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17 April 2026

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Three arrested in SFO investigation

Three men have been arrested as part of an investigation into Luis Michael Training, a company which used to deliver football-based apprenticeships. The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) says the individuals were arrested as part of a search operation on four homes and a business property early this morning. Two of the men who were arrested […]

City of Bristol College principal to retire after a decade in role

Keith Elliot, principal at City of Bristol College, has announced his plans to retire in July. The principal, who has held the position for more than a decade, has been praised for helping the college to become “one of the largest and most successful” FE colleges in the UK, achieving Beacon College status and an […]

FE loans market research published by BIS

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has published a research paper detailing how learners feel about the upcoming “24+ Advanced Learning Loans” policy. The research, carried out by TNS BMRB, found that 74 per cent of learners aged 23 or above said “they at least might take a course” at level 3, while […]

FE is ‘very different kettle of fish’

The fast-approaching FE loans policy has been labelled as “very complex to implement”, “difficult to market” and cause for “real worry” from key figures in the sector. A roundtable debate, held at the FE Week office and attended by a representative from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the University and College Union […]

BIS Select Committee announces final apprenticeship evidence session

The BIS Select Committee have announced details of their final evidence session on Apprenticeships. On the 16 May at 9.50am John Hayes MP, Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning will join Gila Sacks, Deputy Director of the Apprenticeships Unit (BIS/DfE), will give their evidence. The session will be streamed live on […]

The Skills Funding Agency don’t do planning, and neither can you

When Skills Funding Agency (SFA) replaced the Learning and Skills Council in April 2010 a critical difference in function was a very public end to central planning. This was accelerated by the coalition government when in June 2010 they scrapped the Summary Statement of Activity (a national template for provider plans) and introduced the ‘freedoms and […]

FE loans to be called “24+ Advanced Learning Loans”

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has revealed to FE Week that the new FE loans system will be called “24+ Advanced Learning Loans” when it’s introduced next year. A BIS spokesperson told FE Week: “It is important that the name for the loans reflects the type of learners and learning that it will apply […]

UKCES appoints four new commissioners

The UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) has appointed four new commissioners. Gail Cartmail, assistant general secretary for Unite the Union, Scott Johnson, chief executive of Chas Smith Shopfitters Ltd, Toby Peyton-Jones, HR director at Siemens UK & North West Europe and Neil Mclean, chair of the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership have […]

Chesterfield College staff set to strike

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) at Chesterfield College today (Friday) voted to take industrial action in a row over jobs and pay. Nine in ten (88 per cent) of those who voted voted for strike action. A date for the action will be announced next week. The union’s action is in response to […]