Long read

Phil Smith, chair, Skills England

Phil Smith reveals he’s working all hours since becoming chair of Skills England but believes he has all the...

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
Apprenticeships

TikTok could lay foundation for a career in construction

We must show young people the attractions of the building trade then make it easier for them to train

Jessica Hill
Lauren Eden
Apprenticeships

DfE’s apprenticeships budget passes £3bn mark

Treasury figures suggest the largest cash increase since the levy was introduced

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Apprenticeships

English and maths coalition launched to fight functional skills reform 

Group of experts accuses government of 'watering down' standards

Josh Mellor
Josh Mellor
Apprenticeships

Beware the unexpected – apprenticeship reform risks unintended consequences

From healthcare to architecture, vital industries face severe skills shortages if mature learners are locked out of advanced training

Jessica Hill
Dan Lally
Apprenticeships

Beyond the 60%: Why apprenticeship dropout data needs deeper scrutiny

Functional skills reforms grabbed headlines, but they account for just 4 per cent of apprenticeship withdrawals. Here's what the...

Jessica Hill
Georgina Burton
Apprenticeships, Long read

Mark Botha, CEO, Knovia Group

Rugby-loving boss of Knovia Group Mark Botha has big plans for care, early years and dental training after learning...

Jessica Hill
Jessica Hill
Apprenticeships

Level 7 apprenticeship age restrictions are ridiculous barrier to growth

Age-based restrictions on Level 7 apprenticeships funding defy logic—leaving the NHS and industrial strategy in jeopardy while failing to...

Jessica Hill
Mandy Crawford-Lee
Apprenticeships

Cutting apprenticeship support risks leaving a generation behind

Transformative opportunities for young people will be harder to achieve if initiatives like the ASK programme continue to lose...

Jessica Hill
Dan Sandhu