Relf on Skills Removing the need to calculate and replacing with stated minimum hours per standard should address a big chunk of these - evidencing OTJT still a grey area for many though.

Home Secretary: "Occupations on the current ISL and initial TSL may be retained or removed whilst others may be added. I recognise that workforce strategies will not yet be fully developed for each occupation." gov.uk/government/pub…

MPs want to know how the Labour Market Evidence Group is going to work and for other govt departments to provide more rigorous analysis of the needs of sectors affected by potential worker visa rule changes. civilserviceworld.com/news/article/s…

"There are no plans to change the way employers pay the UK-wide Apprenticeship Levy." questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questi…

Details of Ofsted's programme of webinars to help familiarise providers with the November 2025 education inspection framework changes gov.uk/guidance/educa…

Local factsheets and explainers published with the Bill. gov.uk/government/new…

Some super case-studies here. thetimes.com/business-money…

“We see all the time that people with top degrees cannot summarise the contents of a document, cannot problem solve.” theguardian.com/money/2025/jul…

New devolution legislation allows a mayor to appoint a skills commissioner and to introduce a mayoral council tax precept or levy to spend on skills and other priorities in addition to the ASF. gov.uk/government/pub…

'Test-and-learn' squads to be sent to 10 areas across England civilserviceworld.com//professions/a…

'AI-generated applications are making it even harder to sift through candidates' Sue Pittock of Remit Training on why we need an overhaul of outdated CV-based recruitment feweek.co.uk/well-not-alert…

Re. ASF: "We really want to see improved outcomes for learners.....We want to work collaboratively with the further education sector to make sure that these difficult decisions can be taken while still delivering in the way that the country requires." theyworkforyou.com/whall/?id=2025…

Oops... Are those NI and NMW increases having a negative impact on apprenticeship recruitment? See adverts, vacancies and commitments data (Apr-Jun). Also SME share of recruitment shows worrying decline when ministers want increase. gov.uk/government/sta…

More (44) local authorities saw an increase in 16-17 year old NEET rates than the 30 who saw less. Another 79 saw little change. …e-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistic…

Unlike apprenticeships and HE, GFE noticably absent from SoS's intro. Adult education and T Levels barely mentioned throughout the report. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68779413…

Green light for Cumbria, Cheshire and Warrington, Norfolk and Suffolk, Greater Essex, Sussex and Brighton, and Hampshire and the Solent. gov.uk/government/new…

thetimes.com/uk/politics/ar…

Employability skills update - the most read article on the FT website today ft.com/content/29271f… via @ft

Appearing at the Lords Economic Affairs Committee, Rachel Reeves is asked what are the main problems afflicting the British economy. Reeves: "The key problem is productivity, and investment is the answer."

Skills-shortage vacancies fell in 2024, but then so did employer spend on training - down from £59bn in 2022 to £53bn and a 18.5% decrease since 2011. …e-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistic…