York College
‘apprenticeships’
They have been in the pipeline for several months, but last week the government confirmed a raft of new further education (FE) reforms. Key policies including the introduction of FE loans for the over 24s from 2013 and more freedoms for colleges have been announced following the release of the sector-wide consultation on FE reforms; […]
News
More than half a dozen further education (FE) colleges will benefit from government funding for 19,000 new higher apprenticeships. The successful bids, unveiled by Business Secretary Vince Cable in Cornwall last week, will be funded by £18.7 million of the Higher Apprenticeship Fund (HAF), worth £25 million in total. They will be in sectors such […]
Chancellor George Osborne confirmed a number of policies designed to put tackle youth unemployment during his Autumn Statement yesterday. Mr Osborne emphasised a Youth Contract worth over £940 million that will offer young people on Jobseekers Allowance work experience, apprenticeships and jobs. “Private sector work experience for every young person unemployed for three months,” the […]
A £1 billion package has been announced to tackle youth unemployment, as the number of 16-24 year-olds out of work, education and training reaches a record high. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Employment Minister Chris Grayling announced today the money will be spread over next three years to provide unemployed young people with extra […]
We take an in-depth look at the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) and five of its latest moves and policy decisions, including redundancy packages for hundreds of jobs, money offered for NEETs and the re-opening of a core growth fund. Millions spent on SFA redundancy packages More than £17 million will be spent on voluntary redundancy packages for […]
(For the full event report from ‘The Future of Apprenticeships’ conference, click here) Good morning everybody. For those of you that know me, I’m always delighted to be talking about apprenticeships. There’s absolutely no doubt in my mind, and I hope in most of your minds I think, that apprenticeships, if done right, can add […]
Uncategorized
The Chief Executive of the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) has called for the sector to work together in order to stamp out poor quality apprenticeships. Simon Waugh (right), speaking at the fourth national ‘Future of Apprenticeships’ conference last week, said if everyone was “on the case” it would be possible to get substandard training down […]
Apprenticeships are far too popular with the general public for their own good. It’s so easy for politicians to bask in a warm glow of approval when they announce increased support for apprenticeships that they are currently seen as the answer to far more problems than they can realistically solve. Here are four examples. – […]
Opinion
The chief executive of the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) says he is “grappling” with apprenticeship issues after admitting to “teething problems” in the current system. Geoff Russell, speaking to FE Week at the Association of Colleges (AoC) Annual Conference, said the SFA has “spotted” concerns and is trying to better define apprenticeships. He said: “One […]
