Area Reviews: development programme launched to meet new era

LEADING Further Education consultancy FEA has partnered with business improvement specialists to create a development programme suited to the era of Area Reviews.

The Government’s ongoing Area Reviews represent the largest FE upheaval many years, aiming to match regional FE capacity to the needs of students and employers across England.

FEA (formerly known as FE Associates and BW Consultants) has led in supplying the very best interim support at senior levels across FE and skills for the past 12 years.

It has now partnered with Bentley Management & Consulting to create a specialist programme aimed at driving sustainable, efficient and effective performance – top priorities for FE leaders.

‘Lean’ principles

Commercial Director Jason Knox said: “The need to operate efficiently as a college or training provider has never been greater.

“With Area Reviews reshaping the landscape, providers are looking for new ways of working together, and in doing so ensuring all processes are both efficient and effective in supporting the learner journey and delivery of services.

“Achieving this requires process excellence and a culture that supports accountability, continuous improvement, and a commercial mindset.

“Our team of industry experts works with each institution to understand their unique improvement opportunities and create solutions which maximise them in a way which is deliverable and measurable.”

The Lean Programme is based on lean principles – meaning creating more value while expending fewer resources.

Warwickshire College Group, a cluster of six FE colleges across Warwickshire and Worcestershire, have made savings of more than £1m per year using Bentley Management & Consulting techniques.

For more information about that and the Lean Programme click here.