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Influential MP calls for inquiry over fears £2bn Kickstart scheme has become ‘chancer’s charter’

The chair of an influential committee of MPs has called for an investigation into the government’s Kickstart scheme after FE Week revealed how firms based outside the UK or with no trading history were selected as “gateway” providers. Meg Hillier (pictured), who heads the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee, was “shocked” to hear how firms were […]

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New data shows improved picture for apprenticeship starts amid pandemic

Apprenticeship starts appear to be recovering after new data showed a less dramatic percentage drop amid the pandemic. Figures published this morning by the Department for Education show there were 91,100 starts recorded from August to October 2020, compared to 125,800 reported for the same period pre-Covid-19 in 2019/20 – a 28 per cent fall.  […]

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Revealed: How employers claim the £1,000 traineeship incentive

Employers can claim the government’s promised £1,000 for a completed traineeship work placement using an online form from today. The form is now live on the gov.uk website and it is understood claims will be checked against the monthly Individualised Learner Record data submitted by traineeship providers before payments are made. The £1,000 payment is […]

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Public Accounts Committee criticises expensive and ineffective college oversight

The government’s approach to college intervention takes too long, costs too much and is not effective in making them more sustainable, influential MPs have said. A Public Accounts Committee report today warns that ministers “cannot keep putting sticking plasters over this gaping wound” as it delivers a damning verdict on how college finances are being […]

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PAC college financial sustainability report: The 7 recommendations

The Public Accounts Committee has set the Department for Education a list of tasks to address the “fragile” financial health of the further education sector. Its report published today on ‘Managing colleges’ financial sustainability’, includes proposals on amending the college funding formula, how they pay VAT, and the expensive yet ineffective intervention regime. As well […]

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Sector gives FE white paper the thumbs up

The FE white paper has been given a warm welcome by sector leaders and FE Week readers, with almost two thirds rating it as ‘good’. FE Week today ran a webcast in partnership with NCFE exploring the much-anticipated ‘Skills for Jobs: Lifelong Learning for Opportunity and Growth’ document, which was published last Thursday. The white […]

News, Skills reform

DWP Kickstart gateway firms approved by algorithm, with no trading history or based abroad

[UPDATE: Five days after publication of this article, the DWP got in touch to say that they use human checks as well as their algorithm in the gateway approval process.]   An FE Week investigation has found dozens of companies selected by the Department for Work and Pensions to become “Kickstart gateways” with little to […]

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Government Kickstart minimum vacancy rule to be scrapped, hitting hundreds of ‘gateway’ providers

The chancellor is to scrap the minimum 30 vacancy requirement for the government’s Kickstart scheme, scuppering the plans of organisations that had become so-called “gateways” to help smaller employers access the programme. FE Week understands that some organisations have been told by ministers that the vacancy limit will be scrapped, meaning any business will be […]

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Departing Hull College chair lashes out at ‘failure’ of government oversight

Daf Williams, just hours after a shock resignation from the position of chair to the board of Hull College Group, has denied there has been a failure of governance and instead accused the government regulators of failing to do their jobs. The resignation came on the day of a visit from the FE Commissioner’s team […]

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