Linda Mason

If you would like to compare your apprenticeship ED&I approaches to others in the sector, measure your progress and hear about ideas for development - take our short survey today! We've partnered with D&I experts, Inclusion 365, to create a short 20-question benchmarking survey for apprenticeship practitioners - the deadline has now extended to the 24th May. All participants will receive a copy of the benchmarking results, to be published in Summer 2024. The survey is aimed at in-house apprenticeships and early talent managers and leaders, diversity and inclusion leads and team members, along with executive sponsors and employee resource group leaders. https://lnkd.in/eK4abFiw #apprenticeships #earlycareers #EDI #diversityandinclusion #apprentices #socialmobility #inclusion

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Three key insights on AI’s role in shaping the future of education

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The people of the North East of England, over the years, have shown great spirit and resilience, and have been pioneering in developing innovative, local solutions to local problems. For example, prior to the introduction of the Department for Education's £200M p.a. Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme across England, the North East was one of the first regions to pilot a region-wide approach to reducing so called 'holiday hunger' Children North East Northumbria University. However, the UK government's decision to set the eligibility criteria for HAF based on means tested Free School Meal registration limits the uptake and effectiveness of the programme; especially when so many children in the North East are living in poverty but not eligible for FSM due to the strict eligibility criteria. The Mayor of London is addressing child poverty through a number of programmes, including supporting all primary school aged children, attending a state school to have access to FSM. And children and young people access to holiday activities and food programmes and other programmes such as employability and entrepreneurship The Mayor's Fund for London. Such universal programmes are gaining traction world-wide World Food Programme. Whilst I applaud the Mayor of London's approach, and I have undertaken numerous evaluations that show many positive outcomes and impacts of the mayor's Kitchen Social Programme, it seems socially unjust that children elsewhere in the country miss out on such opportunities. Of course, we need to adopt and implement locally based solutions and I appreciate that in the NE we don't have the business taxes available to the Mayor of London, so we have to be creative in developing local solutions and we, in the NE, have a long history of this. Whilst we wait for a national Child Poverty Act Children's Alliance I am delighted to see Kim McGuiness, as the North East mayor, already showing fantastic leadership and action to reduce child poverty in the North East. The formation of a child poverty reduction unit will draw upon expertise from across different sectors and organisations to increase opportunities for children and young people in the North East to thrive. It is important to note that to reduce child poverty there has to be a balance between the immediate, more 'sticking plaster' interventions with more structural interventions that address the root causes of child poverty. It is also important to note that the vast majority of children who experience poverty, grow up in households that experience poverty North East Child Poverty Commission. So, addressing child poverty through a wider, strategic lens is required. By bringing together organisations and businesses from across different sectors, I believe that the mayor's child poverty reduction unit has the capacity to drive forward strategic reform to tackle child poverty in the North East of England. Let's do it! https://lnkd.in/ekkDT983

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Last week we hosted a webinar with DfE on the Growth and Skills Levy... take a look at the summary below of the session. We were blown away by your engagement and it's been so important to hear from your views #aelp #skillsandgrowth #dfe

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56% of SMEs use degree apprenticeships to address skills gaps. Our 2021 Force for Change impact report highlighted how degrees help to improve social mobility and increase opportunities for learners from diverse backgrounds. Our follow-up report, the Force for Impact goes one step further demonstrating the impact for individuals, employers and the wider economy. Read about the impact on apprentices, employers and the economy here ➡️https://lnkd.in/eNiq3y-m

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Need to understand Carbon Management (and more) in your business? Expert support available in East Midlands workshops ↘️

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Half term reflections 📆 In this half term, it's a valuable moment to pause, reflect, and plan. For governance professionals, it’s a chance to review key objectives, assess progress, and identify areas for improvement in supporting our schools. ✅ Are there emerging challenges we need to address? ✅ How can we strengthen our strategies for a positive impact? ✅ Let’s use this break to recharge and refocus for the term ahead! Wishing everyone a productive, restorative half-term!

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Degree apprenticeships funding competition: Guidance for providers This document sets out how the Office for Students (OfS) will distribute funding for up to two academic years that is designed to grow and build capacity and increase equality of opportunity in Level 6 degree apprenticeships provision at higher education providers.

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Want to improve your digital skills? 💻 RETAS are starting up a new term of our digital literacy courses, which will expand your knowledge and improve your digital confidence⌨️ For more info, get in touch📩

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The government have released updated information which outlines the High Needs Place Change Process for the 2025 to 2026 academic year. It provides guidance for local authorities, schools, and colleges on how to notify the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) of changes to high-needs place numbers.        Key points to consider: Notification Process: Local authorities must discuss and agree on high-needs places with schools and colleges, ensuring any changes are included in their place change return. Important deadlines include submitting the deed of variation by December 6, 2024. Changes Requiring Approval: Changes such as new age ranges or new SEN units at academies require a deed of variation. Hospital Education Funding: Local authorities can request changes to hospital education funding if there are changes in medical provision. Local authorities, schools, and colleges should start their discussions now to ensure timely and accurate submissions. Help us engage your internal audit team to review your processes and data to avoid any last-minute issues. Let’s work together to secure the necessary funding for our high needs students! https://lnkd.in/eHTSDwFH #Government #Education #EducationNews

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A brilliant programme for aspiring leaders, accessible for all professionals no matter your sector!

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Are you curious about how HTQs can be used to train staff, as an alternative to apprenticeships? We are holding a free MS Teams Sessions on HTQs. Fareport have been awarded funding by the Department for Education to develop and deliver HTQs in L4 Data Analyst and L5 Operations Manager. These sessions are designed to support businesses and individuals to understand how HTQs can benefit them by: - Clarifying what HTQs are and how they operate. - Exploring the return on investment and how to track their effectiveness. - How to align and link HTQs to strategic aims. - Understanding the costs and available funding options - Integrating HTQs into your current development plans. - Attracting a wide, diverse talent pool. - Addressing any other questions, you may have about HTQs. These sessions are free to give businesses practical and accessible advice, and are available to companies of all sizes across England. Just fill out the form below to book your spot. https://rpb.li/wC1r0f Alternatively feel free to reach out directly with any questions. Looking forward to meeting you all soon! #htqs #employeeskills #employeetraining #dataskills #managementskills

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Interested in becoming a school governor but don't know where to begin? Find out more about our 'Introduction to Governance' webinar to learn about all things school governance. 📺 Register and find out more: https://bit.ly/4e5ZCdy

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Giles K. discusses the reclassification of further education colleges into the central government sector which has brought about significant changes, particularly in financial controls and governance🎓 Read the blog here: https://bit.ly/3w9lxzq

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Watch our 45-minute on-demand webinar where we delve into how your school or Local Authority can be empowered with tailored finance reporting. Explore the challenges that Local Authorities encounter with reporting, and discover valuable insights from case studies covering challenges, solutions and process improvements. Watch the full webinar here: 👉https://ow.ly/w5e050Svu09 #Education #Webinar #Finance #LocalAuthority #Schools

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We have the first of three different #SkillsBootcamps starting in September. The first focuses on Sustainability within the Science industry and will train employees to become a Sustainability Champion for their organisation. Further details are on the leaflet attached or can be obtained by contacting [email protected] #sustainability #science #champion #climatechange #enviromental #suffolkbusiness #norfolkbusiness

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