Application guidance for the new funding pot to support the implementation of area review recommendations has been unveiled today.

It comes just a week after the Treasury refused yet again to tell FE Week how much cash is in the pot – sometimes referred to as a restructuring facility – despite repeated enquiries.

The new guidance, published four months after FE Week first revealed details of the fund, is for general FE colleges and sixth form colleges (SFCs) “impacted by a substantive area review recommendation” and “unable to fund the change themselves”.

The funding is available as a loan “wherever possible”, the guidance said — “with terms which are commercial or as close as possible to commercial for government”.

The report did not include a figure for the size of the fund, or say how much cash colleges and SFCs can ask for.

But it said all colleges would be expected to show that “alternative sources of funding have been considered and are being utilised as far as possible”.

All applications will also need to clearly show how the proposal will “help you move towards financial resilience and higher quality and more responsive provision”.

Unlike the transition grants for consultants, guidance for which was published in April, colleges and SFCs “should usually not submit more than one application” for the facility, the new guidance added.

And if a recommendation involves more than one institution, they should “submit a single, joint application”.

All applications will need to include an implementation plan and a “fully integrated financial model”, alongside a completed application form.

The application should “differentiate between and provide evidence for facts, assumptions and aspirations”, the guidance said.

Applications will also need “a clear, well evidenced and well thought through” financial forecast.

And implementation plans will need to outline “what the changes are and their fit with the area review recommendation” and “what outcomes will be delivered”.

They will also need to include a “long term strategy and business plan” including a curriculum plan that meets the “area’s educational and economic needs as set out in the area review report”.

As previously reported by FE Week, funding is available from the facility to cover any VAT costs resulting from the change in ownership or building due to an area review recommendation.

Colleges and SFCs can apply for this “compensatory payment” as part of their restructuring facility application, or on a separate application form “which will be published in due course” if they are only applying for VAT compensation.

A separate application form for SFCs to apply for funding “for an academisation” will also be published “in due course”, the guidance said.

Lord Sugar has accepted a second “enterprise tsar” role to encourage more young people onto apprenticeships — but this time under a Conservative government.

The wealthy entrepreneur and television star was knighted in 2000 and served as the previous Labour government’s enterprise champion in 2009, under then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

However, it was announced last May that he had quit the Labour party because of its “negative business policies and the general anti-enterprise concepts” under Ed Miliband’s leadership.

The Conservative government has now announced that he will serve as its “enterprise tsar”.
A spokesperson said: “As well as championing enterprise and apprenticeships among young people, he will encourage businesses to take on apprentices themselves.”

Lord Sugar said: “I’m delighted to be taking on this challenge. I built successful businesses with the support of hundreds of talented young people who learned their skills on the job – exactly the kinds of skills you learn in an apprenticeship.

“But not enough of our young people know about apprenticeships and what they offer, and too few feel empowered to set up their own business.

“I’ll be travelling the length and breadth of this country to tell young people why apprenticeships are a great way for them to build their skills – and talking about the opportunities for starting their own business, hopefully instilling some entrepreneurial spirit.”

Lord Sugar reportedly joined the “billionaire’s club” in 2015, with his estimated fortune standing at £1.15bn.

He founded his most famous business enterprise, computer and electronics specialist Amstrad, in 1968.

The peer was chairman of Tottenham Hotspur football club from 1991 to 2001 and is now best-known for fronting BBC TV series The Apprentice.

Skills Minister Nick Boles said: “Lord Sugar has huge credibility among young people and I am delighted that he has agreed to help the government bang the drum for apprenticeships and enterprise.

“We want every young person in Britain to get on and build a great life for themselves, whether it’s by starting an apprenticeship or setting up their own business.”

Lord Sugar will go on a series of roadshow events across England, speaking to local school leavers and businesses.

A spokesperson for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills told FE Week this morning that Lord Sugar is not being paid for the new role.

The government has announced the second wave of apprenticeship frameworks that will be closed to new starts, with of total of 60 facing termination in December.

The announcement was made by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) on the gov.uk website today, indicating that frameworks will be shut down towards the end of the year.

It said: “We have now published a second batch of 60 apprenticeship frameworks that we will withdraw for new starts from December 1, 2016.

“These frameworks had a low number of reported starts in the 2014 to 2015 and the 2015 to 2016 funding years or have provision covered by developing apprenticeship standards.”

The number of apprenticeship frameworks to be removed has jumped considerably from the first batch of just seven scheduled to be switched off in June.

The second group to be removed includes subjects such as banking, ceramics manufacturing, fundraising and public relations (find a full list below).

The SFA release included a comment that confirmed the change “will not affect those apprentices currently completing their apprenticeship on these frameworks”.

On March 2, FE Week reported that the government had announced the first seven apprenticeship frameworks to be closed to new starts from June 1, 2016.

This included frameworks in blacksmithing, engineering and manufacturing technologies, campaigning business administration and law, energy assessment and advice, retail and commercial enterprise.

The closures were again attributed to a lack of starts in these areas between 2014 and 2016.

In December last year, FE Week reported that the government had scrapped plans to stop funding all apprenticeship frameworks after 2017/18.

The cut-off, that would ensure providers were only delivering new apprenticeship standards come 2018/19, was first announced in October 2013.

But it was revealed in the government’s 2020 vision document, published on December 7, that the 2017/18 end of frameworks has now been dropped.

According to the document, the government’s “aim was for all new apprenticeship starts to be on standards from 2017/18” instead of existing apprenticeship frameworks.

However, it added: “We think the recent announcement of the apprenticeship levy warrants giving employers longer to consider which occupations they will require apprenticeships for.

“To allow for this, we envisage a migration from apprenticeship frameworks to standards over the course of the Parliament, with as much of this to take place by 2017/18 as possible.”

 

Here’s the full list published today:

Framework Code  Franmewok Name

627                         Advanced Diagnostics and Management Principles

586                         Advertising and Marketing Communications

598                         Animal Technology

639                         Automotive Clay Modelling

590                         Banking

452                         Bookkeeping

610                         Broadcast Production

554                         Building Energy Management Systems

581                         Business Innovation and Growth

469                         Ceramics Manufacturing

546                         Combined Manufacturing Processes

415                         Commercial Moving

619                         Contact Centre Operations Management

493                         Costume and Wardrobe

621                         Craft and Technical Roles in Film and Television

624                         Creative Craft Practitioner

614                         Criminal Investigation

409                         Emergency Fire Service Operations

564                         Engineering Construction

604                         Engineering Environmental Technologies

552                         Enterprise

607                         Explosives Storage and Maintenance

577                         Express Logistics

553                         Extractives and Mineral Processing Occupations

585                         Fashion and Textiles:Technical

530                         Fencing

568                         Fish Husbandry and Fish Management

557                         Fundraising

635                         Furniture, Furnishings and Interiors Manufacturing

567                         Health Informatics

470                         Health Pathology Support

611                         Information Security

589                         Insurance

603                         Intelligence Analysis

622                         Interactive Design and Development

629                         Jewellery Manufacturing, Silversmithing and Allied Trades

592                         Learning Support

601                         Legal Advice

450                         Libraries, Archives, Records and Information Management Services

549                         Local Taxation and Benefits

571                         Locksmithing

411                         Mail and Package Distribution

597                         Metal Processing and Allied Operations

593                         Mineral Products Technology

606                         Multi-skilled Vehicle Collision Repair

496                         Music Business

426                         Nuclear Working

451                         Payroll

424                         Polymer Processing Operations

638                         Procurement

503                         Production of Coatings

615                         Professional Aviation Pilot Practice

572                         Public Relations

623                         Rail Engineering Overhead Line Construction

608                         Retail Management

609                         Sound Recording, Engineering and Studio Facilities

510                         Spa Therapy

618                         Sustainable Resource Operations and Management

558                         Volunteer Management

576                         Wood and Timber Processing and Merchants Industry

The University and College Union (UCU) has called on Cornwall College Group principal Amarjit Basi to take a pay cut to show solidarity with up to 60 staff set to lose their jobs through cutbacks.

And a college spokesperson told FE Week this morning that it has not ruled out this suggestion as negotiations progress with UCU officials.

It comes after the college confirmed to FE Week that it is looking at cutting up to 60 jobs “as part of reductions to back office and management to reduce our cost base, as well as some teaching posts, which are affected due to reduced recruitment on some courses”.

UCU regional official, Philippa Davey, explained that this announcement provoked it into requesting that Mr Basi should re-assess his own salary.

She said: “Our proposal was that the principal considers a pay cut. It was one of several put forward by the union in response to yet another new round of redundancies at Cornwall College.

“This latest announcement that up to 60 staff are at risk comes on top of three rounds of redundancies in the past 12 months. There have been ongoing redundancies for the past seven years.

“Meanwhile the principal received a total salary package of £229,000 in 2014/15, which was up from £210,000 the previous year – a 9 per cent pay rise.

“We believe if he were to take a modest pay cut that would send out a strongly supportive signal to staff that everyone is in this together.”

FE Week asked the college how Mr Basi planned to respond to the UCU’s suggestion.

A spokesperson replied: “We are currently in consultation with the unions and no proposals are off the table.”

He added: “The cost of our top 20 managers has reduced by 29 per cent since 2013.

“The principal’s salary has not changed while in post — the (UCU and SFA) 2013/14 figures represent 11 months in post (but) 2014/15 is a full year.”

The spokesperson also explained that a consultation had been launched with staff to find the “necessary savings”, and staff affected would be offered voluntary redundancy, redeployment, retraining or retirement.

“All affected employees will be offered guidance and support,” he said.

The college group struggled with a £9.1m deficit for 2014/15.

The dispute between the UCU and Cornwall College comes after FE Week previously reported that North East Surrey College of Technology (Nescot) principal Sunaina Mann earned a salary of £363,000 in 2015, making her by far the highest earning college principal in the country.

FE Week then exclusively revealed on May 19 that her husband that her husband, Jaswinder Singh Mann, was also employed as a consultant by Nescot to work on its controversial partnership in Saudi Arabia, the Jeddah Female College.

He was paid almost £200,000 in a contract that was not declared to college governors for 18 months.

A spokesperson for the college declined to confirm or deny whether the college failed to adhere to their procurement policy.

But in a statement, Ms Mann said that “robust governance arrangements” had “removed any conflict of interest” from the college’s arrangement with her husband.

A spokesperson for the Skills Funding Agency then told FE Week that it had requested “a report on the issue that has come to light, how it arose and what action Nescot are proposing to take”.

LATEST: Nescot accepts former £360k a year principal was unfairly dismissed

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) has demanded an explanation from North East Surrey College of Technology (Nescot), after FE Week revealed evidence last week of controversial payments amounting to almost £200,000 to the principal’s husband.

A spokesperson for the agency told FE Week yesterday evening that it had requested “a report on the issue that has come to light, how it arose and what action Nescot are proposing to take”.

It comes just a few days after FE Week exclusively revealed the husband of Nescot principal Sunaina Mann was paid almost £200,000 in a contract that was not declared to college governors for 18 months.

We previously reported that Ms Mann received a salary of £363,000 in 2015, making her by far the highest paid college principal in the country.

Following publication on May 19 of FE Week’s story on the payments to her husband Jaswinder Singh Mann, details of the events were also picked up by The Times (pictured below right) and the Mail Online.

FE Week revealed last week that Mr Mann was employed as a consultant by Nescot to work on its controversial partnership in Saudi Arabia, the Jeddah Female College.

The arrangement means that the couple earned £775,000 in total from Nescot over the course of two years.

However, even though Mr Mann signed his first contract with the college on September 24, 2014, Nescot’s governors were not made aware of his role until a board meeting a year and a half later, on March 18, 2016.

The college revealed to FE Week that two further contracts were signed in 2015, on June 8 and August 1, again apparently without the knowledge of the board.

A spokesperson for the college refused to confirm or deny whether the college failed to adhere to their procurement policy.

And despite repeated attempts to obtain an explanation from the chair of the Nescot FE Corporation, Professor Mark Hunt, FE Week has still currently received no comment.

But in a statement, Ms Mann said that “robust governance arrangements” had “removed any conflict of interest” from the college’s arrangement with her husband.

The finalists who will battle it out to be crowned apprentice team of the year in the fifth annual Brathay Challenge have been announced.

Eight teams from across the country, each made up of nine apprentices, will take part in the final at Lake Windermere in the Lake District next month.

They will represent Apprenticeship Norfolk Network, Hampshire County Council, HMRC Digital Newcastle, HMRC Surge and Rapid Response Team, HSBC, IBM, QinetiQ, and UK Atomic Energy Authority.

The closing stage of the competition will involve the learners being tested to the limit over three days — through a series of outdoor and team building exercises — before the overall winner is announced on June 15.

Godfrey Owen, chief executive of the Brathay Trust, said: “All of the teams that have taken part have worked really hard and the quality of the portfolios increases year on year.

“We look forward to the final stage of the challenge when we can welcome the national finalists to Brathay in June.”

The finalists were chosen from 80 teams that entered this year’s challenge.

Between them they recruited almost 300 businesses to start offering apprenticeships, delivered 45 community projects and visited more than 320 schools, careers fairs and youth groups to spread the word about apprenticeships.

Apprentices from Dale Power Solutions and Sellafield Ltd were jointly named apprentice team of the year following last year’s challenge.

This came after the final reached a dramatic conclusion with a whaler boat race — a timed five-mile rowing and navigation trial around Lake Windermere.

Reflecting on his team’s win, Adam Sharp, apprentice at Sellafield Ltd, said: “We hope that winning the title will aid in our efforts to inspire young people and promote apprenticeships.

“Hard work, determination and self-confidence are key in success. We also hope that young people can use our journey as a lesson for themselves.”

Second place was also split between the team from Plymouth City Council and the joint team from Pera Training and Emfec (self-titled Perfec), while the Nottingham City Homes team took third place.

Sue Husband, director of the National Apprenticeship Service, looked forwards to more inspirational performances next month.

She said: “The apprentice team of the year national finals demonstrate the skills, knowledge and desire to succeed from apprentices; and this continues to inspire others and impress us in equal measure.

“It is great to see apprentices put in the hard work to get the recognition they deserve, highlighting how apprenticeships benefit not only young people themselves, but their employers and their local community too.”

For more information on this year’s competition visit brathay.org.uk/challenge.

Main pic: Finalists for the 2016 Brathay Apprentice Challenge were announced at the House of Commons on May 19

The findings of a hotly anticipated review into technical and professional education (TPE) have been hit by further delays — with the government now refusing even to say whether or not it will be unveiled before the EU referendum.

The report, which will set the scene for the first skills white paper in more than a decade, is being worked on by an independent panel led by Lord Sainsbury (pictured).

It is set to recommend the creation of 15 new ‘professional and technical’ routes with apprenticeship or substantial work experience, as exclusively revealed by FE Week on May 6.

The report was originally expected in March, and was then pushed back to May — but a Department for Education (DfE) spokesperson has now declined to say whether it will be published before the referendum on whether Britain should quit the EU on June 23.

In fact, if it is not unveiled before May 27, the report will be banned from publication until after the referendum — due to purdah rules governing the release of important information during periods of national campaigning.

A source told FE Week the release date was discussed at a meeting at BIS on Wednesday (May 18), and that officials believe it is highly likely that the report will now won’t be published until early July.

Shadow skills minister Gordon Marsden said this latest delay will further undermine the FE sector’s efforts to plan for the future.

He told FE Week: “With a sector already uncertain of its future direction amidst cuts and rushed area reviews, this delay adds to their worries.”

What’s more, he said it “further exacerbates frustrations” over Monday’s (May 16) higher education white paper, which upset educators because it made no reference to an “integrated skills strategy” between the two sectors.

The delay comes after the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) released a document in February labelled ‘The Legal Entitlements for 2016 to 2017’, which referenced an upcoming skills white paper, which was to be published “in the spring”.

It said: “The 2016 to 2017 funding year is part of a transitional period as we move towards full skills devolution and the implementation of TPE reforms.

“This transition gives time to move to new entitlement qualifications as well as make any changes to curriculum that come out of the reform of TPE. More information will be available when a skills white paper is published in the spring.”

But FE Week reported last month that the reference to “spring” had apparently been removed from an updated version of the report — indicating that publication would be delayed.

The online link to the first version of the document was also altered to redirect straight to the new updated copy — making it impossible for readers to compare the two.

And as revealed by FE Week earlier this month, the skills white paper will bring an end to mixed provision and make 16-year-olds choose between academic courses, leading to university, or a new TPE route into work.

The Department for Education said the panel’s outcomes would be published “in due course”, but would not specify whether it would be before or after the EU referendum.

A prominent campaigner for more black and Asian college principals has warned against “reinventing the wheel” — after a government review into ethnic minority workers came too late to save her group.

Rajinder Mann, (pictured), who led the Network for Black and Asian Professionals (NBAP) from 2013 until it was forced to close due to a lack of funding late last year, told FE Week she felt “very frustrated” that the government was only just now starting to focus on the issue.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills announced this month that it had launched a review into why black and minority ethnic (BME) people working in the FE sector find it harder to progress into senior positions than their white counterparts.

Ms Mann, who has not been asked to contribute to the review, said: “Our raison d’être was to grow future talent and support black and minority ethnic staff in the workplace — it’s ironic that these things have happened the way they did.

“I applaud the fact that there is a review, but I have my reservations if it’s just going to be a paper-gathering exercise.”

A call for evidence from BME workers in support of the review, which is led by Baroness McGregor-Smith, will run until August 22.

Ms Mann believes that the review seems like a backward step, after the work done by the NBAP.

“Why do they want to keep re-inventing the wheel?” she asked. “Are they actually going to put their money where their mouth is and say ‘this is a serious agenda, we’re going to set targets which will enable us to see change’?”

She pointed out the number of ethnic minority principals in the FE sector had fallen from 17 in 2012/13 to 13 this year.

“I think we’ve become complacent in FE because there’s been a feeling that ‘oh well there isn’t a problem here because we’ve had 17 black principals before’,” Ms Mann told FE Week.

“But there’s no accounting body for this now. Will the review address who is going to pick up these issues?”

The campaigner, who was awarded an OBE in 2011 for her services to BME in the community, cautioned that many of the factors holding ethnic minority workers back today were the same as those initially identified by NBAP.

She said the call for evidence showed a lack of understanding “about what it is like on the ground”.

“There’s a strong urge on the one side to write in to the review,” she said. “On the other — will you be beating your head against a brick wall again?”

Anthony Bravo, principal of Basingstoke College of Technology (pictured left), told FE Week what the closure of the NBAP had meant to him.

He said: “The network was instrumental to me becoming a principal; I and other BME principals are saddened by its demise.

“We (BME) principals are determined to keep spirit of the network alive via the Association of College. The network made a significant impact in many individuals’ lives and careers.”

Commenting on the government’s call for evidence on the progression of BME workers, business secretary Sajid Javid (pictured above) said: “I urge everyone who has experience of trying to progress in work to take part in this review. Employers need to back their workforces and I am also calling on them to make sure everybody has a fair chance to succeed.”