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‘apprenticeships’

Police probe into 3aaa abandoned as ESFA pledges ‘tighter monitoring’

The police have dropped their criminal investigation against Aspire Achieve Advance (3aaa) – although the Insolvency Service continues its enquiries into the former apprenticeship giant. Derbyshire Constabulary said it had run into “evidential difficulties”. Following a meeting with the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) on November 29, 2019, it decided to not pursue the […]

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Apprenticeship providers turning away up to 40,000 small employers due to levy shortage

Training providers are “having to turn their backs” on up to 40,000 small businesses due to the shortfall in apprenticeship levy funds. According to the Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP), two-fifths of 135 apprenticeship providers surveyed are having to reject small-to-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) looking to recruit apprentices. Recognising the problems, the government […]

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Small employers finally given access to all registered providers – but for just 3 apprentices

Small employers can now use the digital apprenticeship service – but they will be initially capped at just three starts each owing to ongoing affordability issues. Updated Education and Skills Funding Agency rules, published today, revealed that the long-awaited transition to the system has begun for non-levy payers. The move will more than double the […]

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Police force stung by Ofsted

A police force has been censured by Ofsted for the “poor” quality of its apprenticeship delivery and for not taking prior learning into account, following an early monitoring visit. The Chief Constable of Northumbria (referred to as Northumbria Police in the report) began training its own apprentices in May last year and had 30 apprentices […]

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Labour’s new shadow minister says she’ll ‘fight’ for FE

Emma Hardy is to be Labour’s new shadow FE and HE minister, with a pledge to continue “fighting” government for greater investment in the sector. The MP for Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle and education select committee member snapped up the position after it was offered to her by shadow education secretary Angela Rayner […]

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Ofsted watch: Premier League and national laboratory providers score well over festive period

A provider to the Premier League has scored well while a national laboratory training firm has done even better over a quiet festive break for Ofsted reports. The only two other reports published during that period for FE were less impressive: FBP Ventures made ‘insufficient progress’ in one area; while HOB Salons failed to improve […]

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Businesses welcome ‘manageable’ 6.4% apprentice minimum wage increase

The prime minister’s inflation-busting apprentice minimum wage increase is “manageable” and will not impede businesses from taking on new apprentices, employer representative organisations have said. From 1 April, the apprentice minimum wage will shoot up by 6.4 per cent from £3.90 to £4.15. Boris Johnson revealed the increase two days ago alongside his announcement that […]

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Over £1bn already wasted on ‘fake apprenticeships’, claims former adviser to skills ministers

Around £1.2 billion has been “wasted” on “fake apprenticeships” that have taken up half of all starts since the apprenticeship levy was introduced in May 2017, according to new research.  The study by think tank EDSK goes on to recommend that apprenticeships should be for level 3 only, while standards at level 2 and degree-equivalent […]

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Adult learning ‘real cause for concern’ as participation hits record low

Adult participation in education has fallen to record low with almost four million ‘lost learners’ since 2010, according to new data from the Learning and Work Institute. The policy, research and development organisation urged the government to put lifelong learning “at the heart of its domestic agenda” after just one in three adults were found […]

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