Additional £5m awarded to Education and Training Foundation

The Education and Training Foundation (ETF) has been awarded an additional £5 million to continue to improve the quality of further education and expand the availability of apprenticeships.

The money will allow the ETF to continue to support colleges in delivering the recommendations set out by the area review programme, which include college mergers and academy conversions.

The additional funding comes on top of the £24 million that has already been awarded to the foundation this year.

Apprenticeships and Skills Minister Robert Halfon said: “Further education is playing a vital role in driving social justice and making Britain the skills nation that we need it to be.

“This £5 million we are awarding the Education and Training Foundation will help to ensure high-quality technical routes, support area reviews and prepare the sector and its leaders for the exciting and important changes coming out of the skills plan.”

David Russell, ETF CEO, said: “This has been an excellent year for the Education and Training Foundation. We have provided crucial support for staff and leaders, addressing key concerns of the whole further education and training sector. We look forward to next year with confidence.

“I am very pleased to present our second annual review to the sector. We have achieved a great deal with our partners in a short time, and we look forward with confidence to supporting the FE and training system face the challenges of the next three years.”