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‘apprenticeships’

Match Clegg’s ‘cradle to college’ pledge, sector demands

Labour and the Conservatives have been urged to match a Liberal Democrat promise to protect education spending “from cradle to college”. Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg made the manifesto pledge during his monthly press conference on Monday last week (June 16). His party wants to ringfence the entire education budget for two to 19-year-olds. The […]

News

Pay cut fears for apprentices

Fears have emerged that government proposals to streamline “difficult” minimum wage rates for apprentices could lead to lower pay. The Low Pay Commission (LPC) has been asked to look at simplifying the rate for apprentices, which is £2.68-an-hour for those in year one before normal worker minimum rates apply. A government spokesperson said: “The current […]

News

Skills Funding Agency job cuts ‘ideological’

A programme of job cuts at the Skills Funding Agency has been attacked as “ideological” by MPs who warned that staffing reductions could hit apprenticeships. Around 20 Labour and Democratic Unionist Party MPs have so far signed an Early Day Motion (EDM) in Parliament condemning the cuts. The agency shed 600 of 1,900 staff through […]

News

Progression payment for traineeships

The government has launched a long-awaited consultation on moving to a new traineeship funding system in which providers are paid based on learner destination. Progression into apprenticeships, jobs or further learning could be incentivised from 2015/16 under the proposals. Skills Minister Matthew Hancock said: “This consultation will test whether a funding approach designed specifically for […]

News

Apprenticeship challenge tests mental and physical stamina to limit

The mental and physical stamina of high-achieving apprentices was tested to the limit in the finals of the Brathay Challenge. Eight teams from across the country descended on the Lake District to complete a series of tests of their problem solving and physical abilities over June 10 and 11. The final was the culmination of […]

News

Give ‘grandfather’ funding option, says CBI

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has told the government that employers should be able to ignore apprenticeship reforms by “grandfathering” through existing funding arrangements, FE Week can reveal. Its response to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) technical consultation on reforms recommended that employers be allowed to continue with effective practices. It […]

News

Byrne quizzed on ‘pregnant panda question’

Labour’s stance on government apprenticeship reforms in which employers will take a greater role in drawing up frameworks and be expected to pay 33 per cent of provider costs has been likened to a “pregnant panda question”. Shadow Skills Minister Liam Byrne was put on the spot about his party’s view of the apprenticeship reforms […]

News

Apprenticeships for trainers and assessors?

The publication by the Education and Training Foundation (ETF) of the Professional Standards for Teachers and Trainers in Education and Training, and the supporting guidance, provides the sector with an inspirational yet realistic framework to build on. Traditionally work-based learning and apprenticeship providers have far fewer graduate employees than other education sectors. Most of our […]

Opinion

Apprentice funding ‘too generous but still off-putting to small firms’

Mick Fletcher casts his eye over the government’s introduction of a 33 per cent mandatory cash contribution from employers towards the cost of apprentice training. The new guidance on trailblazer funding from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is a heroic attempt to achieve incompatible policy objectives. Encouraging more employers to take on apprentices […]

Opinion