The publication of the Milburn interim review on young people and work arrives at an important moment for England’s education, employment and skills system. With...
Something struck me recently at the Breaking Barriers / NEET Collective, held in central London on 2nd June 2026 - a FE News and Edge...
Recently, I visited PET-Xi in Coventry, and I left with a feeling I know all too well: admiration, frustration and a deep sense of déjà...
Practitioners, leaders, researchers and advocates gathered in London to do something the sector urgently needed: not just name the problem, but co-design the route out...
There’s a gulf between where many NEET young people are and where employers need them to be so that they can thrive in a job. The UK must find ways to bridge that gulf -...
Alan Milburn’s Young People and Work interim report should land as a national alarm bell. Nearly one million young people are now not in education,...
UK government and organisations are constantly discussing ongoing skills shortages and apprenticeships and employability, yet one of the biggest untapped resources that often gets overlooked...
The Level 4 AI and Automation Practitioner apprenticeship launched by Skills England has arrived at a difficult moment for the FE sector. The management apprenticeship...
The term NEET has long been used as shorthand for young people who are Not in Education, Employment or Training. It is often framed as...
New apprenticeship reforms could play an important role in improving diversity across the UK workforce, particularly as policymakers seek to widen access to skilled careers and address persistent barriers...
This is the Skills and Apprenticeships News category page on FE News. This is a page that has pooled together thought leadership articles and videos from influencers and key decision makers discussing future skills policy, how skills can solve the productivity puzzle, the latest developments in Apprenticeships and skills for the jobs of the future and how technology is transforming the core or essential skills for the jobs of the future as we are now in the fourth industrial revolution. Here is the place to explore the latest ideas and skills strategies from leaders across the World of Further Education, Skills and Apprenticeships.
So if you are interested in finding out the latest strategies, expert opinions and developments from the Apprenticeship Levy, to the Growth and Skills Levy News, APAR, lifelong learning, micro-credentials, Degree apprenticeships or qualification reform and skills policy news. Then you are in the right place. Check out the latest opinion pieces, thought leadership, videos and skills strategies from experts across the World of Apprenticeships, Skills and Work Based Learning. FE News is a platform, so the thought leadership articles are from actual Apprenticeship industry professionals, rather than through the lens of a reporter or editor. This is why the content on FE News is truly the voice of the FE and Skills Sector.
Apprenticeships provide talent pipelines with in-demand skills crucial for future growth. Work-integrated learning moulds adaptable workers as jobs evolve. Apprentices gain relevant experience by bypassing graduate skills gaps. Custom programs matched to business priorities also promote diversity and social mobility. Competency measures further shift focus to capabilities over qualifications. Government incentives and industry partnerships in areas with acute shortages reinforce the value of developing talent via apprenticeships at all career stages.
Evaluate skills gaps and ageing. Build versatility in digital, data, and regulatory domains to minimise shortage risks and keep institutional knowledge despite turnover. Also, focus on inclusive leadership.
Automation and AI first policies will transform most jobs, prioritising human skills in problem-solving across disciplines. Human creativity, empathy and teamwork will productively integrate with efficiency. Technical skills should connect humanities and STEM.
Skills audits, micro-learning, and mentor guidance enabled through internal job rotations and external partnerships. Leaders should exemplify continuous learning. Incentivise upskilling via subsidised classes in emerging domains. Promote peer coaching too.
Discover more insights and strategies on FE skills and apprenticeships by exploring our latest articles, videos, and resources below.
As we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, it’s important to remember the unique role of apprenticeships in enabling young people and businesses to realise each other’s…
Coleg Menai students aiming for careers in aviation visited Babcock International at RAF Valley recently to see how their futures could look. Aeronautical Engineering learners…
AN INNOVATIVE new apprenticeship programme is building the skills and aspirations of construction workers. Wales’s first fully funded Construction Degree Apprenticeship was launched in September…
When Covid disrupted her A-levels, Lily Frewin faced a crossroads: follow the expected university route or take a leap into something completely different. Encouraged by…
Apprenticeship Week Wales is an annual celebration that shines a spotlight on the vital role apprenticeships play in shaping the future workforce, empowering learners and…
To celebrate National Apprenticeship Week (NAW 2025), a budding Project Management Degree Apprentice and former Project Management Apprentice speak about the ‘Skills for Life’ they…
National apprenticeships provider Access Industry are entering an exciting new era, led by newly appointed Managing Director, Gary Judge. Judge, an educator with nearly 20…
National Apprenticeship Week is approaching, with this year’s theme being ‘skills for life’. In this article, we hear from Steven Hurst, Director of Corporate Learning…
Nichola Hay MBE discusses how the global workforce faces significant transformation driven by technological and economic changes during National Apprenticeship Week. Organisations are shifting towards…
The widening regional skills gap is holding back economic growth and innovation, especially in the tech sector. While London remains a hub for tech talent,…
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