DWP | FE Week

Civil servants raced to beat their own level 7 apprenticeship deadline

‘Contradictory’ government behaviour contributed to level 7 starts rush before funding ended in January

Labour conference 2025: Pat McFadden’s full speech

The work and pensions secretary, who now controls most of the skills brief, addressed the party’s annual conference in Liverpool

Skills are the missing piece in our fight against wasted potential

One in eight young people are not in education, employment or training. The answer lies in more training in skills that lead directly to work

One minister, two beasts: Can Jacqui Smith fix the skills system?

Jacqui Smith’s unprecedented brief spanning the DfE and DWP signals ambition for a joined-up skills system. But without wider government buy-in, her impact risks being symbolic

SWAPs is for keeps despite questions over its success

The government will fund 100,00 starts on the training and work experience scheme next year

Young NEETs approaches 1m

The figures will continue to rise without ‘drastic change’, experts warn

DWP slammed for keeping revived training scheme outcomes a secret

SWAPs have had 330,000 participants since it was re-launched in 2020

Skills Commission demands cross-departmental minister for lifelong learning

A group of key FE figures has called for a cross-departmental minister for a lifelong learning, through a new report by the Skills Commission. It’s one of a number of recommendations made by the commission, co-chaired by former chair of the Learning and Skills Improvement Service Dame Ruth Silver, in its new report ‘Spotlight on…lifelong […]

Government pushes for more over-60s apprentices

Over-60s are being encouraged to do more apprenticeships, in a new government report looking at how to boost employment prospects in later life. The report by the Department for Work and pensions, called Fuller Working Lives: A Partnership Approach, was unveiled this morning. It refers repeatedly to retraining opportunities for people aged over 45, and […]