Government doesn’t publish precise figures for traineeship spend. Actually, they don’t publish a lot of detailed statistics about traineeships at all.

There have been some big developments in FE funding in the past couple of weeks. Last week, I covered the main points of Rishi Sunak’s Summer Statement. Since then, Gavin Williamson has announced plans for a shift toward a “German style”, employer-led Further Education system, while yesterday the ESFA dropped a subcontracting bombshell that could have massive knock-on effects in the industry.

We just hit the halfway point of the year, lockdown is relaxing, and life is starting to look a little more normal. It feels like we’re in a time of transition again, and it got me to thinking about what the next year holds for the FE funding world. 

Since their introduction, numerous adult education courses previously funded by grant now require students to take out a loan. But while government research has claimed that “learners become more discerning, motivated and engaged learners when undertaking their study in a loans-based environment” and that “learners who took out a Loan feel positively about them”, the story from other quarters is more than a little different.

As with so many recent developments in the industry over the last decade, my clients and friends working in ITPs are often confused and bewildered by the requirements for 16 to 19 funding under the Study Programme system. So, I wanted to discuss a few of the reasons behind why this is such a tough nut to crack and explain a few of the realities about how the system works.

It’s Mental Health Awareness Week, and given the current situation, it’s an especially poignant topic right now.

Furlough is currently costing the Exchequer around £14bn per month. Following the extension of the scheme through October, and the additional cost of 15bn for small companies and £10bn for the self-employed, the Office for Budget Responsibility estimates that the total cost of COVID-19 related employee support measures will amount to over £100bn, while the budget deficit is projected to rise to a total of £300bn.

This week I wanted to talk about the ever-controversial Apprenticeship Levy. Has the scheme been a success? Anyone familiar with the levy is likely to have a preconceived answer; it’s difficult to find anyone saying anything good about the scheme. But are these notions correct?

Further Education (FE) in England is typically viewed as the study individuals take after the age of 16. FE is delivered by a range of public, private and voluntary sector providers. The core role of FE is: