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‘apprenticeships’

Phones 4u apprentices find new employers

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) and subcontractor EQL Solutions have revealed plans to support apprentices left unemployed after Phones 4u went into administration. The Staffordshire-based mobile phone retailer was placed into the hands of administrators PwC on September 15 after network operator EE joined Vodafone in cutting ties with the retailer. The firm employed around […]

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Liberal Democrat party conference : Apprentice minimum wage pledge from Business Secretary

Plans to boost apprentices’ pay by more than £1 an-hour have been cautiously welcomed amid concerns the rise could dissuade employers from offering apprenticeships. Business Secretary Vince Cable used his speech to the Liberal Democrat party conference on Monday (October 6) to announce his submission to the Low Pay Commission (LPC), which states that the […]

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A four-pronged approach to turning around the fate of Functional Skills

Functional Skills could have been saved from the qualifications scrapheap with Skills Minister Nick Boles having revealed hopes for them to become “legitimate, valid, respected and admired”. Roger Francis looks at how this might be achieved. The government’s decision to change its policy on Functional Skills, which was reported in FE Week, will be warmly […]

Opinion

From learner to training manager to college — EuroSkills delivers more than just medals

While TeamUK’s impressive haul of medals at EuroSkills steals the headlines, the benefits of competing run much deeper, explains Maureen Evans-Olsen. Winning isn’t everything; but wanting to is, according to Vince Lombardi. The phrase has certainly stuck and looking at the jubilant celebrations that took place at the closing ceremony of EuroSkills Lille 2014, it […]

Opinion

The Indy Scene

The success of the British team at the EuroSkills competitions this month demonstrates the skills and talent of our young people. In the hospitality industry we have a plethora of competitions, ranging from Masterchef, both for amateurs and professional cooks, Futurechef, for school pupils, to the premiere Salon Culinaire competition organised by the Craft Guild […]

Opinion

Party Conferences 2014 – FE & Skills Round-up

Click here to download The last party conferences before a general election are always built upon a particular theme. With the helm of the country up for grabs, the season can often be about last minute, ill-thought-through announcements, huge gaps in policy and unanswered questions about how, who and where. This year’s circus has been […]

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Cable calls for 40pc apprentice minimum wage rise

Apprentices’ pay could rise by almost 40 per cent if a plan by Business Secretary Vince Cable is approved. Dr Cable has announced his recommendation to the Low Pay Commission (LPC) that the minimum wage for first year apprentices should rise to £3.79 per hour — the same level as the current rate for 16 […]

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Conservatives Conference: No new cash behind citizen service pledge

Prime Minister David Cameron’s plan for guaranteed access to the National Citizen Service will not be backed up with extra funding, the Conservative Party has conceded. In his speech to the Tory Party conference in Birmingham, he pledged to guarantee a place on the holiday learning scheme for every 16 and 17-year-old in England were […]

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Exclusive: Skills Minister hints at scrapping cash contributions plan

Plans to introduce mandatory employer cash contributions for apprenticeships could be scrapped, Skills Minister Nick Boles has indicated. In his first interview with FE Week since his appointment in July, Mr Boles said that while routing funding through employers was “non-negotiable,” he hinted that the cash contribution element of the proposals might not be introduced […]

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