York College
‘apprenticeships’
The government announced in August that from next May they will be cutting some 16-18 apprenticeship framework funding rates by over 50% in the most deprived parts of the country. Well, when I say announced, what I mean is they published a searchable spreadsheet with the new rates, so I had to work out the […]
Opinion
The #SaveOurApprenticeships campaign against devastating cuts in apprenticeship funding was launched at the Houses of Parliament to a packed gathering of sector leaders and senior politicians — including the minister tasked with implementing the plans. It was standing-room only in Committee Room Nine on Wednesday (September 14), as editor Nick Linford kicked off the event. […]
News
The prime minister is like a “drunk in a china shop”, according to one motor industry chief, because she claims she does not “recognise” potential cuts of up to 50 per cent to apprenticeship funding. Responding to Theresa May’s comments, which were made during a grilling at Wednesday’s prime minister’s questions, Steve Nash, the chief […]
Star names unveiled for this year’s Association of Colleges annual conference and exhibition include broadcaster Steph McGovern, comedian Ruby Wax (pictured), and apprenticeships and skills minister Robert Halfon. The annual event will take place from November 15 to 17 at the ICC Birmingham. FE Week readers will be familiar with conference chair Steph McGovern — […]
Liz Rees knows all about grammar schools — she attended three — but, unlike some prominent politicians, the experience has not made the Unionlearn director a fan of government plans to expand them. “I just don’t get it,” she says. “They belong to the past, when about five per cent of kids went to university […]
Profiles
With the sector reeling from proposed rate – cuts to 16-18 apprenticeships, the government needs to heed the findings of the consultation, says Mark Dawe. All the signals under Theresa May’s new administration are that the government is sticking with its three million manifesto target for apprenticeships and, that it is determined the levy will […]
A top SFA official seconded to into the government department to implement the apprenticeship levy has already returned, FE Week can reveal. FE Week reported in March that Keith Smith (pictured) was temporarily leaving his role at the SFA to join BIS as their Director of Levy Implementation until April 2017. A government spokesperson said […]
Writing his first opinion piece as the new apprenticeships and skills minister, Robert Halfon sets out his case for “boosting social justice, economic productivity, and our country’s skills base”. My passion for apprenticeships and skills started before I was even elected, when I went to visit a charity in my constituency who were helping young […]
Businesses are increasingly jittery over the apprenticeship levy, after it was revealed that they would have to sign strict contracts with the Skills Funding Agency – rather than just with providers, as the sector had expected. The CBI says it is “concerned” that the existence of these contracts had only “come to light” at this […]
