An employability course managed by the ‘welfare to work’ firm A4e has been criticised on Twitter by a former NUS Vice President.

Ed Marsh, former VP for Union Development, has been using the social network to expose numerous shortcomings in sessions delivered by 5E Limited, a subcontractor working on behalf of A4e.

The course, which Mr Marsh described as being “patronising” and “soul destroying”, is designed to help people on Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) develop a CV and look for new work.

However, on the first day tutors from 5E Limited were only teaching theory to group because the centre did not have enough computers for them to work on.

Mr Marsh said one tutor refused to look at CVs brought in by four members of the group, and later referred to them all as a “batch of clients”.

One tutor, according to a tweet from Mr Marsh, said: “I’m sorry if you think this course is about finding and getting a job. That’s the title, but it’s actually not that.”

In one session the tutor told the group that anyone with a long name should shorten it, because employers “won’t want to ring someone if they can’t pronounce your name.”

Other advice given, according to Mr Marsh, included searching on Google for ‘writing a good CV’, deleting hobbies such as ‘I like to sleep a lot’, and removing any contact details for references.

Mr Marsh said there were also suggestions that they should lie on their CV.

On Twitter, Mr Marsh said the group was also told to sign a form on the first day declaring that they had received a health and safety document which had not yet been handed out.

A4e later apologised to Mr Marsh and recommended that he contact 5E Limited about any further problems.

However, other Twitter users who follow Mr Marsh questioned whether A4e should be taking responsibility for the work delivered by 5E Limited.

A4e has since confirmed they will be working with the subcontractor to resolve the problem.

Mr Marsh also tweeted that on the second day of the course he was served pasta, rather than chips, with a piece of fish for lunch. He said the meal was also served without a knife.

FE Week has reached out to A4e for comment, but not yet received a response.

You can follow Mr Marsh’s tweets here.

A review into how businesses can be encouraged to hire an apprentice has been delayed by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).

Social entrepreneur and jeweller Jason Holt has finished his review, but the report and government response will not be published by the end of the month as planned.

“The date slipped, but the government have now agreed the 28th August to publish my report and its response,” Mr Holt told FE Week.

A BIS spokesperson added: “The launch won’t be at the end of July, but possibly on a date in August which is to be confirmed.”

Mr Holt, chief executive of Holts Group of Companies, told FE Week in April that as he gathered evidence there was “a sense of cluelessness” from employers about apprenticeships.

He said he was looking at how the process for recruiting and training new apprentices could be simplified, as well as how schools could be better engaged with the programme.

The review was announced by BIS in February.

A significant number of FE college courses and staff have been cut, Unison has found.

The union’s survey of 190 colleges revealed that 61 per cent have cut courses and 5,737 posts were also lost in the 2010/11 academic year. The figures were obtained by under the Freedom of Information Act.

In a press release, the University and College Union (UCU) said colleges cited the end of student grants and the education maintenance allowance as the main reason for the falling figures.

The union warned that the introduction of the 24+ Advanced Learning Loans was likely to exacerbate the situation.

Sally Hunt, UCU general secretary, said: “If this trend of cutting continues quality will inevitably suffer. The further education sector simply cannot continue to be asked to do more for less.  Investment in our colleges is essential if we are to kick-start growth in the economy.

“With huge levels of unemployment, and at a time when other countries are investing in producing more highly-skilled workers, we simply cannot afford to be sacking staff and slashing opportunities.”

Martin Doel, chief executive at the Association of Colleges (AoC), said the organisation and its members were “concerned” about the impact of changes to funding and the introduction of 24+ Advanced Learning Loans on students.

“Research conducted by AoC last October – and again in January 2012 – tally with Unison’s findings that colleges experienced a drop in enrolment. Although the national picture was complex, our research showed an overall decline of 1.78% in student numbers which could not be solely attributed to demographic dip in this age group (16-18).

“Our member colleges reported that reasons for the drop-off included the abolition of the EMA, increased transport costs for students, and increased local competition. Many (79%) said the introduction of free lunches for college students from disadvantaged backgrounds would help with recruitment and retention, which acknowledges the fact many of our learners are from families who are really feeling the pinch during this double-dip recession.

“Our particular concern is the 6.4% drop in recruitment at entry level and a 6.6% drop in level 1 students; these are the young people most vulnerable to becoming NEET (not in education, employment or training) and the situation may be exacerbated by the loss of the Connexions service. We continue to raise with government the consequences of a rolling programme of regulatory change and funding cuts on this generation of young people.”

Two more colleges have dropped a grade in recent Ofsted inspections.

Bracknell and Wokingham College and Worcester College of Technology were both graded ‘satisfactory’ in Ofsted reports published last week, after having been awarded ‘good’ when inspected in 2009.

In the breakdown of the overall grade both colleges received a mix of marks, with a number of areas of provision deemed ‘good’.

Campbell Christie CBE, principal and chief executive of Bracknell and Wokingham College, said the Ofsted report was “a fair reflection on the college, particularly in regards to their focus on last year’s data”.

“The Ofsted team were constructive, worked with us and gave us some very useful consultancy,” he said.

The report read: “Over the last three years, the proportion of learners who successfully complete their course has fluctuated with few clear trends of improvement. Success rates improved in 2009/10 to be satisfactory only to decline again in 2010/11 to their previous level.”

Mr Christie highlighted that the college’s retention rates had been impacted by the “huge disruption” caused by the construction of the college’s new building.

Although there was some “outstanding” teaching at Bracknell and Wokingham College, “too much [was] dull and uninspiring”, according to Ofsted.

“A number of teachers understand the importance of varying teaching techniques and checking learning thoroughly, but many do not perform these roles well enough,” the report read.

One of the key points of praise, however, was the college’s partnership work, which was described as “particularly strong” and to have “a very positive benefit for the local community.”

Mr Christie, who has been at the College since September last year, said he wants to take the College’s involvement in the community “to an even higher level”.

“I’m pleased with it, but I shall never rest on my laurels,” he said.

The leadership team was strongly commended: “The principal has set a challenging agenda for change over the last 12 months with a strong focus on increasing success rates and providing high quality education and training…This has inspired staff to start to develop and improve the provision more effectively.”

The report added: “Learners feel very safe in the college environment. Standards of learners’ work are high overall and learners develop good employability and personal skills. There is significant evidence to show that outcomes generally have improved markedly for learners during 2011/12.”

The report for Worcester College of Technology gave a mixed picture of success rates. “Long course success rates have increased to just below average, but short course rates have decreased and are low,” it read.

“Success rates for learners aged 16 to 18 are high at foundation level, but are low at advanced level. Success rates for adults have increased significantly at advanced level. but are low at intermediate level.”

Teaching, learning and assessment was “satisfactory overall”, but “good for work-based learners”.

“Learning resources are good, especially the content and use of the virtual learning environment,” the report read. “Teachers check on and extend learners’ learning skilfully.”

The partnership arrangements were described as “outstanding”.

“Staff work very effectively with a wide range of organisations to enable the most vulnerable learners to access training…Most areas have excellent links with employers that improve provision.”

The government will pay private companies, including 24 FE colleges, to help 16 and 17 year-olds back into a job or education, it was announced today.

The initiative is part of the Youth Contract, unveiled by Nick Clegg in February and worth up to £126 million.

Charities and businesses will be paid up to £2,200 for every young person helped, with the full amount being awarded only if they are still in full-time education, training, or work six months later.

It is hoped a flexible ‘payment by results’ system will allow firms to drastically reduce the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET).

The programme will operate over the next three years and help at least 55,000 NEETS with no GCSEs graded A* to C.

Nick Clegg said the scheme would help young people “who have fallen through the net” to get back on track.

“We can’t treat them like round pegs being forced into square holes,” he said.

“If you’re young and have got to the point where you feel on the scrapheap, you need extra help to succeed in life.”

The Deputy Prime Minister said the ‘payment by results’ approach would also allow businesses to do “whatever it takes” to help young people back into education or work.

“In exchange for this freedom, all we ask is that they get results,”  he said.

“It’s a win-win for government, young people and the organisations involved.”

The government also announced today the companies which have been approved to take part in the scheme.

Among the preferred bidders are 24 FE colleges:

East of England:
The Learning Partnership (incorporating Central Bedfordshire College, Bedford College)
The College of West Anglia
Peterborough Regional College
City College Norwich
Lowestoft College West Suffolk College
Otley College

North East:
Stockton Riverside College
Sunderland City College

South East:
Milton Keynes College

West Midlands:
South Birmingham College
Walsall College
Derbyshire College
Bournville College
New College Telford
Solihull College
City of Wolverhampton College
Shropshire College

Yorkshire and the Humber:
Calderdale College
Dearne Valley College
Doncaster College
East Riding College

London:
Newham College of Further Education