Nick Linford | FE Week

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Prime Minister David Cameron loses apprenticeships adviser Richard Harrrington

Prime Minister David Cameron has lost his apprenticeships adviser Richard Harrington, who is stepping down from the role to become Syrian Refugees Minister. Mr Cameron made the announcement this morning following his visit to a refugee camp in Lebanon. As Refugees Minister Mr Harrington will be responsible for coordinating and delivering the government’s response to […]

FE Commissioner Dr David Collins to get deputies and new advisers as area reviews take their toll on workload

FE Commissioner Dr David Collins is appointing a new intake of FE deputy commissioners (FEDCs) and advisers with his workload set to burgeon with a series of upcoming area reviews. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is looking to recruit an unspecified number of FEDCs, who could earn up to £700 a-day, and […]

Ten things we know about new Shadow Business Secretary Angela Eagle

Angela Eagle has been confirmed as the new Shadow Business Secretary. This is what we know: 1 Angela Eagle was born in Bridlington on February 17, 1961, and is aged 54. Her predecessor as Shadow Business Secretary was Chuka Umunna, who was 32 years old when he took up the role in October 2011. 2 […]

Topslice offenders threatened with funding suspension

Providers that flout rules on revealing how much they topslice when subcontracting have been given a November 23 deadline to comply — or face having their funding suspended. The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) has threated to suspend public money for lead providers that fail to publish their management fee details on their websites. It comes […]

Soft skills should be part of the main dish — not served on the side

Carole Bishop assesses the role and importance of soft skills and describes how they’re central to a new suite of qualifications You’re in a restaurant and you’ve just ordered a lovely chicken meal. As a side dish you’ve also ordered some greens — because you know they’re really good for you. So, you start to […]

FE Choices website set to close after three-and-a-half years

The FE Choices website is to shut next month after three-and-a-half years, it was revealed by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) this afternoon. The website, which was previously known as the Framework for Excellence and which allows the public to compare the performance of providers, is set to close at the end of October. An […]

Government apprenticeship reform adviser Doug Richard charged with child sex offences

Government apprenticeship reform adviser and former BBC Dragons’ Den investor Doug Richard has been charged with sexual activity with a 13-year-old girl. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) told FE Week today that there is “sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest” for Richard to be charged. The 57-year-old multimillionaire, whose 2012 Richard Review […]

The power to shape the future of learning — together

The three-day Association for Learning Technology (ALT) conference opens tomorrow at the University of Manchester. Dr Maren Deepwell outlines some of the highlights she’s expecting from the 22nd annual ALT event, entitled Shaping the Future of Learning Together. The more powerful technology becomes in our society, the more important it becomes to understand its […]