Skills Minister Nick Boles has confirmed that consultancy grants of £50k or £100k will be available to support colleges to implement area review recommendations, in a letter sent to all colleges and training providers ahead of the Easter break.

The letter is the first written confirmation from the government that the cash, which was first revealed by FE Week following a presentation by the Skills Minister at an Association of Colleges (Aoc) event on March 2, is on offer.

“We are putting in place a support package to assist you with implementing the reviews’ recommendations,” Mr Boles wrote in the letter.

“At the AoC event, I announced that we will provide £50K or £100k of transition grant funding for each substantive area review recommendation to support colleges in accessing the skills and capacity needed,” he continued.

The letter, sent to all chairs and principals of FE and sixth form colleges and chief executives of independent training providers on March 24, gives an update on the government’s FE reforms, including apprenticeships and the area reviews.

Mr Boles wrote that he was “pleased with the way in which you have responded to the challenge” of the area review process, and that he was “hugely encouraged that the first wave is starting to produce the kinds of outcomes we envisaged”.

The updated area review guidance, published on March 1, included “lessons from the early reviews”, Mr Boles wrote, the most “critical” of which was the need for colleges to “engage fully and honestly with each other and local stakeholders early on”.

In order to provide the support that colleges need “to deliver this new landscape”, the Skills Minister wrote, the government was “putting in place a support package to assist you with implementing the reviews’ recommendations”.

This package would include the consultancy grants and the £500m restructuring facility, which FE Week previously reported on.

“I should stress, however, that these funds are time-limited and colleges will need to make the most of this opportunity now to achieve the strength and stability required for the long term,” Mr Boles warned.

While not part of the area reviews, independent training providers will “need to be aware of the shifting landscapes in their local area and of wider developments”, he wrote.

These include the work, led by Lord Sainsbury and currently being finalised, on “reforming the technical education system”, which Mr Boles said he expected would be “making ground-breaking proposals”.

Mr Boles’s letter also referred to two announcements in the recent Budget – the 10 per cent levy top up for companies paying the apprenticeship levy, and four more devolution deals for West of England, East Anglia, Greater Lincolnshire and Greater Manchester.

Mr Boles also thanked colleges and providers for making National Apprenticeship Week a success. There were more than 30,000 new apprenticeship pledges during the week, which Mr Boles said was “the highest ever NAW total”.

Mr Boles’s letter and the accompanying policy briefing are available on the gov.uk website.

An advert has appeared on a government website for an apprenticeship vacancy with Tata Steel — even though the troubled firm wants to sell-off all its UK operations.

It was posted on the gov.uk ‘Find an apprenticeship’ site four days ago, inviting applications for a four-year advanced level course starting in May this year.

Yet the Indian-based company sparked widespread concern for around 15,000 jobs after announcing plans to sell-off its British operations, including the country’s largest steelworks at Port Talbot, at the end of March.

Tata declined to say today how many apprentices’ jobs were under threat when questioned by FE Week, or explain why the advert for the new post still went live when it wanted to sell-up.

But a spokesperson from NITAL, the training provider for the advertised apprentice engineer post, said: “Although there is a certain amount of uncertainty around Tata Steel, we have to carry on as usual —that’s really what we have got to do.

“If everything is resolved and nothing has been done about the apprenticeships that will be a problem.

“You will always see lots of applications for opportunities like this, it is still a large organisation and other large organisations have faced challenges in the past.”

The advanced level apprenticeship advert indicated that the post would improve applicants’ “employability”.

The weekly wage was listed as £294, and the scheme was also said to initially include “full time attendance at an offsite training facility supported by a Tata Steel bursary”.

It added: “Typically on completion of your apprenticeship, you will join an existing engineering team as an engineer team member.

“From there you could progress to team leader and later upwards to become a process engineer.

“The breadth of the organisation means that there are always opportunities to take advantage of.”

Although Tata, which is reportedly losing £1m a day on its UK operations, declined to comment directly on the advert or wider prospects for its UK apprentices, a spokesperson told FE Week: “From employees’ perspective, it’s very much business as usual.

“They will continue to contribute to their business’ performance and they will continue to be employed by Tata Steel.

She added that there was “an urgent need to show improvement in the UK business in order to make it as attractive as possible to a prospective buyer”.

“A process has now started for exploring opportunities for a strong future beyond Tata Steel, which has reluctantly concluded it has taken its UK operations as far as it can,” she said.

“It’s important we avoid any overreaction, either from employees or our customers and suppliers.”

The Department for Business, innovation and Skills was unable to comment ahead of publication on the apprenticeship advert, but said it was “doing everything it can to help the industry secure a long-term viable future”.

“Our absolute priority is to look after the workers and wider community as we work with Tata to find a viable long-term solution,” the spokesperson added.

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) has announced that it has delayed the launch of the new ‘recruit an apprentice/trainee’ service until “early summer”.

The SFA said in its online Update bulletin today that the reason for the delay was to “carry out more development work and user testing”.

The new service, which will replace the old ‘Apprenticeship Vacancies’ site, will be hosted on gov.uk and offer a “self-serve facility for colleges and other training organisations to advertise vacancies more quickly”.

The bulletin added the new service would include built-in validations for wages on the vacancy posting form, simpler vacancy management tools, with enhanced quality assurance features, and clearer and timely feedback from its advisers to providers on their vacancies.

“We will publish details about how to use the new service on gov.uk later this spring,” it added.

It did not however mention the inclusion of a feature to allow employers to post their own vacancies, as promised in the government’s 2020 Vision document released in December.

That report said at the time that “by February 2016, employers will be able to post their own vacancies on the system, working with education and training providers where they want to.”

When asked by FE Week what was happening with this, an SFA spokesperson said: “The first phase of the launch will enable providers to post their own vacancies. The second phase will allow employers to post their own vacancies.”

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has today launched a long-awaited consultation into introducing maintenance loans for learners in FE.

The consultation, which closes on June 16, is around the premise of introducing loans for FE learners aged 19 and above at levels 4 to 6.

The aim of introducing the loans, the consultation document states, is to increase take-up of technical and professional learning, particularly at National Colleges and Institutes of Technology.

“The central proposition is for the introduction of maintenance loans on a par with the level of support available in higher education (HE) to support learners aged 19 plus undertaking level 4 to level 6 technical and professional learning (excluding apprenticeships) at specialist providers, including the new National Colleges, and longer term, at the emerging Institutes of Technology,” the consultation states.

The loans are designed to make technical and professional learning “accessible to the best learners, irrespective of their background or location”, the consultation states.

The government’s assumption, the document goes on to say, is that the “higher technical provision” covered by the loans “will primarily be delivered through National Colleges and Institutes of Technology.

Introducing loans would mean “providing individuals with the choice to attend a college outside their local area, for example a National college or future Institute of Technology in another region”, the document states.

“We need to ensure that the incentives are there for National Colleges, the future Institutes of Technology, and other institutions to focus on delivering high quality vocational qualifications, while ensuring that learners can afford to take advantage of new opportunities even if they require living costs to be provided,” it continues.

In his foreword to the consultation, Skills Minister Nick Boles says: “This consultation is also about what more we can do to get the new National Colleges and the emerging Institutes of Technology off to a flying start.”

The consultation also includes questions around eligibility for the maintenance loans, including whether they should be means-tested.

The government’s intention is “that the personal eligibility rules for FE maintenance loans would mirror the personal eligibility rules for HE maintenance loans”, the document states.

“As a guiding principle it is reasonable to assume that learners should be neither worse nor better off whether they choose to study in HE or FE,” it continues.

Martin Doel, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, questioned the focus on National Colleges and Institutes of Technology.

Mr Doel told FE Week: “We have been pressing for many years for maintenance loans to be available to FE students and we can see that this proposal could serve to stimulate technical and professional education.

“But if the government is serious in its intention to promote technical and professional learning, it cannot be right to limit the loans an embryonic and pre-embryonic set of institutions,” he said.

Policy consultant Mark Corney called the consultation “potentially path-breaking”.

“The opportunity exists to breakdown the unfairness between maintenance support for full time and part time higher education and full time and part time adult professional and technical education,” he said.

Maintenance loans in FE were first announced as part of the government’s spending review in November, as part of expanded package of loans for FE learners.

The consultation closes on June 16 and is available via the Gov.uk website.

Midday update: Sadly Martin Doel hasn’t been appointed our new editor, because this was, of course, another infamous FE Week April Fool.

However, today does mark the start of our search for a new full-time editor for FE Week. The ad is now live on the Guardian jobs website, with applications due by the end of the month.

FE Week is delighted to announce the appointment of Martin Doel CBE, as the paper’s new editor-in-chief.

Taking on the leadership of FE Week will complete Mr Doel’s triumvirate of FE roles, alongside his current post as chief executive of the Association of Colleges (AoC) and his recent appointment as the first professor of FE and skills at the Further Education Trust for Leadership (FETL).

“I’m really excited about this opportunity,” he said.

“It’s a big moment of change for me and this gives me another area to explore and to develop into — I’m looking forward to the chance to express myself creatively.”

Mr Doel said he was confident that juggling the three hats would not affect his ability to take an impartial view of the sector.

“I am certain that I can fulfil my duties in each post without a conflict of interests. I’ve always seen myself as a chameleon in the workplace,” he said.

He added that moving into the world of journalism was an important next step for his career.

“My eight years of experience at the AoC have given me many opportunities to engage with the work of FE Week, and I’m thrilled to be now taking that relationship to a new level.”

In discussing the rigorous interview process that led to his success, Mr Doel said he approached the experience with optimism and an open-mind.

“I just knew I was the right man for the job,” he said.

“It wasn’t tough in so far as the act I have to follow – taking over from Nick Linford [interim editor of FE Week] presented me with a real opportunity to add value.”

He added: “It is time for someone to bring greater intellectual depth and vigour to the paper.”

Mr Doel said he was “really looking forward” to working with the FE Week team, and has already begun laying out his vision for future developments.

“I can’t wait to finally give them the opportunity to show their underlying talent,” he said.

 

“I’ll be pioneering a new section called ‘The Good News’, which I’m sure will be a hit with the readers.”

When asked what this might include, Mr Doel said it was “a work in progress”.

Shane Mann, managing director of Lsect, the publisher of FE Week, said Mr Doel’s appointment singled a pivotal moment for the paper.

“This change heralds the dawn of bright future for FE Week,” he said.

“Martin is an excellent choice and I know his wealth of experience in the sector and his sharp intellect will be invaluable.”

He added: “I’d like to thank Nick for his efforts in stepping in as interim editor until the post was filled.

“He has done a great job but I know he is now looking forward to spending more time at home with his four chickens, and his wife and children.”

Dame Ruth Silver, FETL’s founding president, joined Mr Mann in congratulating Mr Doel on his new appointment.

“FETL is delighted that Martin is combining our professorial work with FE Week. News in time becomes knowledge for us all, and fitting them together in this way plays strongly to Martin’s experience and sense of accuracy. We wish him all the best,” she said.

However, not everyone welcomed the news of Mr Doel’s appointment. Dominic Ponsford, editor of journalism trade paper The Press Gazette, warned that “this seems to be a case of gamekeeper turned poacher”.

“I hope this is not going to be a growing trend of papers appointing editors who have a wealth of sector-specific knowledge but who don’t have any journalistic experience,” he added.

Responding to these concerns Mr Mann added: “We interviewed a number of individuals for this role with a wide range of experiences in both the further education and skills sector and journalism. Martin’s wealth of knowledge of the issues in FE is unquestionable and it did not take me long to decide on his appointment.”

Mr Doel will officially take over as editor on Monday, April 4 2016.

Cash-strapped Carlisle College has been in talks with a view to join the Newcastle College Group (NCG).

A spokesperson said the merger proposal had been put forward to strengthen and further develop Carlisle College’s provision and meet the needs of the local community at a time when small colleges are facing “challenges in a difficult funding environment”.

In January, FE Week reported that Carlisle College, which caters for more than 2,000 students, turned to its county council for a £700,000 loan to help address a “need for short-term cash flow support”.

A spokesperson told FE Week that the proposed merger with NCG would not have an impact on the loan, and it will still be repaid to Cumbria County Council in May 2016 as planned.

The proposal is now moving into detailed discussions with NCG and the takeover, if agreed, could happen before the next academic year starts in September.

If the takeover goes ahead, Carlisle College will keep its name and campus site.

Carlisle College principal, Moira Tattersall, said: “This is a really exciting time for the college and for Carlisle. NCG has a fantastic reputation for innovation and professionalism, and becoming part of the group will enhance our ability to respond to new skills needs in the area.

“The college will continue to do all the things it is known for and will have the resources and stability to develop new opportunities and address the needs and priorities that we cannot tackle alone. There is an opportunity to learn from NCG’s Aviation Training Centre at Newcastle Airport and their Rail Academy and see how this can help develop the colleges offer in Carlisle.”

Chief executive of NCG, Joe Docherty, said: “We are delighted that Carlisle College wants to join NCG. We share their focus on providing what employers and students in Carlisle need to develop skills for their local economy, and we are pleased to be able to back that with the expertise and capacity of a major national group.”

The consultation on this plan will coincide with the government-led area review of Cumbrian colleges starting next month.

City College Brighton & Hove and neighbouring Northbrook College have announced plans to merge into a new Regional Institute of Arts & Technology.

A spokesperson for the two colleges said their intention is to create a single institute that places apprenticeships and work-based learning “at the heart” of its plans to “transform the lives of young people and adults across the City Region”.

The new college is proposed to be called The Greater Brighton & Sussex Institute of Arts & Technology.

It will teach around 3,500 16 to 18 year old students, 7,500 adults, 1,000 undergraduates and more than 800 apprentices generating a turnover of around £40m, the spokesperson said.

Both Northbrook College and City College Brighton will retain their local campuses and delivery in Brighton, Shoreham and Worthing, but will be led by a central executive team and governing body “pursuing a single strategic plan”.

There will be a full public consultation later in the year to gather the views of staff, students and the local community.

Sue Dare, principal of Northbrook College, said: “For me this is all about creating an organisation with the capacity to invest in a broad curriculum offer establishing a sound educational footing of mathematics, English and employability skills for all our students while at the same time developing a suite of vocational specialisms up to and including degree level courses.

“These specialisms will be closely aligned to local economic priorities including creative, digital and IT in Brighton and Worthing, Engineering at Shoreham and Worthing, and construction at East Brighton.”

Nick Juba, chief executive of City College Brighton said the “expansion and growth” of apprenticeships will be a “key component” of their strategy for the institute.

“It will provide a genuine alternative to A-levels and University and access to a wide range of professional and technical qualifications to degree level,” he added.

“It will focus on giving our students the skills they need find jobs and careers across the City Region and beyond. That’s what we do best and it’s what will make the new institute different.”

When asked by FE Week about the new name dropping the word “college”, Mr Juba said: “At present we are simply developing proposals for the new organisation. This is true for the name too. Nothing is fixed at this stage although it is worth reflecting that there is a long history of the use of the term ‘institute’ within the further and higher education sectors and, in particular, in Brighton.”

The merger comes ahead of the recommendations of the government-led wave one Sussex area review, which had its first steering group meeting on October 22 last year.

The number of new 16-18 apprenticeship starts has continued to rise although the level of new starters in adult provision has fallen, according to new provisional Skills Funding Agency statistics.

Statistical First Release data published today for the first two quarters of 2015/16 show the overall number of new starts is up by 2,400 to 251,100 – a 1 per cent increase on last year’s figures.

The biggest driver behind this is again the rise of under 19 apprenticeships – up by 5,500 to 84,200 new starts (7 per cent).

However while 16-18 new starts rose, the number of adult provision continues to fall. The biggest decrease was in the 19-24 category, which saw new starts fall by 3,800 to 77,100 – a drop of 4.7 per cent.

Digging into the figures by levels show under 19 intermediate level apprenticeships rose by 2,600 to 54,900 (5 per cent) with advanced level apprenticeships for under 19s up by 2,500 to 28,200 (9.7 per cent).

In terms of percentage, the highest increase was the number of under 19s starting on a higher apprenticeship – up by 500 to 1,100 (83.3 per cent).

However the number of 19-24 intermediate level apprenticeship starters fell by 4,600 to 41,500 (10 per cent).

The figures also reveal that in the six months from August to January only 1,100 starts are on the new apprenticeship standards (0.4%), up from 400 for the whole of 2014/15 (table below).

A government response to the figures focused on a “dramatic increase” in the number of higher apprenticeships, which rose to 11,100 starts (4.4% of all starts) compared to 7,500 (3% of all starts) for the same period last year.

Skills Minister Nick Boles said: “Apprenticeships offer the life changing opportunities working people deserve. The growth in the number of higher apprenticeships is fantastic, and shows that apprenticeships deliver the advanced, technical skills businesses need.

“Apprenticeships and traineeships are creating the highly skilled workforce our employers and economy need. We are well on our way to creating 3 million apprenticeships by 2020.”