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The Government has welcomed the recommendations within Doug Richard’s newly published independent report on the future of apprenticeships. The report calls to improve the quality of apprenticeships, making them more focused on the needs of employers and also on outcomes – what an apprentice will be able to do having completed their training. Key recommendations have included:

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Official figures this week show that the Work Programme has missed its main target for getting people sustained jobs - only 3.53% of people on the programme have found a job for 6 months or more (the coalition's target was 5.5%). The programme provides tailored support for claimants who need more help to undertake active and effective job-seeking. Joining the work programme is mandatory for people aged over 25 when they have been out of work for a year and for under-25s after 9 months.

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NCFE is exhibiting at the Association of Colleges Annual Conference and Exhibition this week at the ICC in Birmingham. There will be over 1700 Further Education professionals at the event which will feature leading speakers from the industry and fantastic networking opportunities. If you’re going to be there, please come and visit us – we’re on Stand F16! We’ll also be hosting a break-out session on REED NCFE: Turning your College into the go-to place for employment. The session will demonstrate how the REED NCFE initiative can increase your learners’ chances of job success and enhance your college’s employability reputation. The session is on Wednesday 21 November from 9.15am-10.15am.

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Several of our brave (or stupid!) male colleagues here at NCFE are taking part in a series of extreme physical challenges this weekend in aid of Help the Heroes. The ‘Tough Mudder’ event consists of 12 miles of mud, ice baths, electrical shocks, climbing walls, monkey bars, hay bales and more! They've tried to get some training in over the last few weeks in preparation but we’re not sure if this will adequately prepare them for the ice, shocks and numerous muscle strains they're about to willingly bring upon themselves!You can see some footage here to get a flavour of what they've let themselves in for…

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By David Grailey, Chief Executive An 11 month review into Apprenticeships has concluded that urgent reforms are required to the government’s Apprenticeship programme in order to boost economic growth.

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By David Grailey It’s encouraging to see that the latest reports from the Office for National Statistics have revealed a fall in unemployment, suggesting that Britain’s economy may be on the slow road to recovery. This positive development has surprised economists who’ve been impressed with the resilience of the labour market at such a challenging time.

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By David Grailey Back in December 2011, I told you about our plans to redevelop a selection of vocational qualifications so that they’re in line with the new Department for Education (DfE) criteria. To recap on this, the qualifications we’re redeveloping are:

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An 11 month review of apprenticeships carried out by The Business, Innovation and Skills Committee has concluded that urgent reform is needed to the Government's apprenticeships programme. The report suggests that quality standards need to be improved and schemes need to be better monitored in order to provide the skills needed to boost economic growth. It calls for schemes to be more ambitious and apprenticeships to be seen as equal to university. Following the publication of the report, the Chairman of the BIS Committee, Adrian Bailey, has stated that apprenticeships are capable of creating a more skilled workforce, increasing employment and ultimately solving “some of this country's most pressing issues”.

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A new report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has highlighted the huge task faced by young unemployed people looking for work and has reinforced the need for rigorous preparation and active job search, in order to be successful. The research was carried out across 3 UK cities, one with a weak supply of jobs, one with a better supply and one in-between. Researchers sent 2,000 job applications from fictional learners with at least 5 good GCSEs and relevant work experience to 667 real vacancies (sales assistants, cleaners, office administrators and kitchen hands).

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As youth unemployment rates remain high, the need to equip young people with the skills to secure a job in today’s competitive labour market becomes increasingly important. One of the main routes for helping young people to gain these skills is via apprenticeships; allowing learners to gain real workplace experience and a solid skillset in a specialist area while at the same time achieving a nationally recognised qualification and a direct pathway into employment. There’s no doubt that apprenticeships are still high on the news agenda. But what’s next?

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Blog posts for author:Lindsay Plumpton

The Richard Review of Apprenticeships

Can the Work Programme succeed?

NCFE at the AoC

A few brave men…

BIS report on Apprenticeships highlights need for change

Unemployment rates drop... but there's still room for improvement

Vocational qualifications for schools

Apprenticeships: Reform needed for success?

Looking for a job – a job in itself?

A new era of apprenticeships: what’s next?

Authors

Lindsay Plumpton

David Grailey

Andrew Gladstone-Heighton

Esme Winch

Michael Lemin

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Blog posts for author:Lindsay Plumpton

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Authors

Lindsay Plumpton

David Grailey

Andrew Gladstone-Heighton

Esme Winch

Michael Lemin

Categories

Archive