The Skills Minister has attended the launch of a ‘groundbreaking’ scheme in Yorkshire to mark National Apprenticeship Week.
Leeds City College and IT company Redcentric have been working with Leeds Rhinos to design an IT sales apprenticeship aimed at their athletes of all genders and abilities.
The arrangement gives professional and amateur athletes access to a world-class training programme while guaranteeing them employment in the UK’s IT services sector – effectively offering the best of both worlds. Part of a wider project to expand and diversify Redcentric’s talent pool, the apprenticeship will also support the Leeds Rhinos Diversity and Inclusion plan and the Rugby Football League’s “Tackle It” initiative.
The Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education, Robert Halfon MP, was among the VIPs attending when Leeds Rhinos hosted the scheme’s launch event on 7 February. He said: “This new apprenticeship will help to not just tackle skills shortages, it’ll level the playing field for all.
“This is a huge, forward-looking investment from Leeds Rhinos who already employ many apprentices, offering a ladder of opportunity so that adults can retrain at any stage of their career, get involved in booming sectors like IT and tech and build a skills and apprenticeships nation.”
Bill Jones, Executive Principal at Leeds City College, said: “Despite the current economic backdrop, we want to be able to offer existing and future apprentices value-added courses that enhance their knowledge.
“The IT Services market in the United Kingdom is projected to grow by 6.74% and we want to build a future pipeline of talent to help drive growth across the sector and deliver great outcomes, not only for the Leeds City Region but for the UK.”
Also present at the launch was Jamie Jones Buchanan, Leeds Rhinos’ Head of Culture, Diversity and Inclusivity. Addressing the unique appeal of the initiative, he said: “Through this apprenticeship scheme we are hoping to bridge the gap between sports and business, equipping sports people with the skills, tools and techniques to move into business at the appropriate point within their sporting career.”
The 12-month apprenticeship has been tailored to ensure apprentices are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to successfully sell products while following the correct procedures. The project’s Collaborative Apprenticeship Scheme component, meanwhile, will include a fully funded Cyber and Spreadsheets short course that will be taught remotely.
Redcentric, which is hoping to recruit around 50 apprentices over the next 12 to 24 months, launched a pilot of the IT technician sales apprenticeship at the end of 2022. There are currently four pioneers of the scheme in place with an academy player from Leeds Rhinos already signed up and set to join in February. There are plans to recruit 10 Rhinos players to take on an apprenticeship with the firm, or other suitable employers, as the scheme grows.
Chair of Luminate Education Group, Dr Shaid Mahmood, has been awarded an MBE for Services to Education in the 2023 New Year Honours list.
Shaid is the Chair of the Board of Directors at Luminate Education Group and has worked in a diverse range of senior roles in science and industry, in local government and in further and higher education.
Committed to making a positive difference to the lives of others, he is hugely passionate about the power of education and skills to transform the lives of individuals and families least advantaged in society.
Shaid said he was humbled and overwhelmed by the honour.
“I’ve accepted it in memory of my late mother, my family and friends who have supported me and to the many dedicated, hardworking board members, staff, leaders, and managers that have contributed so much to the cause and taught me so much on the way. It’s been a privilege to lead them. This honour is dedicated to them all.”
Shaid is the Pro Vice Chancellor of Durham University and the Chair of the National Association of Colleges (AoC).
As a governor and Chair of the Luminate Education Group, Shaid is also Chair of the group’s Governance & Nominations Committee, a member of the group Finance Committee and Group Remuneration Committee and is a member of the Leeds Conservatoire Board of Directors.
Shaid’s title recognises his work across Leeds and further afield to advance further education.
David Hughes, Chief Executive of the AoC commented: “I am also pleased to see AoC chair Shaid Mahmood has been made an MBE for his work guiding AoC and as an education leader.”
We have launched an employer board to ensure the courses we offer are aligned with industry needs across the region.
The Luminate Employer Board consists of organisations such as Leeds Health and Care Academy, Colas and Bradford Manufacturing Week, to oversee the development of courses in crucial sectors such as digital, engineering, manufacturing, health and more.
The new-look board is a direct response to the Skills for Jobs White Paper and Skills and Post-16 Education Bill, which requires colleges to review how well the education or training provided by the institution meets local needs.
As part of the new structure, employers will be able to influence curriculum and its delivery to ensure that it meets labour market needs.
Bill Jones, Deputy CEO of Luminate Education Group and Vice Chair of the board, said: “By working together, we will not only create a blueprint for the future of skills but also contribute to our productivity levels in the region.
“The board comes at an opportune time where we will be able to work closely with employers who will not only influence the design of curriculum across a range of key sectors, but who will be key to helping us understand the gaps and needs of each industry as a whole, particularly crucial sectors such as digital.
“We’re committed to driving the skills agenda forward and providing sought-after skills for the economy and employers. Addressing the digital skills gap and the changing nature of work is one of our key priorities and we will work together to ensure that we are transforming lives through education.”
Michelle Stanley
Michelle Stanley, Head of Leeds One Workforce Programme, at Leeds Health and Care Academy said: “We are delighted to be part of Luminate’s employer board. The group works with a wide range of employers, and we have had the opportunity to work collaboratively with them through the Yorkshire Centre for Training and Development.
“We look forward to working with and building relationships that will play a major role in helping us collectively deliver in-demand skills that are in line with the levelling up agenda, and that will cement further success for the region.
The board’s long-term goals include providing a mechanism for employers to provide feedback on their skills and training requirements as well as to contribute to curriculum design, delivery and assessment, particularly apprenticeships, higher apprenticeships, T Levels, Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) and other vocational / technical qualifications.
Funding cuts over the last decade have hit further education particularly hard; with a looming crisis and government unwilling to intervene, this could impact the sector in irreparable ways, writes Bill Jones, Deputy CEO of Luminate Education Group
The government already acknowledges that the FE sector is vital to the UK’s economic growth and productivity. This was made apparent in the summer and autumn budgets last year when the then chancellor, Rishi Sunak, planned to apportion more than £3.8 billion towards skills development by 2024-25, equivalent to a cash increase of 42 per cent (26 per cent in real terms) compared to 2019/20.
However, beyond this promise, there was a failure to provide clarity about how much of the allocated funding was additional as much of it appeared to have been rehashed from a pot that had previously been awarded.
The current education budget is not sustainable in our current climate
Even based on the 2021 budget, which included a further £1.7 billion, college spending per pupil in 2024 will still be around 10 per cent below what it was a decade ago. School sixth form spending per pupil will be 23 per cent below 2010 levels, which is not ideal in our current economy.
We are already in the throes of a recession and this is going to bring about challenges such as unemployment, which will amplify skills gaps. Education in every sense is a fundamental factor of development. No nation can achieve sustainable economic development without a sizeable investment in ‘human capital’. FE colleges will be key to supporting people to gain additional skills and knowledge that can help them stand out from the competition. It will also play a crucial role in securing economic and social progress and improving income distribution.
The reality is that school and college spending has seen major cuts over the past decade and like the Association of Colleges, and other unions/organisations, I agree that a real-terms cut in funding will be detrimental. It is also concerning that there are considerations being made for further ‘efficiencies’ in public spending but with the rate at which the economy is going, there is no room for efficiencies.
Further efficiencies, means further cuts, and where the education sector is concerned, will mean that our ability to deliver programmes that prepare young people and adults for the labour market will be reduced because of lack of resources. It will also result in the most disadvantaged people missing out on vital education and the country further combating skills gaps.
The government needs to expand opportunities within the FE sector, based on efficiency and equity. This means ensuring that we are at the heart of its strategic plans as essentially, we are the drivers of skills development.
We recently wrote to the education secretary and expressed our concerns about the lack of funding and the impact it will have on the delivery of quality education, teaching staff and resources.
As a sector, we are a first choice provider and offer young people and adults a second chance to gain the necessary knowledge and skills that lead them on to higher education or employment; FE needs to be taken seriously. Robust frameworks need to be put in place so that it is not lagging behind when it comes to allocation of resources. We want to be in a position to respond to the different and changing needs of people who want to learn and improve their lives through education.
Apprenticeships need more reform and promotion
In April 2017, the government introduced the apprenticeship levy, which aimed to put skills development in the hands of employers to address skills shortages within their business. While we welcomed the move, we would like to see reform of the apprenticeships system to make it more flexible and transparent, as it will help achieve a bigger boost to skills development.
Apprenticeships will be an integral part of the UK’s growth strategy in the years to come, therefore, there needs to be assurance that funding created through the levy is sustained and used effectively for the national good.
Adult education budget needs to be revisited
Adult education has been impacted very significantly across England over the last three years. I believe that the adult education budget needs to be revisited as the clawback on adult skills funding from colleges and other grant-funded organisations like local authorities, risks hitting colleges at an already very challenging time.
We want to continue supporting adults who need to upskill or reskill in order to secure more sustainable employment, but in order to do this, the 90% threshold needs to be reduced or it could force providers to lose focus on these priority learners and cause colleges across England to reduce capacity for adult skills.
More cuts will greatly impact driving the skills agenda nationally
We want to be able to do more to drive economic growth/recovery, as well as tackle some of the wider regional issues and social inequalities. However, the funding model needs to reflect and support the huge social and economic benefits that come from that.
We are already seeing cuts in extra-curricular provision, such as school trips and clubs, across the country. If we are not prioritised in terms of funding, we will see learners not developing the transferable skills required by the jobs market. This will have a knock-on effect as the UK continues to face growing skills shortages.
Declining funding has real consequences for learners, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds and if no more money is funnelled into the sector, we will see educational outcomes get worse in the future as a result of this neglect.
Colleges have fixed budgets from the Department for Education but with energy prices set to quadruple, we’ll have to cut the resources we have for staff at a time when we are already experiencing staff pay difficulties.
Over the last decade, college staff pay has fallen behind inflation by 35%, this means that the vast majority of college staff are financially insecure.
FE staff are highly skilled and their work is essential, not only to our students and sector as a whole, but to the region’s future prosperity. With the rise in the cost of living, the impact on the profession over the last two years has been incredibly challenging, leaving us concerned about retaining some of our best staff.
I believe that the levelling up agenda that the government has been pushing must also include saving the vital support staff jobs which are dwindling, with huge damage for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), who need personalised support.
Make VAT status same as multi academy trusts
One feasible suggestion is looking at the VAT status of the FE sector. For many years, successive governments told FE colleges that we could not have the same VAT status as academies and schools because of European Union rules. I am calling upon the treasury to review and consider creating a level playing field in post-16 education and move FE corporations onto the same VAT status as multi-academy trusts and 16 to 19 free schools.
If the government wants us to deliver T Levels, increase apprenticeship delivery, and grow adult provisions, there needs to be a full commitment to providing the FE sector with the necessary financial backing. It also needs to strongly support the courses that strengthen the UK’s thriving industries.
Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson visited Leeds City College’s Printworks Campus this month, as the shadow government laid out its plans for the education sector.
The Leeds and Sunderland MPs met with Shaid Mahmood, Chair of Governors for Luminate Education Group, Bill Jones, Deputy CEO of Luminate Education Group, and Printworks Campus Principal, Cheryl Smith. Cheryl shared her overall vision for the campus and future plans for the growth and expansion of teaching spaces, before giving the visitors a tour of the facilities.
During the hour-and-a-half long visit, Bill spoke at length about the college’s short-to-long-term plans to provide fantastic learning facilities for students, including creating new spaces to accommodate thegrowing number of students (post 16 education) within Leeds.
He added that the college is in need of more space and is continuing to look for more funding to develop its existing spaces to make them more efficient.
He also spoke about how Leeds City College is tailoring its offering to match the skills needs of the region, with a focus on digital and that with improved investment, the sector could contribute, to an even greater extent, to the nation’s drive for improved growth and productivity.
The tour, meanwhile, included the college’s hair and beauty provision, as well as a tour of the School of Engineering.
Rachel and Bridget had the opportunity to meet with students from both schools and many of them shared their experiences and aspirations for the future.
Rachel and Bridget had the opportunity to speak to students
They also had the opportunity to see students demonstrate some of the practical skills they have learnt since joining the college, including hair colouring and manicures.
From micro aerospace components to medical instruments, precise parts are the key to keeping some of the most critical aspects of our modern world running smoothly.
Engineering student Harry Souter
Level 3 engineering student Harry Souter, demonstrated the use of the mill turn machine.
Harry explained how the mill turn worked and its ability to create more complex and intricate parts without needing to transfer the part from one machine to another.
Mitch Scott, Head of the School of Engineering said: “Manufacturing these very small parts requires the right state-of-the-art equipment coupled with the talent and dedication of the next generation of machinists.”
Cheryl spoke about how the college is working closely with employers so that they are able to directly influence the courses.
“Employers are key in helping us shape our curriculum so that we are able to better equip our students for their future careers. We are now looking at developing progression and destination opportunities for students, this includes our T Level and apprenticeship programmes.”
Rachel Reeves said: “It was brilliant to visit Printworks [campus] with Bridget.
“Colleges are at the heart of Labour’s ambition for education. We know that by improving skills and creating the good jobs our country needs, we will drive growth and make our economy stronger.”
Bridget added: “Improving skills will drive the growth our country needs for the jobs and economy of the future.” For more information about courses at Printworks visit the website
Leeds Conservatoire, a member of GuildHE and has contributed to its new ‘Building the Jigsaw’ report, launched on Tuesday 27 September.
Small and specialist universities are innovative, agile industry experts supporting the economic development within their communities and specific sectors in the economy. Frequently located in smaller towns, on the edge of cities, or in rural or coastal locations, many also carry out high impact, practical research and knowledge exchange.
This new report from GuildHE demonstrates they are well-positioned to stimulate the growth of key priority economies such as the creative industries, health and agriculture in a landscape which includes the Government’s levelling up agenda and the plan to increase investment in research and development to 2.4 per cent of the GDP by 2027. ‘Building the Jigsaw’ contains an in-depth study of the key role of smaller and specialist universities in their local, national and international economies. The report uses a combined experimental heat mapping and case studies approach to highlight the local, national and international economic impact of smaller and specialist UK higher education institutions. It brings new evidence to the sector by capturing knowledge exchange activities not always apparent in traditional statistics and often in unexpected locations throughout the UK.
Anthony McClaran, GuildHE Chair and Vice-Chancellor of St Mary’s University Twickenham, said:
“Many small and specialist universities are innovative, agile industry experts that carry out high impact, practical research and knowledge exchange. This important report brings new evidence to the sector and a new approach to capturing the local, national and international economic impact of their work.”
Eleven UK higher education institutions, including Leeds Conservatoire, contributed to the report.
Professor Joe Wilson, Principal at Leeds Conservatoire, added:
“As a specialist institution, known for its creativity and innovation, Leeds Conservatoire seized the opportunity to contribute to the ‘Building the Jigsaw’ report and be part of the case study on productive collaborations in the Leeds City Region.”
The activity of higher education providers is often distributed widely across a region. In Leeds City Region, the largest economy outside of London, this means projects and relationships that reach up to and beyond the borders of the ten districts. The work of three small and specialist institutions, Leeds Conservatoire, Leeds Arts University and Leeds Trinity University, all members of Yorkshire Universities, helps to illustrate this reach.
The case studies in the report, five in total, reveal a surprising number of initiatives and collaborations being undertaken by smaller and specialist institutions that are driving impact, prosperity, and actively addressing local, regional, national and even international, economic, social and cultural challenges.
