CONFERENCE SEASON


CONSERVATIVES 2-5 October, Manchester


Pressure is mounting on the Prime Minister and Chancellor to deliver economic growth, and it was clear that this was the only issue that mattered


LABOUR 25-29 September, Liverpool


In a philosophical speech, Labour leader Ed Miliband called for a ‘new bargain for our economy so reward is linked with effort’


Higher Education Minister David Willetts


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There was a sombre feeling among Conservative conference-goers. Pressure is mounting on the Prime Minister and Chancellor to deliver economic


growth and it was clear that this was the only issue that mattered. On education and skills, Higher Education Minister David Willetts confi rmed that the government would deliver a further 10,000 higher level apprenticeships and there would be fewer quotas and more choice beyond compulsory education. The Higher Education White Paper opened up opportunities for awarding bodies and other providers to enter the higher education space – something City & Guilds is already exploring.


TOP OF AGENDA Skills Minister John Hayes was particularly active on the fringes of the conference, speaking at numerous skills meetings. He joined City & Guilds for a session on ‘Skills and Economic Growth’ with Demos, Microsoft and UnionLearn, and argued that skills are at the top of the government’s agenda. He also said he is determined to continue to grow apprenticeships and develop clearer progression routes. Hayes recognised the importance of further education, saying he would continue to free it up from central control. Speaking at the meeting, City & Guilds’ Director of Policy,


Research and Regulation, Judith Norrington, emphasised the importance of making the skills system more responsive to the needs of learners and employers. She also urged John Hayes to develop the Lifelong Learning Account recently launched by the government to allow individuals to take control of their own learning and encourage employers to invest in skills through tax relief on contributions.


www.cityandguilds.com/broadsheet >


Former Shadow Education Minister Andy Burnham


Delegates arrived knowing that this was a key moment for leader Ed Miliband to set out his vision for an alternative government. Since Miliband was


elected leader at last year’s conference, he has had some trouble getting his message across to the public. In a philosophical speech, he called for a ‘new bargain for our economy so reward is linked with effort’. Meanwhile, the then Shadow Education Minister Andy Burnham used his speech to propose a UCAS-style system for apprenticeships.


STRONGLY SUPPORTIVE At City & Guilds’ event on the future of skills, both the then Shadow Skills Minister, Gordon Marsden, as well as Ed Miliband’s ‘policy guru’ Lord Glasman, spoke to a packed audience. Lord Glasman opened the debate with a provocative contribution, arguing for radical change in the university system, with half of universities becoming vocational and including professions such as doctors, lawyers and accountants. He echoed a theme that was picked up by a number of contributors at other conference debates when he said that there had been too much focus on higher education at the expense of vocational. Marsden described his mantra as ‘progression,


progression, progression’ and was strongly supportive of an idea City & Guilds has been pushing for some time – learning accounts with fi scal incentives for employers and individuals. He spoke of the need to ensure skills were portable, with a balance between bespoke skills and life skills. Marsden also called for a closer relationship between further education colleges and local economic structures such as the new Local Enterprise Partnerships.


BROADSHEET 178 | WINTER | 35


PHOTOGRAPHY: ISTOCKPHOTO, PRESS ASSOCIATION IMAGES, GETTY IMAGES, ALAMY


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