BIS | FE Week

Area reviews have lost their true purpose

The link between area reviews and their original aim – of matching skills to labour market need – has been lost, says Caireen Mitchell. When BIS announced the area reviews in March, the process had at its core a complex but noble purpose: to deliver financially viable, resilient institutions, with strong reputations, delivering a high-quality […]

Westminster Kingsway name change rejected, but others find loophole

Westminster Kingsway College’s bid to have itself rebranded as Central London Colleges Group was rejected over concerns its new name would undermine its neighbours, it has been revealed. A Freedom of Information request found that the college’s request was turned down even though another institution, formed by the recent merger between Bromley College, Bexley College […]

Boles addresses apprenticeship standard quality concerns

Skills Minister Nick Boles (pictured above) addressed concerns about how the quality of apprenticeships will be policed as the government drives towards its target of creating 3m apprenticeship by 2020. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) raised the possibility, in its consultation on the proposed large employers’ apprenticeship levy set to be introduced […]

Sector gives BIS committee its views on the Productivity Plan

The task of the first official inquiry of the House of Commons Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee is to look at the government’s Productivity Plan. Committee chair Iain Wright (pictured above), announcing the inquiry in July, said he wanted to explore whether the plan addressed the main causes of low productivity in the UK […]

HE consultation welcomed cautiously by Association of Colleges

A technical consultation paper from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is proposing that FE colleges have more opportunities to provide degree qualifications. The paper published on August 3rd calls for legislative changes to Degree Awarding Powers, removing the barrier to non-teaching bodies and making them more widely available for FE colleges. The […]