Further written evidence to be reported to the House
Education and Skills Bill
10:30 am
Ioan Morgan: The opportunity for self-regulation that is being extended to our sector by the present Government is something that I welcome and I know that a significant number of my colleagues feel the same way. It is an element of recognition of the trust in and the maturity of the sector.
The Foster report, which I was happy to contribute to, was an opportunity for the sector to focus on what was important in terms of the skills agenda in this country. The Foster report gave us the opportunity to concentrate and develop close, meaningful links with companies. Some colleges were doing it before but since the Foster report and that energy injection in to that agenda, the majority of colleges have now formed very good links. That was something commented on in a number of recent Ofsted reports—really deep and meaningful links with companies, sharing a vision of the future, picking up the skills agenda and helping companies who want to inward invest in an area or indigenous companies to grow and develop. Good-quality FE colleges are now among the first ports of call to see what they can contribute to the skills agenda.
So my response in terms of self-regulation is an enthusiastic welcome. As for working with companies, that absolutely central to the role of a college such as mine.