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‘apprenticeships’

Institute for Apprenticeships questions dodged, says Gordon Marsden

The government’s handling of the new Institute for Apprenticeships has been “shambolic” according to shadow skills minister Gordon Marsden, after it evaded a series of parliamentary enquiries about its capacity. He says that questions he asked about staffing, resources and appointments in a letter posted on November 1 were dodged. His queries were prompted by […]

News

The Skills Show is back and it’s bigger than ever

Strictly Come Dancing stars and the apprenticeships minister will be among more than 90,000 people heading to NEC Birmingham for the fifth annual Skills Show next week. Visitors will be taking part in over 50 hands-on activities, taking careers advice, and watching the country’s most talented apprentices and learners compete in finals of the national […]

News

Bolton college principal appeals to SFA over new apprenticeship rules

A desperate principal has pleaded with the Skills Funding Agency to relax rules that would prevent Bolton College from recruiting new apprentices from May next year. On October 25 the SFA launched an application process for the new register of apprenticeship training providers, but those with the lowest Ofsted rating for the apprenticeships are barred […]

News

Minister on a monthly mission

July 2016 I’ve been appointed as Minister for apprenticeships and skills. I am very excited and very happy. My first speech as a backbencher in the House of Commons was on apprenticeships – I’d never have thought that one day I’d be responsible for an area I am so passionate about. I know it is […]

Opinion

Employers pass their judgement in satisfaction ratings

General FE colleges have admitted to apprenticeship failings, after government research showed they are significantly less popular with employers than private training providers. Training providers scored 83.9 per cent in the Skills Funding Agency’s latest employer satisfaction survey published last month, while colleges’ rating was nearly ten per cent lower at 74.9 per cent. The […]

News

AoC and AELP bosses battle over independent provider quality

The bosses of FE’s two biggest associations have traded verbal blows over the quality of apprenticeships that are delivered by private training providers. David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, has claimed that independent providers offer apprentices “not very much” training, mostly assessing them “on the job”. But his comments sparked a war […]

News

College sector ignoring minister’s cash warning as private providers clean up

Colleges have failed to take up the apprenticeships challenge laid down a year ago by former skills minister Nick Boles – with figures showing the proportion delivered by them has fallen significantly. Mr Boles urged delegates at last year’s Association of Colleges conference to stop letting independent training providers “nick your lunch”. He also challenged […]

News

Move away from 3m apprenticeship target to avoid ‘wasting £500 million’ says influential think tank

The government should “move away” from its target for three million apprenticeships, to avoid wasting £500 million a year on substandard training, according to experts from the Policy Exchange. A new report from the right-wing think-tank claims that a significant proportion of the apprenticeship standards are inadequate, and raises concerns about the government’s focus on […]

News

Influential think tank calls for college-only route to replace the level 2 apprenticeship

Left-wing think tank IPPR wants the government to phase out level two apprenticeships for 16-18 year olds, and replace them with a programme only offered by colleges. Entitled ‘Earning & Learning – Making the Apprenticeship System work for 16-18 year olds’, its new report warned youth unemployment is being fuelled by “too many” 16–18 year […]

News