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12 April 2026

Author: Nick Linford

Apprentice minimum wage to rise to £2.73 an-hour

The National Minimum Wage for apprentices is set to rise by 5p an-hour to £2.73, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills announced today. The 2 per cent rise will come into force on October 1. The move was recommended by the Low Pay Commission after the government asked how it could increase the lowest […]

Adult skills funding rates untouched despite budget cuts

Adult skills funding rates in 2014/15 are to remain the same as this year, despite a 19 per cent reduction to the adult skills budget (ASB) over the next two years. The Skills Funding Agency has published its Funding rates and formula document for the next academic year. It shows rates, which are set per […]

Wait for new SFA funding rules is over

The wait for the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) 2014/15 funding rules is over. The new funding rules came out yesterday having been expected at the end of January. The 130-page document sets out the rules for all SFA-funded provision from August 1 this year. For comment and analysis see edition 96 of FE Week, dated Monday, March […]

Sector reacts positively to FE progression proposal from Labour taskforce

A Labour Skills Taskforce recommendation that school funding be withheld if students do not progress into FE, employment or training has been greeted enthusiastically by the FE sector. The taskforce’s third report, Qualifications Matter: Improving the Curriculum and Assessment for All, was published last week, and said that schools cash withheld should go instead towards […]

Provider cuts averaging up to 15pc expected this week

Providers were expected to be hit with adult skills budget cuts  this week at an average of between 10 and 15 per cent, the Association of Colleges (AoC) has warned. Allocations are due out this week, providing the first indication of the impact of a 19 per cent two-year adult skills budget cut that was outlined […]

Skills Minister Matthew Hancock led MPs ‘up the garden path’ over balloon artistry and instructing pole fitness qualifications

Skills Minister Matthew Hancock (pictured) has been accused of “leading Parliament up the garden path” with claims to be cutting spending on qualifications that were never even eligible for public funding. He told the House of Commons on Wednesday that more than 5,000 qualifications, including “balloon artistry and instructing pole fitness will no longer” be paid for […]