Stringent criteria will eliminate many of the largest from applying. The government is creating a group of “expert” apprenticeship providers in a new pilot programme unveiled today. Those selected for this “mark of excellence” will be given “more access” to Department for Education systems in a bid to reduce the time and resource providers commit...

Education jobs also among the most affected occupation by artificial intelligence. Employees with level 4 and above apprenticeships are in jobs most “exposed” to artificial intelligence (AI) compared to any other training route, according to new Department for Education research. Jobs in education are also among the top 20 most affected occupations by AI, particularly...

Low Pay Commission will examine evidence before scrapping the apprentice minimum wage. The government’s independent advisory pay body is considering scrapping the apprentice minimum wage rate. The Low Pay Commission this week announced that it will “say more on this” issue once it has “considered new evidence” from a Department for Education survey and the body’s own...

Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivered his spring budget today and confirmed a number of new investments for the FE and skills sector. They include a doubling of apprentice incentive payments for employers, a further boost to traineeships, and a new “Help to Grow” scheme for small businesses to upskill. FE Week has the key points: Cash...

Teesside University’s National Horizons Centre (NHC) has been identified as a preferred bidder as a National Training Centre to deliver cutting-edge training in cell and gene therapy and vaccine manufacturing. The selection of the NHC as a National Training Centre for the Advanced Therapies Skills Training Network (ATSTN) further cements the Tees Valley’s growing reputation...