Sandwich artist questions tabled by MP

Questions have been raised over apprenticeships offered by a fast-food chain.

Dudley MP Ian Austin is demanding answers after it emerged that Subway are offering £2.60 per hour for a role as a ‘sandwich artist’ in the Black Country.

Mr Austin said the apprenticeship was advertised by Job Centre Plus and an identical job in Dudley was advertised earlier this month.

He has asked the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) to investigate.

Although the MP has put questions to government over the issue, apprenticeships at Subway were first put in the spotlight by FE Week last month.

Mr Austin said: “I want to see every youngster in full-time education or proper training and I want to see more apprenticeships.

“Schemes must give apprentices the skills and experience they need to advance their careers and they have to have proper training. They call it an apprenticeship but there doesn’t seem to be much training and it says it’s permanent.

“I’ve asked the National Apprenticeship Service to look into the apprenticeships Subway are offering to see if they are genuine apprenticeships or simply a means to pay young staff below the minimum wage.”

In response, a spokesperson for Subway said they offer “a comprehensive training programme for all its team members”.

The spokesperson added: “Each franchisee candidate is required to complete formal training and sandwich artists are trained on customer service excellence, food quality and health and safety procedures.

“Although Subway stores do not operate a nationally accredited apprenticeship scheme, individual stores or franchises may pursue their own scheme in their local area.”

When asked by FE Week whether they would be conducting an investigation into Subway, a NAS spokesperson said they could not comment due to purdah.

However, the spokesperson added: “The NAS is clear that all apprenticeships should offer employment, significant new learning and a nationally recognised qualification, and represent value for money in public spending. The Specification of Apprenticeship Standards for England and actions to drive up quality will ensure every Apprenticeship meets rigorous standards.”

Leicester College principal is AoC’s president-elect

The Association of Colleges (AoC) has announced that Maggie Galliers CBE, the principal of Leicester College, is their new president-elect.

She will succeed the current AoC president, Fiona McMillan, on August 1.

Maggie said: “Colleges are the backbone of the education sector and offer programmes of a breadth and depth which is second to none.

“I see the AoC as crucial in helping colleges navigate the opportunities and challenges facing the sector and, to that end, I’m a member of the AoC’s Reputation and Urban Colleges groups.

“It will be an honour to serve as AoC president, a role to which I will bring all my energy, commitment and passion for celebrating and advancing further education.”

Maggie Galliers, who will be AoC’s fifth president, has been at the helm of Leicester College since July 2002.

Before that Maggie was Principal of Henley College Coventry for five years, having previously held a wide variety of management positions in further education and having taught in all education sectors: primary, secondary, further and higher.

She is currently a member of the Ofqual Board, the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) Board and the Higher Education Funding Council for England’s (HEFCE) Teaching Quality and Student Experience Committee.

In the past, she has also been a member of the Apprenticeship Task Force, the FEFC Quality Assessment Committee, the Quality Improvement Agency Board, the National Learning and Skills Council (LSC), and the LSC’s Young People’s Learning Committee.

She was appointed a CBE for services to local and national further education in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2009.

The office of President was established in 2007 to further enhance AoC’s work in representing and promoting colleges, following a strategic review of the association.

AoC’s chair, John Bingham, said: “It’s very gratifying, and testament to the value our members place on the presidency, that Maggie Galliers has decided to put herself forward for the position.

“I’m certain that her calibre and the high regard in which she is held by those in the sector, together with her demonstrable, unbounded enthusiasm and commitment to FE, will only benefit our members and the students they serve over the forthcoming year.”

Martin Doel, AoC chief executive, added: “All at AoC look forward to working with Maggie as President. Having worked with her in many fora, and knowing of her outstanding achievements at Leicester College, I am certain that she will bring great wisdom and energy to the role.”

Current AoC President, Fiona McMillan, said: “I’m delighted that Maggie will be my successor. I know that she is as passionate about the sector as I am and that she will be an excellent ambassador for colleges. She has a great deal of experience to bring to the role. I look forward to working with her in the run-up to handing over in July.”

FE Week mini-mascot (Edition 26)

Follow the adventures of FE Week’s biggest and smallest fan!

Mostly this week I have been collecting my first air miles”

And also you can follow our FE Week mini-mascot on Twitter @daniellinford

Geoff Russell and David Way to give evidence for apprenticeships inquiry

David Way, interim chief executive of the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) and Geoff Russell, chief executive of the Skills Funding Agency (SFA), will give evidence at the next session of an inquiry into apprenticeships.

The pair have been called on by as witnesses by the Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Select Committee for the sixth evidence session, which will take place on Thursday (April 26).

The session will be held in The Grimond Room of Portcullis House from 10:30am and is open to the public on a first come, first served basis.

It will also be available online at www.parliamentlive.tv.

MP calls for investigation into Subway apprenticeship

Questions have been raised over apprenticeships offered by a fast-food chain.

Dudley MP Ian Austin is demanding answers after it emerged that Subway are offering £2.60 per hour for a role as a ‘sandwich artist’ in the Black Country.

Mr Austin said the job was advertised by Job Centre Plus and an identical job in Dudley was advertised earlier this month. He has asked the National Apprenticeship Service to investigate.

Although the MP has this week put questions to government over the issue, it was first picked up by FE Week reporter Nick Summers, who wrote about Subway apprenticeships in Tyne and Wear, Devon and Dorset last month.

Mr Austin said: “I want to see every youngster in full-time education or proper training and I want to see more apprenticeships. I learnt loads as a teenager working at McDonald’s in Dudley High Street, but this looks really dodgy to me.

“Schemes must give apprentices the skills and experience they need to advance their careers and they have to have proper training. They call it an apprenticeship but there doesn’t seem to be much training and it says it’s permanent.

“I’ve asked the National Apprenticeship Service to look into the apprenticeships Subway are offering to see if they are genuine apprenticeships or simply a means to pay young staff below the minimum wage.”

New College Nottingham students receive standing ovation for musical performance

Musical Theatre students at New College Nottingham (ncn) received a standing ovation for their final performance of On Broadway.

We Will Rock You, West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof, Gypsy, Cabaret and Jekyll and Hyde were just some of the famous Broadway shows included in the performance

Lecturer Louisa Homes, said: “Preparing for the production enabled students to build on their skills in singing, acting, dancing and technical theatre.

“The shows received an excellent turnout and the standing ovation was testament to the students’ hard work and commitment.”

Myerscough College Golf Academy wins British Colleges Sport Open Championship

Myerscough College’s Golf Academy has won the British Colleges Sport Open Golf Championship for the second year running.

They recorded victories in the team and individual competitions at the BCS Open Golf Championship at The National Golf Centre, in Woodhall Spa. Head PGA Golf Professional at the college Craig Lea praised his young students for producing one of the Academy’s finest performances to date.

He said: “The student’s hard work and consistent effort in embracing both the practice and skill development elements of our coaching structure has led to excellent progression in their golf game this year.

“The success they are achieving at both team and individual level is well deserved and is testament to their dedication.”

Eggs-perts at Stratford-upon-Avon College

Catering students at Stratford-upon-Avon College were treated to a visit from expert chocolatiers Barry Callebaut.

One of the world’s leading manufacturers of cocoa and chocolate products, Barry Callebaut sent an expert to help students make some spectacular Easter eggs.

Each student produced the same template egg but were then given free range to decorate the chocolate oval with any design they liked.

There were a mixture of milk and white chocolate eggs and they were placed on a base made up of coloured chocolate chips.

Tameside College student’s flash of brilliance

Tameside College photography student Catherine Burgess has won first place in an Olympic themed competition.

Catherine, who is currently studying for a BTEC National Extended Diploma in Photography, spotted the competition on a poster and thought she’d give it a go.

The competition, known as ‘Image 12’, is an annual photography competition open to high school and college students within Tameside.

Catherine enlisted the help of a fellow art and design student, Hannah Doherty, to model for the photograph.

Catherine’s photograph is currently being displayed at the Portland Basin Museum Art Gallery, in Ashton-under-Lyne, and forming the borough’s version of the national touring exhibition Our Sporting Life.

She said: “I was extremely happy to have won the competition and to see my own work exhibited in a gallery. Studying at Tameside College has equipped me with the skills and confidence to take photography further.”