Jack Lopresti, Member of Parliament for Filton and Bradley Stoke, has visited the Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) to discuss the main issues facing the skills sector – and his work as co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Apprenticeships. AELP’s head office is located in Jack Lopresti’s constituency, where he has been the MP since 2010. During the meeting, Mr Lopresti heard about some of the main issues facing the skills sector at the moment.

AELP have welcomed news that the Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022 has received royal assent – but warn that further assurances are needed over the list of post-16 education or training providers and Local Skills Improvement Plans.

AELP have successfully passed conditional review for the Investors in Diversity award, following a review into its practices carried out by the National Centre for Diversity. The Investors in Diversity Award is recognised as a national equality standard, showing that AELP takes the values of fairness, respect, equality, diversity, inclusion, and engagement (FREDIE) seriously.

The Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) has been successful at the National Association Awards (NAA) for the second year running – retaining its place as the Best Membership Organisation (up to 1000 members). Following last year’s win, AELP gave assurances that the organisation would not sit on its laurels and would continue their hard work representing members. AELP are therefore delighted to have retained the Best Membership Organisation award. The NAA 2022 awards

The Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) has welcomed the expansion of the eligibility criteria for the free level 3 courses for jobs scheme which comes into force today (Friday 1 April) – and called for action to ensure greater take up of these valuable courses. The level 3 adult offer was part of the Prime Minister’s lifetime skills guarantee, which he announced at Exeter College in September 2020. AELP and other FE sector stakeholders had long urged the government to

AELP backs London Assembly plans to boost apprenticeships across the capital The Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) has backed London Assembly plans to improve the apprenticeship system, as outlined in a new report by their Economy Committee. ‘You’re Hired: A Bright Future for Apprenticeships in London’ has found that apprenticeship numbers in London have fallen since the introduction of the apprenticeship levy – particularly for younger people. One of the reasons for

The Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) has slammed government proposals to reform level 2 and below provision – which AELP believes will lead to a ‘bonfire of qualifications’. Level 2 and below qualifications are often the first step in a life-changing journey towards employment and higher levels of education for learners. They also play an important part in supporting

The Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) has launched its latest research showing the significant impact that independent Training Providers (ITPs) have within the English skills system. AELP’s report, Excellence for Learners, Value for Employers: How independent training providers can deliver the workforce of the future, was launched in the House of Commons at an event hosted by Lord Aberdare, alongside AELP Chief Executive Jane Hickie and AELP Chair Martin Dunford OBE. The

• Martin Dunford OBE, Chief Executive of Skills Training UK has stepped down as Chair of AELP’s board, after 18 years at the helm • Martin was succeeded by Nichola Hay MBE, Chief Operating Officer of Estio Training and former Vice Chair of the board at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 22 February 2022 • Alex Khan MBE, Chief Executive of Lifetime Training was also elected as Vice Chair of the board at the AGM.

Strong ambitions, but if levelling up is to be more than just a political slogan - further skills investment is critical. AELP reacts to the Levelling Up white paper

AELP congratulates FE sector colleagues for their recognition in the 2022 New Year’s Honours

Chancellor’s £1bn support package a lifeline for businesses, but catch-up funding and flexibility still needed for learners

Dr Nik Johnson, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough’s directly elected Mayor joined AELP for a visit to the Road Haulage Association (RHA) in Peterborough, to discuss how we can work together to address skills shortages in the region – with a particular focus on increasing the number of HGV drivers. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough’s Metro Mayor met with Richard Smith, Managing Director of RHA, and Paul Warner, Director of Strategy at the AELP. RHA and the Mayor agreed to closely together to

• Today, Ofsted have published research on education recovery in further education and skills providers, based on inspections conducted in autumn 2021 • Report highlights remarkable resilience of providers to support their learners, despite ongoing challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic • Ofsted’s findings back up AELP’s calls for catch-up funding in work-based FE settings, along with extended flexibilities, as the pandemic continues to significantly impact learning

The Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) have welcomed the Annual Report of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector (HMCI) of Education, Children’s Services and Skills 2020/21 which confirms that over 80% of Independent Training Providers (ITPs) are rated good or outstanding. The report – published by Ofsted’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman - covers the last academic year (up until 31 August 2021) for all provision from early years to FE. In her report, HM Chief Inspector praised

Minister of State for HE & FE announces introduction of “lifelong learning account” as part of the 2025 lifelong loan entitlement for provision at levels 4-6 AELP welcomes move as a step in the right direction, but urges government to consider individual skills accounts, to empower learners and employers and widen access to lifelong learning and training. The Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) has welcomed Government plans for the introduction of lifelong learning

The UK Government’s Skills and Post-16 Education Bill has received its House of Commons 2nd Reading, and moves to Committee Stage shortly AELP welcome the principles and direction of travel contained in the Bill but warn more must be done to increase learner and employer choice Local Skills Improvement Plans, the list of relevant providers and a further measures to extend and better enforce the Baker Clause need ironing out as the legislation makes further progress through Parliament

AELP Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021 press release The skills trade body ‘The Association of Employment and Learning Providers’ has responded to the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021 with cautious optimism. The government’s focus around the skills agenda has been appreciated. We certainly welcome any investment which will help reach ambitions to get people into good quality, well-paid sustainable work.

Britain’s training providers will today express support for the government’s employer centred approach to reforming skills training but will warn against new legislation imposing costly bureaucracy that could stall efforts to improve workforce productivity. At its annual conference, the Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) will say that it will be local young people and adults needing to retrain after the pandemic whose prospects could suffer if training capacity is reduced

To support Leaders and Governors involved in apprenticeship delivery, a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programme, fully-funded by the Department for Education, has launched. Part of the Education and Training Foundation’s (ETF) Apprenticeship Workforce Development (AWD) programme, the Strategic Leadership and Governance offer has been developed with Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) and the Association of Colleges (AoC) to enable Leaders and Governors to develop