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Exeter College to appeal decision to stop funding apprentices in small businesses

Top colleges says it's business as usual for applicants and employers

Exeter College - recently crowned it best college in the country for the second year running by a leading further education publisher - has been turned down for government funding for apprenticeships working in small businesses. The minister responsible at the Department for Education, Anne Milton, blames EU rules fror putting this kind of apprenticeship funding out to tender in this way: a process that has been described as a "debacle".

 

The money, around £650 million, is being now being split by 740 training providers who support apprentices in small companies. Exeter College, along with other bidders, will have completed a 10,000 words application form, with the hope that new funding will come into effect next month. Larger organisations now pay a compulsory levy for apprenticeship schemes- and these appreticeships aren't affected. At least one training provider that won funding in the past few weeks has already gone bust.

 

FE Week says: "That the result is a fail for grade one Exeter College and others like it is most likely because a small part of the submission they had written wasn’t deemed to answer the question well enough. But as a result, over 98 per cent of employers, those not paying the levy, can’t continue to work with these colleges and providers."  It says a recount shouldn't be ruled out.

 

However, Exeter College says it's business as usual. A spokesperson says: “Exeter College is an award winning apprenticeship provider that is Ofsted outstanding and we are currently rated as the 7th highest college in the country for employer satisfaction.  We are not satisfied with the result and will appeal."

 

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