2022/2023
Impact Report
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In Memory of Tom Hamilton-Dick
As Deputy Principal at North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College, and as a Trustee with Skills and Education Group, Tom gave his all to the further education and skills sector. His passion, professionalism and commitment to his colleagues and the learners for whom he worked tirelessly are an inspiration to us all. We dedicate this report to Tom: his impact continues to guide us personally and professionally, and will not be forgotten.
We miss you dearly, Tom.
19 July 1977 – 15 September 2023
WELCOME
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
I have a passion for further education.
I love it.
I love it with every breath.
It has been my career for twenty five years, and it’s a fundamental part of who I am because it has transformed my life in so many ways.
OUR SUPPORT
Feel It Still
Everyone deserves to ride high and with flying colours...
Skills and Education Group believes that success should be for everybody. That’s why we’re committed to improving the lives of individuals by championing education and skills-oriented organisations, providers and learners.
Much more than a brand,
we’re a system for success.
For us, collaborative efforts build lasting success. Together, the organisations in the Skills and Education Group family take care of each other and learners and providers just like family.
OUR SUPPORT
Work It
We’ve been hard at work supporting further education and the many dedicated people who make it happen.
Helena Kennedy Foundation Celebration
Annually, Skills and Education Group supports this House of Lords-hosted celebration of the success of students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
WEA Awards 2022
Skills and Education Group sponsored this celebration of the achievements of inspiring adult learners and the high-quality support provided by tutors.
Check out Series 2!
In 2022/23, we had
61
members
OUR MEMBERS
We’re Going to Be Friends
We continue to offer our member organisations high-quality services, such as professional development, networks and conferences, which help support and develop their workforces. Members also have indirect access to our range of national awarding services, which help their learners to cultivate the relevant skills for learning, employment and life.
SUPPORTING DEVELOPMENT
Career Opportunities
We had
3,350
professional development event participants
including
Providing our members with high-quality services such as professional development, networks and conferences which aim to help support and develop their workforce, everything we do is designed to help our sector and enable our members to enhance the lives of young people and adults.
Adina Maglan, Romanian and Eastern European Hub
Samantha Ireland, GLAA
Dănuţ Burla, Romanian Cultural Institute
GIVING BACK
Something Good Coming
The Skills and Education Group Foundation champions social mobility by supporting learners and education providers through grants, advocacy and recognition. We provide financial support to learners, staff and providers, with the goal of expanding access to education, accelerating social mobility and building a fairer society.
Through our
Learner Grants, Action Research Grants,
andResource and Facilities Grants,
we gave a total of
£89,059
in 2022/23.
GIVING BACK
Welcoming Our First Ambassador
“I’m a strong advocate for the work the further education sector does in helping to widen participation. It plays a crucial role in serving communities, supporting employers, and equipping learners with fundamental skills that enable them to progress in life.”
– The Rt. Hon the Baroness Morgan of Cotes, Skills and Education Group Foundation Ambassador
Meet Baroness Morgan
309
individuals benefitted
LEARNER GRANTS
Breaking Down Barriers
£
total funding awarded
of applicants declared a learning difficulty/disability that impeded their learning
of applicants were from BAME groups, more than twice the percentage in the general population
3 most popular needs:
43.9%
IT equipment
33.2%
transportation costs
28.7%
course tools and textbooks
See the Lights
Through its Platinum membership with Skills and Education Group (as part of the Luminate Education Group), Leeds City College has access to grant funding through our Foundation. Recently, some of their adult learners studying childcare qualifications have benefitted from Learner Grants provided by the Foundation.
ACTION RESEARCH GRANTS
Driving Action
£
given to 8 member organisations (£3,000 each)
314
staff engaged
243
learners engaged
26
stakeholder organisations engaged
The DIRT TOES Project
£
awarded across 9 member organisations
RESOURCE AND FACILITIES GRANTS
Resourcing Providers
102
staff supported
1,704
learners benefitted
English Country Garden
Mandy Hardy teaches students who come from as far as the east coast and West Yorkshire. They are from varying backgrounds and can be difficult to reach, as the vast majority have not engaged in full-time education for up to four years. When they arrive at facilities at the White Rose, they are raw in nature and often averse to education.
Second Chances
An access validating agency with a strong social purpose to recognise achievement, particularly for those who have benefitted least from their previous educational experiences, Skills and Education Group Access supports the needs of learners, Centres, businesses and communities by enabling progression into higher education.
SECOND CHANCES
Be True to Your School
A Message from Yultan
Reflecting on the last year, we have seen a number of positive developments, including growth in the number of customers with whom we work and an increase in the number of Diploma qualifications we validate.
SECOND CHANCES
Making a Difference at Northern College
SECOND CHANCES
Jewel(s)
“Jules is an inspirational science teacher who has established our Access courses at Keighley. Learners achieve and achieve well. External Quality Assurance reports are excellent, and because of the hard work and robust quality approaches that Jules has embedded, all learners are guaranteed a purposeful, enriched and supportive learning journey and experience.”
– Kev O’Hare, Principal of Keighley College
1,322
Access to HE Diplomas awarded in 2022/23
We Give Everyone VIP Access
15
Centres delivered Skills and Education Group Access to HE Diplomas
full-time student achievement rate (+16% over 2021/22)
full-time student pass rate
46% from areas of disadvantage (+12% over 2021/22) vs.
46
46% from areas of disadvantage (+12% over 2021/22) vs.
3
new Centres approved (Learndirect, Stonebridge Associated College and Stoneleigh Academy), making us one of the largest providers of Access to HE
Our Awarding Organisations
Offering regulated qualifications and end-point assessment, our awarding organisations, Skills and Education Group Awards and BIIAB, support education providers and employers across the UK as they contribute to meaningful educational and vocational opportunities for so many individuals.
Awarding Future Talent
AWARDING FUTURE TALENT
Protect the People
“We are absolutely delighted to have won this prestigious award which is testament to our continued successful partnership with Skills and Education Group, as well as other key partners. Our workers’ rights qualification is reaching communities potentially at risk of exploitation and underpins our prevention-first approach.”
– Elysia McCaffrey, Chief Executive, Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority
AWARDING FUTURE TALENT
Adult Education and the Workers Rights Qualification
AWARDING FUTURE TALENT
Qualifications
Providing high-quality support and services to the educational sector, Skills and Education Group Awards offers qualifications and assessments regulated by CCEA, Ofqual and Qualifications Wales, along with a range of non-regulated provisions.
We Award Excellence
registrations
qualifications awarded
12
years old (youngest learner)
101
years old (oldest learner)
Top 5 qualifications (by registration):
1,960
Level 2 Award in MOT Testing (Classes 4 and 7)
1,730
Level 1 Award in Personal Money Management
1,195
Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills
1,120
Level 3 Certificate of Professional Competence for Transport Managers (Road Haulage)
900
Level 3 Award in Test Centre Management
AWARDING FUTURE TALENT
End-Point Assessment
Specialising in various sectors for end-point assessment, we know exactly what employers and apprentices need, making our assessment process clear, easy to use and responsive. We’re passionate about apprenticeships and the futures of apprentices. By conducting high-quality end-point assessment services and ensuring that training providers, employers and apprentices are fully supported throughout, we provide apprentices with the best start in their career.
An awards management system (ACE360)Contributing to the Federation of Awarding Bodies EPA Guide to Good Practice ProjectWe Support Strong Beginnings and Ends
20
standards, with 9 new standards offered
113
apprentices supported through Gateway
BUILDING CAREERS
Qualifications
An awarding organisation of choice for the hospitality industry, BIIAB offers regulated qualifications and assessments to advance skills, education and career opportunities in multiple sectors, including health and social care, and more.
We aim to serve
registrations
qualifications awarded
12
years old (youngest learner)
83
years old (oldest learner)
15th
largest awarding organisation in the UK*
*Ofqual market share data 2022/23
awarding organisation for APLH, Door Supervisors and SCPLH qualifications
Top 5 qualifications (by registration):
29,755
Level 2 Award for Door Supervisors in the Private Security Industry
22,530
Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders
6,580
Level 2 Award for Door Supervisors in the Private Security Industry (top-up)
3,261
Scottish Certificate for Personal Licence Holders at SCQF Level 6
1,605
Level 2 Award in Beer and Cellar Quality (Cask and Keg)
BUILDING CAREERS
End-Point Assessment
Specialising in various sectors for end-point assessment, we know exactly what employers and apprentices need, making our assessment process clear, easy to use and responsive. We’re passionate about apprenticeships and the futures of apprentices. By conducting high-quality end-point assessment services and ensuring that training providers, employers and apprentices are fully supported throughout, we provide apprentices with the best start in their career.
An awards management system (ACE360)Collaborative work with Elite Hospitality Assessment Professionals (EHAP)Collaborative work with Umbrella TrainingWe Never Rest
19
standards, with 1 new standard offered (Lead Practitioner in Adult Care)
497
apprentices supported through Gateway
International Update
Around the World
This past year Skills and Education Group went global, delivering awarding and education services across Turkey, India, the UAE and Sri Lanka. Just like in the UK, we’re championing local skills and helping to improve the quality of skills and education programming for those who need it most. And this is just the beginning: as we continue to build our international presence, we look forward to reaching new markets, building strong partnerships with like-minded organisations, and advancing social mobility for individuals everywhere.
We’re proud to have partnered with the international awarding body, UK Awards. Together, we’re meeting the needs of employers and learners in the UK and abroad.
