New Skills Minister Nick Boles admitted to knowing “nothing” about the sector during his first parliamentary appearance in the job, but said he was “keen to learn” about FE and skills.
Likening himself to dim-witted Faulty Towers waiter Manuel (pictured right), played by Andrew Sachs in the 1970s BBC comedy series, Mr Boles told a Westminster Hall debate he felt unprepared.
Responding to statements from MPs Graham Allen, Andrew Percy and Justin Tomlinson, along with Shadow Education Minister Rushanara Ali, about provision for 14 to 17-year-olds considered pre-Neet (not in education, employment or training) and Ofsted, he spoke of his pride in taking on the new role.
He said: “I am tremendously privileged and lucky and happy to be given this job. Like poor Manuel, I know nothing at the moment, but I am keen to learn.”
He said a piece of jargon he was not fond of was the phrase “workreadiness,” as he conceded he felt “quite un-workready myself” after less than 24 hours in the job.
Mr Boles also used his speech to pay tribute to the “energy, enthusiasm and drive” of his predecessor, Matthew Hancock, who has been appointed Business, Enterprise and Energy Minister and will attend Cabinet in his job (although not as a Cabinet post-holder).
For more on Mr Boles’s first parliamentary appearance as Skills Minister see feweek.co.uk this afternoon
he’s already one step ahead of Mr Hancock then…an opportunity for us all to help someone do the job properly methinks.
Oh dear oh dear. As in Independent Learning Provider we are not in a position to appoint trainers, tutors or assessors into posts who know nothing about the job. I guess on a positive note we have to applaud the bloke for his honesty!
Sent the minister a copy of findings and comments: Apprenticeship funding reforms impact survey yesterday. 52 pages of findings and comments on what the sector think about apprenticeship reforms. Will give the minister a insight on what the sector thinks. survey results can be downloaded from http://www.apprenticeships4england.info
Sharon Jones
Perhaps Mr Boles would like to come and spend the day with someone who has worked in FE and workbased learning for 27 years! I am happy to give him an insight into this world.
Airlines wouldn’t let their planes be flown by novices.
The navy wouldn’t let civilians steer their ships.
The government wouldn’t let FE be headed by … What! They have!
Looks like stupidity is alive and well in modern Britain.