Apprenticeships to be top of the bill at upcoming AELP conference

Apprenticeships are set to be the major topic at June’s Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) conference.

Employment and training providers will gather in London on 19-20 June to discuss ways to deliver excellent value for funding and how to help learners and the unemployed cope with challenging economic circumstances.

Skills Minister John Hayes is expected to speak on the opening day of the conference, which will feature a session on supporting young people on the ‘NEET’ category. There will also be particular focus on the new National Careers Service, launched last month.

Shadow Employment Minister Stephen Timms is also expected to speak, addressing issues on sustainable employment and skills.

The conference will also feature a farewell address from Geoff Russell, retiring chief executive of the Skills Funding Agency.  Russell is expected to offer a ‘frank assessment of the FE and skills sector’ and it is anticipated that he will also address calls for reforms.

Various AELP member providers will also take to the stage to discuss how to offer good value from government funding and employer contributions.

The AELP represents the delivery a variety of state-funded vocational placements, including 70% of all UK apprenticeships.

AELP executive Graham Hoyle commented that he was looking forward to a “frontline perspective of what works best in a tough economic and fiscal climate”.

In a press release earlier this week, he said the “AELP is the only representative body whose membership comprehensively covers employment and skills provision funded by the three principal government departments for the sector and the agenda of this year’s annual conference properly reflects this.”

Louise Macfadyen