Weekly Newsletter 06.02.2025

Plus, NCFE’s Aspiration Awards highlight the best in education & skills development

Author

Rafe Houston
February 06, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes

Welcome to HRD: Apprenticeship Training, your weekly newsletter offering the latest on apprenticeship trends, policy updates, and the innovations shaping the education sector.

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National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) 2025 is just around the corner (5–11 February)!

With the theme of ‘Skills for Life’, this year’s event will drive powerful discussions on the future of apprenticeships, employer engagement, and bridging the skills gap. But which topics are you most excited to explore next week? Cast your vote below!

🔥 Vote on the Biggest Apprenticeship Topic of 2025

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

📍 Events You Won’t Want to Miss:

🏆 Celebrating NAW with stories of success:

As always NAW is a fantastic chance to celebrate those who have made their way through Apprenticeships and sharing their story to inspire others all the way from training to EPA:

"The apprenticeship has opened my eyes to explore more, to question data and to figure out how to answer those questions in an easier way now that I have that foundational knowledge to expand upon. The shift in productivity it has given me has an impact on my role and ways of working; it’s made my life easier."

Nicholas O'Connor | Citi | Decoded

"Throughout the year, my coach provided expert guidance based on his experience, with feedback and time management strategies that helped me achieve my desired grade. The EPA was well-managed and the information provided was thorough but not overwhelming. I received my grade promptly, with insightful feedback on both my strengths and areas for improvement. I am delighted to have attained a distinction due to my hard work."

Hassan Ahmed | Cambridge Spark | EPA with Accelerate People

EDUCATION AWARDS

The 2025 Aspiration Awards, organised by NCFE, bring focus to exceptional achievements in education. This year’s panel boasts esteemed figures from education, apprenticeships, and media, ensuring comprehensive evaluation. Notable judges include Rachel Johnson of PiXL, Dr. Katerina Kolyva from the Education and Training Foundation, and Emily Rock of the Association of Apprentices. Media experts like Anna Fazackerley and Jojo Silva also join, their storytelling expertise crucial in highlighting nominee achievements. David Gallagher, CEO of NCFE, emphasises the judges’ wealth of experience as pivotal in recognising excellence within further education. This awards season, there’s a special spotlight on the CACHE Outstanding Achievement award, marking 80 years of CACHE qualifications. This accolade celebrates educators and healthcare professionals who exhibit exemplary commitment and innovation. Additionally, the awards cover categories such as Apprentice of the Year, Centre of the Year, and Learner of the Year.

Open for nominations until 21 February, the awards don’t just acknowledge singular feats but aim to inspire broader educational advancements and dedication. The collaboration between education and media leaders reflects the far-reaching influence of education, serving not only to honour but also to galvanise further contributions to the sector. The involvement of national media mirrors the aspiration to bring these exceptional stories to a wider audience, encouraging similar contributions across the UK.

With these recognitions, NCFE continues to shine a spotlight on educational success stories, urging continuous improvement in the sector. The 2025 Aspiration Awards serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of innovation and perseverance in education, fostering an environment where excellence is both recognised and encouraged.

TRAINING POLICY INSIGHTS

In 2025, pivotal advances in the UK's skills development demand attention, with key strategies enhancing synergy between government, employers, and sector skills bodies. The Industrial Strategy Green Paper and modifications to the apprenticeship levy are designed to advance economic growth, directly impacting training provider strategies and addressing sector-specific skills requirements.

APPRENTICESHIP STRATEGIES

Apprenticeships are pivotal in driving Wales' economic growth, with the National Training Federation for Wales spotlighting this at their conference. Esteemed leaders and seasoned apprentices will converge to explore strategies enhancing workforce adaptability and innovation. The event offers early registration discounts and sponsorships, presenting opportunities for strategic engagement and influence.

STRATEGIC APPRENTICESHIPS

UK growth hinges on strategic skill development, necessitating synergy among government, businesses, and training providers. Skills England is poised to unify regional efforts, addressing technical and soft skill shortages. Insights highlight adaptable strategies and incentivisation for SMEs, stressing the critical role of training providers in closing skills gaps across sectors.

HYDROGEN SKILLS

The UK introduces a Hydrogen Skills Academy to strategically align training with the hydrogen sector's expansion, creating 29,000 jobs by 2030. This initiative equips providers with expertise to meet the demands of clean energy, fostering technological progression and bolstering economic growth in line with net zero commitments.

NUCLEAR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority celebrates 20 years of progress in decommissioning UK's ancient nuclear sites. Emphasising skill development and future experts, it supports diverse apprentices and graduates. With ongoing investment in research and talent, the authority seeks dedicated individuals to aid its sizable, enduring mission of environmental safeguarding.

TRAINING ADVANCEMENTS

The rapid transformation of technology, heralded by innovations such as Deep Seek, is reshaping the landscape for training providers, highlighting an urgent need for strategic agility in skill development. Recent disruptions like NVIDIA's market dip exemplify the pressing challenge facing training executives: aligning educational services with swift technological advances to maintain competitiveness. Deep Seek's resource-efficient model sets a powerful example of cost-effective and environmentally sustainable innovation, demanding a reevaluation of training strategies in response to AI and emergent technologies.

Amidst the unfolding fourth industrial revolution, the evolution of AI agents and holographic technologies signals a transformative phase for training methodologies. Key insights within FE News stress the critical role of responsive, dynamic training systems that integrate these advancements, ensuring programmes remain relevant and forward-looking. This week's discussions explore pivotal topics from global apprenticeship engagement to extremism safeguards, presenting a comprehensive perspective on educational innovation. The challenge is clear: embrace strategic changes to reinforce the foundations of productivity and secure the future success of training initiatives.

HRD: Digital Apprenticeships is a Contentive publication in the Education division