Anne Milton | FE Week

On the eve of the controversial T-level tender – when, how and why?

On the eve of the launch of the government’s first ever tender for a single awarding organisation for a qualification, FE Week takes a look at the twists and turns of the tangled T-levels procurement process to date. The controversial full tender process to find awarding organisations to offer the first T-levels qualifications is due […]

Baker clause update: DfE gears up to start ‘direct intervention’ as minister encourages providers to grass on schools

The Department for Education is threatening “direct intervention” from September at schools that are failing to open their doors to FE providers, as part of a crackdown on non-compliance with the controversial ‘Baker clause’. At the same time skills minister Anne Milton (pictured above), writing for FE Week, is encouraging providers to grass on schools […]

Ensuring young people have the ‘best possible’ careers advice

As the Department for Education announces plans to take action against schools that aren’t complying with the ‘Baker clause’, Anne Milton urges providers to contact her directly with their experiences, and outlines what else the government is doing to ensure young people have the best possible careers advice. Last March I wrote in FE Week […]

Halfon pleads for nursing apprenticeships to be ‘special case’ with levy spending

The education select committee chair has pleaded for nursing apprenticeships to be made a “special case” with flexibility over levy spending. But skills minister Anne Milton told him in a special session this morning – dedicated to investigating what is holding up their roll-out – that this could not be done. It comes after FE Week reported […]

Huge concern over surge in higher level management apprenticeships

A surge in higher level management apprenticeship starts has raised grave concerns that employers are rebadging their training. Gordon Marsden, the shadow skills minister, called on the government to “urgently look deeper” at what is behind the rapidly expanding overall numbers of apprenticeships at level four and above, after seeing FE Week analysis of the latest Department […]

If the 10% apprenticeship co-investment is removed, it should be done selectively

The 10 per cent apprenticeship contribution rule for non-levied employers remains a lively issue. It is frequently cited by training providers as a barrier to engagement, and the calls for its removal by leading sector bodies such as the Association of Employment and Learning Providers and others remain strident. An air of suppressed anticipation awaited […]

Bids reopen for £13m strategic college improvement fund

Colleges can bid for the remaining £13 million from the strategic college improvement fund using newly released guidance. The first round of the fund was launched last year, when 14 struggling colleges shared £2 million. Today’s announcement invites struggling colleges, supported by a stronger institution, to ask for money to help them improve in specific […]

Skills minister: IfA is better but still not fast enough

The number of approved apprenticeship standards has exceeded those awaiting sign-off for the first time, but the skills minister still wants to see things done ‘faster and better’. In fact, a tough-talking Anne Milton told FE Week that she has pursued the Institute for Apprenticeships over the need to pick up the pace with “a […]

Anne Milton launches £22m construction skills fund

The skills minister has launched a new £22 million fund to help tackle construction skills shortages. The 18-month scheme will be overseen by the Construction Industry Training Board and funded by the Department for Education. For our economy to thrive we need everyone, regardless of their age or background, to be able to get the […]