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Government announce plans for Traineeships

By Lindsay Plumpton, Communications Leader, Friday 11 January 2013

Lindsay Plumpton

The Government has announced plans for a new training scheme to help young people boost their skills, confidence and ultimately find sustained employment. The Traineeship Programme could be launched as soon as September 2013 and will consist of work experience, English and Maths, along with job preparation such as CV-writing tips and advice on how to prepare for an interview.

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University applications down

By Lindsay Plumpton, Communications Leader, Thursday 10 January 2013

Lindsay Plumpton

Recent figures show a drop of more than 6% in university applications with less than a month to go before the deadline for 2013. Rising tuition fees are said to be a key reason behind the fall in applications with potential students put off by the prospect of up to £27,000 debt for a 3-year course. What’s more, with ministers claiming apprenticeships will 'soon match degrees' (available at Level 6 and above), university is far from the only option for school leavers. New routes are opening up to into valuable, skilled careers as the quality and reputation of Apprenticeships continues to improve. Are Apprenticeships the future?

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Young people not able to cope with daily life

By Lindsay Plumpton, Communications Leader, Tuesday 08 January 2013

Lindsay Plumpton

One in 10 young people feel they can't cope with day-to-day life, according to the results of a new study. The Prince's Trust Youth Index gauges how young people feel about their lives across a range of areas from family life to emotional health. It reveals that young people not in employment, education or training (NEET) are more than twice as likely to feel unhappy. The trust found that 27% of young people believe their prospects have been “permanently damaged” by the double-dip recessions. What’s more, 19% of those surveyed said they had no future because of the downturn. This figure increased to 36% per cent for young people classed as NEET.

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NCFE takes part in January ‘Dryathlon’

By Lindsay Plumpton, Communications Leader, Friday 04 January 2013

Lindsay Plumpton

Happy New Year! After the indulgence of the festive season, a number of NCFE sober soldiers have given up alcohol for the whole of January as part of a Cancer Research UK initiative. Our brave ‘dryathletes’ will be removing their beer goggles and turning their back on the bar in order to raise money for the cause. Their willpower will be rewarded with sponsorship from their fellow colleagues and the great news is that all cash raised in the office will be doubled by NCFE. If our volunteers need a night off for a special occasion, they’re able to buy a ‘golden pass’ to allow themselves a cheeky tipple without the guilt (all funds going to Cancer Research UK).

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As the end of 2012 draws near... A message from David Grailey

By Lindsay Plumpton, Communications Leader, Wednesday 12 December 2012

Lindsay Plumpton

As the end of 2012 draws near, it’s a good time to reflect on what has been a challenging year for the sector as we look ahead to 2013. It’s certainly been a year of transition; with Michael Gove’s proposed E-Bacc countered by Labour’s suggested Tech-Bacc, funding and policy changes, the outcomes of several Apprenticeship reviews and the ongoing issue of employment outcomes for the FE sector. At NCFE, we’re looking to the future. Coalition policy is based around stimulating the economy to achieve growth through employment, spearheaded by apprenticeships and employability skills – this is a focus very much aligned to our own. We’ll continue to expand our range of employability related qualifications, whilst growing our Apprenticeship portfolio.

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