Training giant BPP hires Halfon

Former skills minister Robert Halfon has taken on multiple advisory roles since leaving office

Former skills minister Robert Halfon has taken on multiple advisory roles since leaving office

One of the country’s largest training providers has hired a former skills minister as a senior adviser. 
 
Robert Halfon announced today that he will be joining professional education and apprenticeships giant BPP this month as a senior adviser on skills and social mobility, alongside multiple other consultancy and advisory roles. 
 
Halfon resigned as skills minister in March saying he wished to dedicate his remaining time as an MP to his Harlow constituents. He stood down from parliament when it dissolved before the July general election when his former seat was won by Labour. 
 
Writing on his LinkedIn page, Halfon said: “Today, I am really pleased to announce that I have joined BPP as a senior adviser, working in skills and social mobility. After serving as MP for Harlow and minister for skills, apprenticeships and higher education, it feels good to be able to continue my passion for skills.”
 
BPP has been approached for comment.
 
This is the latest post-ministerial appointment for Halfon, who last week received clearance from the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) for other paid advisory and training roles.
 
Halfon has also become honorary chair of the Green Skills Advisory Panel and last month was appointed a trainer for Dods Training and a senior adviser for consultancy firms Candesic and GK Strategy. 
 
The former minister, known for his “ladder of opportunity” catchphrase to represent his work on skills and social mobility when in office, has also launched his own consultancy company: Ladder of Opportunity Consulting. 
 
The Green Skills Advisory Panel is an initiative started and funded by Exeter College and brings employers and training organisations together to promote entry routes into green careers. 
 
ACOBA has advised Halfon he is not allowed to lobby on behalf of any of his new employers on matters he was responsible for as minister for a period of two years from leaving office, nor can he “draw on any privileged information available from [his] time in ministerial office.”

Closer to home, Halfon has also revealed he is to chair the Stanstead Airport College, part of Harlow College, advisory group.
 
BPP is one of the country’s largest private-sector education and training organisations, offering undergraduate and postgraduate courses alongside higher-level apprenticeships through its university and professional education companies. 
 
The bulk of BPP’s apprenticeships are delivered through BPP Professional Education Limited. Its most popular apprenticeships include the level 7 accountancy and tax professional, level 5 coaching professional and the level 4 professional accounting or taxation technician. 
 
Analysis of the latest available apprenticeship levy data placed BPP Professional Education Ltd as the fourth largest training provider by levy income, generating £36.7 million in 2021/22. 

Latest education roles from

Director of Governance – HRUC

Director of Governance – HRUC

FEA

Principal and CEO

Principal and CEO

Hills Road Sixth Form College

Senior Quality Officer

Senior Quality Officer

University of Lancashire

Chief Financial Officer

Chief Financial Officer

Minerva Learning Trust

Sponsored posts

Sponsored post

Funding Is Flowing, Demand Is Rising — It’s Time for FE to Deliver on Green Skills

As the UK races toward net zero, the government says it wants to back 2 million green jobs by...

Advertorial
Sponsored post

Helping every learner use AI responsibly

AI didn’t wait to be invited into the classroom. It burst in mid-lesson. Across UK colleges, learners are already...

Advertorial
Sponsored post

Supporting the UK’s Transport Decarbonisation Plan Through Skills

The UK Government’s Decarbonising Transport: A Better, Greener Britain strategy sets a legally binding path towards a net-zero transport...

Advertorial
Sponsored post

Project power: ASDAN expands its qualifications portfolio

From 2026, ASDAN’s planned Foundation and Higher Project Qualifications will sit alongside its Extended Project Qualification[CM1] , creating a complete...

Advertorial

More from this theme

Ofsted, Training Providers

Jarvis Training collapse followed damning Ofsted verdict

Training quality had "declined significantly" since the last inspection

FE Week Reporter
Ofsted, Training Providers

Training provider to close after 40 years following damning Ofsted report

Managing director blasts ‘unfair’ inspection which found ‘ineffective’ safeguarding

Josh Mellor
Training Providers

Springfield Training owner explains sudden closure

CEO pursues damages from ex-employees who 'unlawfully' accessed employer data amid assessment backlogs

Shane Chowen
Colleges, Training Providers

Acland-Hood: I was wrong about our FE probe policy 

The DfE still hasn't released the findings of hundreds of investigations into FE providers

Josh Mellor

Your thoughts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

One comment