Page 15 - Gi flipbook May 2018

AELP dramatically ditches ETF ownership

THE ASSOCIATION OF sector. The ETF, which is sector,” Mr Dawe told FE Other part-owners of
EMPLOYMENT and Learning mostly funded by the DfE, Week. “There is a desperate the foundation include
Providers has washed its was designed as a “sector- need for workforce support Holex, the adult community
hands of the Education owned” support body, development so the most education body, and the
and Training Foundation, helping to train people fundamental thing that is Association of Colleges.
claiming it is “no longer an who work in technical and needed at a critical time has Established in October
organisation run by the FE vocational education. been removed.” 2013 by former skills minister
sector for the sector”. As far as the AELP is FE Week revealed in John Hayes, the ETF recently
“We don’t feel the concerned it no longer March that the move had its mission reviewed
programme being operates as an independent was ratified at an ETF by the DfE, resulting in a
proposed and funded body, more as an extension board meeting, and that “narrower remit”.
by the Department for of the DfE focusing on the the AELP has removed Mr Dawe claimed his
Education (DfE) supports our incoming T-levels. its representation with representatives were not
membership,” said AELP boss “There is nothing really immediate effect. allowed to “have any impact”
Mark Dawe, who insisted the around apprenticeships The AELP had two on the ETF’s focus, “so we
ETF “can’t have its ownership and work-based learning, trustees on the ETF’s do not feel like we should
cake and eat it”. when we are probably board – Chris Jeffery, a continue as an owner”.
The decision has sent going through the most non-executive director of The organisation’s
shockwaves through the significant change in the the Skills Group UK, and total income in 2016/17
John Hyde, Executive Chair was £32.2 million, which
of Hospitality Industry included £29.1 million in
Training. David Russell, grants from the DfE.
Chief Executive of the It is understood the
ETF, said his organisation government is now pushing
was “disappointed” by the the ETF to focus on the
AELP’s decision and would introduction of T-levels –
be “seeking discussions” which will mostly be taken
with both the association to at colleges rather than
David Russell Mark Dawe “understand more fully the private providers – and other
decision”. mainstream FE provision. ■

Apprenticeship ignorance driving saw a year-on-year increase
in apprenticeship starts
engineering skills gap warns report of 7.4 per cent) early
data for 2017 indicates
numbers are dropping. This
A WIDESPREAD LACK annual demand for people annual shortfall is claimed decline has coincided with
of awareness over with “core engineering” to be up to 56,000. the introduction of the
engineering apprenticeships skills stands at 124,000 Despite efforts to apprenticeship levy.
is hampering UK industry’s a year, with an additional encourage uptake of Commenting on the
ability to attract and 79,000 workers needed apprenticeships, the report research, EngineeringUK’s
foster the next generation each year in “related” points to low levels of Chief Executive Mark
of engineering talent, roles – those that use awareness, with 58 per Titterington said: “We
according to Engineering engineering knowledge cent of 11 to 14-year-olds need to ensure that
UK’s annual report, with other skills. Given surveyed in Engineering apprenticeships that are
Engineering UK 2018: State the current supply of UK’s 2017 Brand Monitor, offered are of a consistent
of Engineering. talent coming through the saying they know very little high quality and that they
The report claims that education pipeline, the about apprenticeships. are open and attractive to
Understanding is similarly a diverse range of young
Young people are not low among parents with people, particularly girls.
aware of the number of only 46 per cent saying they “The focus on what can
apprenticeships available know what apprentices do make apprenticeships work,
and 55 per cent having some including looking at the
knowledge of the different impact of the levy, quality of
types of apprenticeships provision, and perceptions
available. Furthermore, of young people, will be one
while apprenticeships of the topics that will be
have recently grown in part of our new, extended
popularity (2015 to 2016 research agenda”. ■

15

News.indd 10 19/04/2018 12:43