It is with great interest that I see the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education (IfATE) have given consent for the Public Sector to develop a L2 Organisational Support Assistant Apprenticeship Standard. To me this raises a number of questions as well as the key question ‘what is the ultimate goal of our (English) apprenticeship vision for the future?’

We applaud the ESFA for reinforcing this week in their ‘weekly update to providers about the contractual requirement to give the ESFA 12 weeks’ notice, of any notice of intended, or proposed change of control / ownership of the contractor. Please refer to the relevant Change in Control/Change in Ownership (or equivalent) clauses within your respective contracts and funding agreements with the ESFA.

‘The customer is the foundation of a business and keeps it in existence. He (or she) alone gives it employment’ (Peter Drucker 1963). 

I have been in the VET (Vocational Education and Training) arena for over 20 years now, in various guises in Colleges, Awarding Organisations, Private Training Providers, Universities, employers and involved in VET and apprenticeships. If we were to go back to the early 2000’s there were mechanisms introduced in the English / UK VET sector (including apprenticeships) that allowed providers to formulate ‘empowerment’ for delivery staff (tutors, assessors, deliverers, IV’s etc) and create autonomy. 

I am sure everyone was listening in anticipation yesterday to The Chancellor pronouncing his headline spending plans. For me, I was travelling from Blackpool to Manchester so not much else to do on a wet Wednesday lunchtime.