I was delighted to work with colleagues at FE News’ Breaking Barriers event on a construction job. We worked to take apart the youth employment...
For too long, the national conversation around success has treated university as the default route into a professional career. Yet across the UK, thousands of...
At the start of this month, leaders from across government, further education, skills, employability and employer groups gathered for the Breaking Barriers Collective, hosted by...
There is a particular kind of honesty that emerges when a room full of practitioners, advocates and leaders agrees to stop being polite about a...
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,...
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.
Eddie Playfair, Senior Policy Manager at the Association of Colleges (AoC) discusses bridging Policy and Pedagogy at the FE + Skills Collective. Eddie explains that…
A new report published by skills development organisation, City & Guilds reveals the increased impact of their training and development qualifications on individuals, organisations, and…
Effective communication is essential in both personal and professional interactions. It plays a vital role in building relationships, conveying messages, and fostering understanding. There are…
Jennifer Coupland is the CEO of IfATE (The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education). Jennifer shares her views on how to bridge policy and pedagogy,…
Government needs to provide greater direction to the skills system, says Lords committee Baroness Taylor of Bolton, Chair of the House of Lords Industry and…
Total People, a leading apprenticeship training provider, is proud to announce that it has been awarded a ‘Good’ rating across all of its provision types,…
An experienced rugby coach, Director of Operations Kenneth Orr set up the nation’s first college embedded in a working rugby union club five years ago.…
London South East Colleges’ student Sue Sandy has been selected as a finalist in the prestigious AoC Student of the Year Awards – in the…
Abbie Howes story is a vibrant tapestry of passion, resilience, and growth in the world of hospitality. From a young age, her heart was set…
Cardiff and Vale College’s plans for a state-of-the-art Advanced Technology Centre (ATC) at Cardiff Airport have been given the green light. The Vale of Glamorgan…
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