17th April 2026 // Issue 431
Welcome to the EPN Voices newsletter!
A weekly roundup covering policy, funding, industry news and business-critical messages for EPN members. If you have any comments or questions, please don’t hesitate to drop us an email here.
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Hope you have enjoyed some silence from me for the last 2 weeks 🙂
If you took a break over Easter, I hope you are well rested! In my break, I confronted my fear of VR headsets and accompanied my family on a VR escape room experience and surprisingly enjoyed it! Despite comically falling to my knees on a number of occasions and screaming a lot, I wasn’t sick, which was my biggest concern, and a lot of fun was had. It allowed me to appreciate the appeal of learning using VR, as it certainly is an interactive medium!
Anyways, enough about my shenanigans and to the important stuff!…
30th April, 10am FREE Subcontracting Compliance webinar
Please don’t forget to provide your feedback here, indicating your interest in the proposed funding compliance webinars offered to EPN by Rupert Crossland from PAL.
Due to the limited response on the form so far, we have agreed on a date and will circulate invites for the first webinar in the series for:
30th April, 10.00am – 11.30am, which will run on a minimum delegate basis.
Invites will be sent this week to all on this newsletter distribution list, so please forward them on to relevant internal staff who may benefit from joining.
Colchester Institute selected as a Clean Energy TEC🙂
I am delighted to congratulate EPN member, Colchester Institute, as I share that they have been selected as one of only five national Clean Energy Technical Excellence Colleges (CETEC), establishing a CETEC in the East of England!
They were informed on Tuesday morning and while they are still awaiting further details from the Department for Education on next steps, they are, deservedly, delighted with this outcome and what it enables.
This designation provides a significant opportunity to strengthen their work with employers and partners across the region to meet the growing demand for clean energy skills.
Principal Alison Andreas has already reached out to start early conversations with EPN, as a key supporter of their bid and will continue to share further information with EPN as it becomes available over the coming weeks. The initial announcement can be found on their website here:
Clean Energy Technical Excellence College – Colchester Institute.
Able Futures Resources
Debbie has sent her thanks for the opportunity to meet with us all at our recent meeting and some follow-up information which I’m sure will be of interest to you all, and your wider networks.
DWP funded ‘Able Futures’ offers up to nine months of confidential mental health support at no cost to you or your employees aged 19+. Sometimes all it takes is one conversation to get things brewing in the right direction. To make it easy, please find some resources for you to share with your teams, audiences, networks, friends and family, because everyone deserves a warm reminder that help is just a tea‑sip away.
Able Futures Resources Link- Here is the link to our employer toolkit:
Resources | Able Futures Mental Health Support Service
Trackable Application link – so we can share sign-up numbers from your company:
Able Futures Website Link
Animated Videos –
Understanding mental health: How to take care of your mind and thrive at work
Simple ways to boost mental wellbeing every day
If you ever need presentations, additional resources, or support spreading the word, contact: DeBurns@ingeus.co.uk.
Or for more information: Book a Welcome Meeting with Debbie Here
Preparing for Adulthood: Parents and carers guide to post‑16 opportunities
ECC’s Targeted Employment team have created this guide to support families as young people prepare for adulthood. The guide brings together clear, accessible information on post‑16 pathways including education and training routes, Supported Internships, apprenticeships, employment support, job‑seeking pathways, travel training, day opportunities and wider Preparing for Adulthood guidance.
They would be grateful for your support in helping this guide reach parents, carers and young people who may benefit from understanding the full range of opportunities available.
You can access the digital guide using the link and QR code below:
Guide link: https://www.essexopportunities.co.uk/post-16-parents-carers-guide/post-16-parents-carers-guide/
QR code: this collects basic anonymous data to help ECC understand how the guide is accessed
You can use and share the guide by:
- Signposting it during one‑to‑one employment support, coaching sessions, and vocational assessments
- Adding the guide link or QR code to your website, newsletters, social media, or digital platforms
- Displaying the QR code in reception areas, waiting rooms or community spaces
- Sharing with staff, volunteers and partner agencies involved in careers, employability, or preparation for adulthood
See flyer & document with suggested wording to help you promote the guide easily across your communication channels.
Advice and support for NEETs
The website of Essex Youth Service’s Keep In Contact team has been revamped with a variety of information and resources for young people in the county looking for work. Find it here:
Education, Employment and Training Support – Essex Youth Service.
A new digital flyer is also available HERE to promote the support from EYS for NEET 16- to 18-year-olds to find work.
Support for Digital Skills Development Among UK Adult Learners
A £2.85 million programme delivered by Ufi VocTech Trust is set to support the use of digital technology in adult education and skills development across the UK. VocTech Together focuses on addressing barriers faced by underserved learners and aims to improve access to employment pathways.
The programme includes several elements, such as support for smaller organisations adopting vocational technology, a grant fund to embed digital tools into practice and workforce development, and partnerships designed to scale solutions across sectors and regions. It also includes activities to gather evidence and inform policy and practice.
In 2027, the grant fund will provide awards ranging from £20,000 to £40,000. This funding is intended to help organisations integrate technology into learning delivery and workforce training, as well as to test and expand approaches that can be applied more widely.
Eligible applicants include training providers, colleges, charities, public bodies, employers and employer groups, along with collaborative partnerships. Priority is given to those working with adult learners and communities facing barriers to skills development.
Applicants should complete a short form on the programme website to receive further information and opportunities to get involved.
Optimisation tips to ensure AI is working for your organisation:
I saw this article in FE Week highlighting how teenagers are now more often using AI to gain information rather than Google searching. I wanted to highlight it here for anyone who may not have seen it, as it includes some quick tips to ensure that we are not missing opportunities to engage.
EGA – Funding News Bulletin 10/04//26
This week’s bulletin highlights opportunities spanning offshore wind innovation, digital creativity, youth entrepreneurship, quantum networking, medicines manufacturing, women‑led deeptech ventures, and green careers development. View bulletin here.
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Positive progress in latest apprenticeship results
The latest apprenticeship qualification achievement rate results for 2024–25 has risen to 65.4%, up 4.9 points, with achievement volumes increasing 11.3% to 198,330. This continued improvement reflects the hard work of providers, employers and apprentices. To view the full report of apprenticeship results, please click here.
Updated Apprenticeship Units rules
New Apprenticeship Units rules, covering starts through July 2026, introduce greater flexibility around missed face‑to‑face activity and clearer proportionality in eligibility checks. Skills tests may now be outsourced, with funding rates expected by 28 April. Updated guidance on learning support costs is also available here to help providers plan delivery.
Public apprenticeship surveys now open
Skills England has launched new public surveys on occupational standards and apprenticeship assessment plans, open until 26 April 2026. Routes include Business and Administration, Creative and Design, Digital, Protective Services, and Transport and Logistics. Each survey takes around ten minutes, giving providers a valuable opportunity to shape future apprenticeship design. To share your views, please click here.
Technical Education Learner Survey
The latest Technical Education Learner Survey Report explores the experiences and outcomes of T Level, T Level Foundation Year and Level 4–5 learners. Based on two surveys conducted in 2025, it examines satisfaction, destinations, future plans and the factors shaping career decisions. The findings offer valuable insight into learner progression and expectations. To read the report, please click here.
T Levels Week: Save the Date
T Levels Week will take place this year from the 19th to the 23rd October 2026, celebrating student achievements, employers and training providers. The week will spotlight success stories and the growing impact of T Levels across sectors. To start planning your celebrations and awareness-raising campaigns, check out the T Levels resources here.
Rapid Read: Introducing V Levels
Explore the new Rapid Read, which explains V Levels, a brand‑new Level 3 vocational qualification launching in 2027 for 16 to 19 year olds. The rapid read outlines what V Levels are, how they differ from existing pathways and what learners can expect. It’s a quick way to learn about V Levels, please click here to access.
Genie Connect Conference
The next Genie Connect workshop on 22nd April will focus on how apprenticeships can help bring talent to a business. Employers, including Amazon, Severn Trent and Morgan Sindall, will share how they attract, develop and retain future‑ready talent. The session also explores workplace readiness, expectations and designing environments where apprentices thrive. Share this free workshop with the employers you work with.
Employer Exchange – June Session
Encourage the employers you work with to join the Employer Exchange workshop on the 3rd June, exploring the latest apprenticeship and skills policy developments. Anna Morrison CBE and Simon Ashworth will revisit key announcements from earlier this year and discuss what they mean for employers. The session offers timely insight into the evolving skills landscape, please share the link to register here.
Apprenticeships Guide for Parents
A quick two‑page guide is now available to help parents and carers understand apprenticeships. It outlines how programmes work, the benefits for young people and the range of pathways available. The resource aims to help parents support their children and increase awareness of apprenticeship opportunities. Please click here to access the guide.