drives towards its target of creating 3m apprenticeship by 2020. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) raised the possibility, in its consultation on the proposed large employers’ apprenticeship levy set to be introduced […]

Skills Minister Nick Boles reveals government considering signing apprentices up to spread the careers guidance word

Apprentices could be asked to sign contracts upon enrolment requiring them to deliver careers advice, Skills Minister Nick Boles told the Conservative Party conference in Manchester today. Leading a panel including an apprentice and Crossrail chair Terry Morgan, Mr Boles called for help from delegates in Manchester in persuading young people to take up apprenticeships […]