York College
‘apprenticeships’
Local employer needs are not being met by the FE and skills sector, according to this year’s Ofsted annual report. Despite higher expectations of students and improved teaching and learning providing “grounds for optimism” about the sector, it was delivering “too much provision that is not responsive to local employment needs”. “This provision is therefore […]
News
The move towards greater employer involvement in FE and skills is gaining momentum. But with employer providers having come in for less than inspiring Ofsted gradings of late, should we be questioning the wisdom of such a shift? It’s just over a year ago that former Dragons’ Den investor Doug Richard (pictured left) said apprenticeship […]
Apprenticeship funding will be redirected from providers to employers — but they will have to make a “significant” cash contribution towards training costs for the first time. Chancellor George Osborne announced in his Autumn Statement a new funding model would use Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) systems to route funding directly to employers. The […]
Andrew Jones MP is a little uncertain about being profiled when we meet in the glass-roofed atrium of Portcullis House, across the road from the Houses of Parliament. “I don’t normally do this sort of thing. I normally talk about policies, not personalities,” he says. But he is happy to talk about his passion for […]
Profiles
The number of apprenticeship starts in England has fallen for the first time in seven years, according to new figures published by the government. The final (rather than provisional) figures in latest statistical first release show that in the 2012/13 academic year, there were 10,400 fewer apprenticeship starts than in 2011/12 — a fall of […]
Chancellor George Osborne confirmed the government will introduce an HMRC-based funding system alongside a mandatory employer cash contribution for apprenticeships through his Autumn Statement. He said the government will develop a model which uses HMRC systems to route apprenticeship funding direct to employers. The Treasury subsequently announced it will launch a consultation on the technical details of the system in […]
Kwik Fit has stopped running its controversial traineeship programme after Ofsted inspectors said it was no longer an outstanding employer provider. Only providers rated as outstanding or good (grade one or two, respectively) can run traineeships — the government’s flagship youth unemployment policy, which launched in August for 16 to 23-year-olds. And inspectors gave Kwik […]
The National Skills Academy Logistics (NSAL) has been put into liquidation after its financial support was pulled by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA). The NSAL’s National Employer Board was critical of the SFA’s role in the demise of the organisation, which helped employers meet legislative requirements and develop training courses. A statement released on behalf […]
The Shadow Education Secretary, Tristram Hunt, chose the Association of Colleges conference as the venue for his first speech since taking on the role in early October. He used to opportunity to outline policies laid down by his party’s Skills Taskforce in its second report, entitled Transforming further education: A new mission to deliver excellence […]
