Nick Linford | FE Week

Apprenticeship funding question remains unanswered as government consults further on PAYE and credit account

The future of apprenticeship funding remains unclear despite the government this morning responding to the results of a three-month technical consultation last year. The government has pledged further “collaborative” consultation after neither of the proposed mechanisms to fund apprenticeships emerged as a clear favourite. Funding for apprenticeships is currently routed through providers, but in future […]

Bus service cuts hitting FE and skills attendance with learners not ‘even getting to college gates’

Years of funding cuts in local bus services that have seen around 2,000 routes being trimmed or ended has left FE and skills learners struggling with “even getting to the college gates,” the National Union of Students (NUS) has warned. Colum McGuire, NUS vice president for welfare, has spoken out in light of a Campaign […]

SFA Hub suffers yet another breakdown as data return deadline looms

Providers faced the latest Hub breakdown this week as management information system staff tried to submit their data before the first individualised learner record (ILR) deadline of 2015. They have until 6pm tomorrow (Wednesday) to submit data for the ILR R05 (fifth return of the academic year) period, but experienced difficulties using the Skills Funding […]

Scores of apprentices hit by City Link collapse

Scores of apprentices were facing an uncertain future over their jobs today following the collapse of parcel delivery firm City Link — just months after it picked up a national award for its training programme. The company announced it went into administration on Christmas Eve and administrators Ernst and Young warned there would be “substantial” job cuts […]

College security guard shot while on night-time patrol

A college security guard was shot three times with an air rifle while on night patrol, it has been reported. The 56-year-old, who has not been named, was hit in the face, bicep and thigh while patrolling Ofsted grade two-rated Manchester College’s Openshaw campus, on Sunday, December 28, according to the Manchester Evening News. It […]

CBI director general Cridland calls for GCSE ‘abolition’ with participation age rising to 18

The abolition of GCSEs in favour of tests at the age of 18 has been put forward by Confederation of British Industry (CBI) director general John Cridland. His New Year message, released today, outlines a system of “tailored learning plans” for 14 to 18-year-olds, complemented by the “abolition of GCSEs at 16”. “Britain’s young people […]

Apprenticeship dedication earns Jason Holt a New Year honour as 34 FE and skills figures celebrate awards

The author of a 2012 government-commissioned report aimed at boosting apprentice uptake among businesses is one of four FE and skills figures to have received a CBE in the New Year Honours list. Jason Holt (pictured), chief executive of jewellery firm Holts Group, wrote Making Apprenticeships More Accessible to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and was honoured in the 2015 […]

JCP traineeship ‘target’ after ‘concerns scheme extends benefit claims’

Job Centre Plus (JCP) staff have been set a “target” of 10,000 traineeship referrals amid concerns the youth unemployment programme had not been promoted to benefit claimants because it extended their time out of work, FE Week can reveal. The figure, to be achieved within 12 months from August this year, was disclosed in documents […]

New SFA chief Peter Lauener reveals college finance concerns in exclusive interview first with FE Week

New Skills Funding Agency (SFA) chief executive Peter Lauener (pictured) has told of his concern for the future of a “growing number of colleges” running into financial difficulties, in an exclusive interview with FE Week editor Chris Henwood. Mr Lauener, appointed around the start of last month, outlined how “financial strategies” were key in the […]