Welcome to your monthly round-up of insights, tools and support!
In this post, we’ve brought together the top news highlights from across the sector, free webinar recordings to support you through sector change, and accredited essential CPD for compliance leaders.
Why the Biggest Shake-Up Since 2017 Needs Your Immediate Attention
The apprenticeship landscape is once again in the spotlight, and not just for the long-term reforms slowly making their way through policy channels. This time, providers across the sector are facing a dual challenge: preparing for the future while urgently adapting to changes that impact delivery immediately.
In this blog, we take a look at why it’s crucial to distinguish between what’s coming and what’s already here, especially when the ‘here and now’ will impact your programme funding and compliance.
Top news from the sector
We’ve pulled together important news from FE and skills – so you can catch up quickly.
- A new dawn for driving T Level take-up – a regional chair of T Level Ambassadors aims to mobilise 1,000 volunteers to boost industry placements.
- Ofsted chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver and chair Christine Gilbert were in conversation with MPs on Parliament’s Education Committee, ahead of this month’s rollout of the revised EIF and new-style inspections and report cards.
- The government published its post-16 education and skills strategy white paper, setting out the government’s vision for a world-leading skills system. Their consultation (closing 12/01/26) also enables you to provide your views on the proposed changes to Level 2 and 3 qualifications.
- V Levels To Replace 900 ‘Confusing’ Level 3 Qualifications: New ‘Mix and Match’ Qualification Model of V Levels and A Levels for Students.
- Skills Minister Jacqui Smith talks about the UK Government’s big push on HTQs, Levels 4 and 5, the NEET challenge, Technical Excellence College progress and more around “gold standard” apprenticeships.
- Nominations are now open for the Apprenticeship & Training Awards 2026, which celebrate outstanding employers and providers with national recognition, a parliamentary reception, and a Gala Dinner.
- Thomas Burton shares his thoughts on ‘The Constant Learners’ – why Millennials and Gen Z Adults Need Apprenticeships Too.
- SDN Mesma Group was the sponsor of the ‘Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’ category at this year’s OAL Awards – Congratulations to the winner, Kepak Group, recognised for its Women in Operations Launchpad Programme
Free webinars: Supporting you through sector change
Significant changes are taking place in the apprenticeship and skills sector – including the revised Ofsted Inspection Framework and reforms to apprenticeship assessment.
We’ve been hosting free webinars across these topics to help you keep up with change and provide a clear roadmap for where we go next.
In case you missed them, here are the recordings of our most recent webinars:
Unpacking Ofsted’s new proposals – The Renewed Inspection Framework
This session unpacked the toolkit and explored its practical implications. Lou Doyle, plus guests from the sector, examined the revised framework and how to embed it into quality practices. We had initially planned to end the Ofsted sessions in December, but we will continue the series into the new year.
From Risk to Reward – Embracing New Approaches to Assessment
This session focused on positioning the reforms as an opportunity to raise standards across your organisation, helping you turn assessment reform risk into apprenticeship results. Providers who invest time now in planning, people, and partnerships will be best placed to deliver confidently under the new assessment model.
Good News: Outstanding Ofsted!
The JGA Group has announced the results of their latest Ofsted inspection: they’re Outstanding!
Not only has JGA been judged Outstanding, but it’s a full sweep – Outstanding in all areas of training and operation.
Congratulations to the whole JGA team for your hard work and dedication to excellent standards for learners! Read the full report here.
World Quality Week
The 10th – 14th of November is World Quality Week, and this year’s theme is Quality: think differently.
World Quality Week is a global celebration of quality and the people who champion it across organisations, teams and communities. This annual campaign highlights the critical role quality management and culture play in driving success, fostering innovation and creating sustainable value for society.
This year’s theme invites us to challenge traditional approaches to quality management and embrace new ways of thinking. It’s an opportunity for organisations, teams and individuals to reflect on and reimagine how we approach quality. Let’s share insights, celebrate achievements, and inspire fresh thinking.
Apprenticeship compliance for leaders – CPD accredited
Funding and compliance affect apprenticeship staff across your organisation. If you’re a leader, you must set the right compliance culture and processes and mitigate risks.
This CPD-accredited, in-depth webinar series digs deeply into the realities of apprenticeship compliance:
- Key compliance principles – how it all should work and fit together
- Setting a robust compliance strategy across the organisation
- Identifying and managing risk areas of operation
- Safeguarding funding through the apprentice journey – the data needed
- Nurturing a compliance culture and avoiding common strategic errors
- Meeting the Apprenticeship Accountability Framework
Facilitated by funding and compliance specialist David Lockhart-Hawkins, these sessions bring to life the knowledge and understanding of the core rules and funding methodologies. You’ll examine the foundations of compliance across your organisation, and how curriculum, evidence system design, and monitoring of implementation are integral to achieving compliance while also strengthening quality.
Upcoming SDN Mesma Group professional development:
Our professional development doesn’t simply take you through the details and help you understand a topic – we move you from theory to practice. If you have a group of individuals interested, we can host bespoke sessions tailored to your organisation’s needs:
- Claiming apprenticeship LSF – 18-Nov
- Embedding Effective Assessment in Apprenticeships – 26-Nov
- Curriculum Design for the New Apprenticeship Landscape – 09-Dec
- Apprenticeship compliance for leaders – CPD accredited – 10-Dec
- Understanding apprenticeship financial management – 14-Jan
- Recognising & responding to harmful behaviours – 20-Jan
- Advanced progress review practice – 3-Feb
- Apprenticeship compliance fundamentals for your role – 11-Feb
- Data management in apprenticeship programmes – 23-Mar
Can’t make the live date? Most sessions are recorded – register your place and we will send you the recording and/or resources once the sessions have taken place.
You can also register your interest in future dates. Visit our events page for info and to book your place
Apprenticeships Work Campaign
We are supporting a new campaign with a simple goal: to encourage more small businesses to take on apprentices.
Edge Foundation has launched the Apprenticeships Work campaign to boost the number of apprenticeships in small and medium-sized enterprises. This campaign calls for a simpler, fairer system that works for both SMEs and young people – connecting ambition with opportunity, and ensuring apprenticeships with small businesses deliver skills for growth across the UK. This will be crucial for achieving the UK Government’s goal of 10,000 more apprenticeship opportunities a year.