Author: Nick Linford

Edge Foundation chief executive Jan Hodges OBE today announced her retirement next month after a 35-year career in education. The former South Essex College of Further and Higher Education principal has run Edge for the last four years and will be succeeded by policy and research director David Harbourne until her permanent replacement is appointed. […]

The two-year apprenticeship funding reform saga in which employers were expected to be handed government money to pay for training today came to an end — with cash continuing to pass directly from the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) to providers. Number 10 Downing Street, ahead of tomorrow’s Budget, announced that a “digital apprenticeship voucher” would […]

The majority of young people taking part in traineeships have gone on to apprenticeships, employment or further learning, according to government research published today. The outcome of an initial government evaluation of the first year of the programme found that half of trainees went on to apprenticeships or employment, and a further 17 per cent undertook […]

Hundreds more employers have signed up to the government’s Trailblazer overhaul of apprenticeship design, Skills Minister Nick Boles announced today. More than 200 new employers have joined the 1,000-plus organisations involved in the Trailblazers programme, which allow groups of employers to join together to design apprenticeships. Today’s announcement of 26 new groups, who will design […]

Skills Minister Nick Boles has revealed government hopes of doubling traineeships to hit the 20,000 mark this academic year. He has written to FE college leaders ahead of the general election with an update on reforms and programmes, including changes in governance, funding and English and maths. And on traineeships, which saw 10,400 starts during […]

Further Education Commissioner Dr David Collins (pictured) has revealed how a London college’s projected bank balance was overestimated by £3m as he called on Skills Minister Nick Boles to place it into administered status. Mr Boles followed Dr Collins’ advice on Greenwich Community College after he told the minister of “serious problems — both in terms of […]

A challenge to complete the “overhaul” of apprenticeships is being put to the next government, as National Apprenticeship Week launches today. The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) said the decision to reform the way apprenticeships were funded, a gradual increase in the apprentice minimum wage and reaching the two million apprentices target, were all significant […]

Next academic year’s 24 per cent FE funding cut will “intensify” the challenges faced by college governors, the University and College Union (UCU) has warned after a government report conceded the effect of spending reductions so far had been “profound”. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) report assessing the impact of governance reform in […]