22nd May 2026 // Issue 436
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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We have sped through another half-term already! Amazing to see so many of you online for our EPN meeting on Wednesday; thank you for your time and contributions. An enormous thank you to our speakers, who, as always, provided valuable insight and information to members. Slides and links shared at the meeting are all available on the Members only page of the EPN website.
I covered a couple of asks of members at the meeting, which I shall reiterate here for those who missed it:
1. With so much ‘in development’ curriculum and support offers, maintenance of your provision on our EPN provision menu/prospectus is key, so please do ensure you check your listing regularly and keep me updated on changes, so that stakeholders can see up to date information of the pan Essex offer across our network.
2. Remember to add the following EPN event placeholders in your diaries until official invites & links are circulated:
- 8th July, 9.30am to 12.20pm – EPN Online Members meeting
- 5th August, 10am to 11am – PAL Webinar: Confidence in claiming Learning Support Funding
- 23rd September, 9.30am to 12.20pm – EPN Online Members Meeting
- 21st October, 10am to 11am – PAL Webinar: Understanding the requirements of the DfE Financial Handbook
- 18th November, 10 to 1.15pm – EPN In-person Members meeting (Venue: Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford)
- 9th December, 10am to 11.15am – PAL Webinar: Understanding how to review your PDSAT reports
- 10th February 2027, 10am to 11.15am – PAL Webinar: Action planning for your next DfE funding audit
3. Attempt to pay EPN renewal fees by the end of May to avoid an albeit very polite reminder from the lovely Dorothy 😉
The next edition of EPN voices will be 5th June, after half-term break, so until then, enjoy half-term activities you may have planned. It looks like we may be graced with some good weather, dare I jinx it…!
Happy Birthday Successful Mums Career Academy!
EPN member, Successful Mums, is a specialist ITP. This month they celebrate their 12th birthday and have supported 12,000 women returners and mums back to work.
They are a team of fifteen and deliver career advice and qualifications to this hard-to-reach, yet skilled audience. They engage with London parents through their community work, inspirational events and their 35k strong social media following.
With fantastic employer links and meeting several of the Government and LSIP priorities, this community business run by Jane Knight has a huge impact on child poverty and social value too.
Due to demand in Essex from mums and employers, Successful Mums are looking for ASF subcontracting and are ready to start delivery. Please make contact with Jane@successfulmums.co.uk and connect on LinkedIn.
DWP funded Jobs Guarantee
Earlier this month, you will have seen in an earlier newsletter that Reed in Partnership was announced as the delivery partner for Essex and Herts Jobs Guarantee Service. I attended their first employer webinar introducing the service and you can view the slides here, if you didn’t make it yourselves. Hopefully, this will be of use to support IAG with recruiting employers you work with.
I have linked them to our EPN prospectus to encourage them to link with providers for learning and progression pathways for individuals and employers they support.
DWP Youth Jobs Grant: £3,000
I also thought this link might be of use to highlight for you to share with employers which includes a pre-registration form for employers to express interest in the Youth Jobs Grants of £3,000 among other DWP programmes.
Free ARU Professional Insights Webinar: Counter-Fraud Trends and Best Practice:
Join ARU and the Fraud Advisory Panel for a free one-hour webinar exploring current counter-fraud trends and emerging risks. You’ll also get a chance to understand how the ARU Accounting Finance Management degree apprenticeship can support workforce development – whether that’s your own or your staff.
Agenda:
- Explore emerging counter-fraud challenges, financial risk and best practices in governance and ethical compliance.
- Gain insights from professionals working across finance, law, and organisational risk management.
- Hear from an ARU alumni working in fraud prevention
Who should attend?
- Those working in a role that supports professional development at their organisation
- Finance professionals
- CEOs/MDs of SMEs
- Counter‑fraud professionals
- Employers interested in accounting/finance apprenticeships
You’ll be hearing from:
- Hope Sapey from Fraud Advisory Panel
- ARU alumni, Zoe Unankah, from the Shared Anti-Fraud Service
- Tara Price from ARU, Degrees at Work
Register for this free online event here.
SEATS Action Hour: Redundancy Support
SEATS are offering a fully funded webinar with Gavin Morden of Chasing Umbrellas, a redundancy coach.
When: 10th June, 11am- 12pm
Location: Online via Microsoft Teams
This is for you if:
- You’ve been told your role is at risk
- There are organisational changes happening
- You’re unsure what the future holds
- You want to be prepared (just in case)
- You’d like more clarity and confidence
For more information or to book your place: Click here
Volunteering fair at Pathways
Pathways is holding their annual Volunteering Fair during Volunteers Week on Thursday 4th June, 10am-12pm, at Pathways in the entrance foyer of the Basildon Centre, SS14 1DL.
As well as giving something back, volunteering is a great way to enable people to change career or return to work:
- Gain new skills
- Get references
- Build confidence
- Develop a new routine
- Meet new people
At Pathways’ Volunteering Fair there will be a variety of charities offering a wide range of volunteering activities.
No booking is required, just pop along on the day.
The Essex 200 Apprenticeship Support Fund – Update for 26/27
Please note that we will not be offering a local grant for employers taking on an apprentice in the 2026/27 year.
This decision reflects the Government’s recent announcement of national incentives for non‑levy employers recruiting young apprentices.
Details of the Government incentive can be found here:
Non levy incentive for hiring a young apprentice
We would like to sincerely thank training providers and partners for their support in promoting the grant to businesses across the county. The fund has supported 175 Apprenticeship starts across Phases 1 and 2.
If you have any questions, please contact the team at apprenticeship.hub@essex.gov.uk
EGA Weekly Funding Bulletin:
Last week’s bulletin highlights funding opportunities across creative industries, transport innovation, agriculture, energy, life sciences, defence and social impact. View the bulletin here.
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Post-16 Pathways: Implementation Plan
The Department for Education has published ‘Post-16 Pathways: Implementation Plan’, setting out how changes to technical and vocational qualifications for young people aged 16+ will be delivered. The guidance includes key timelines for qualifications, V Levels and new T Level subjects. View the guidance here.
Natalie Cassidy: Caring Together
Eastenders star Natalie Cassidy has enrolled on a college course to fulfil her lifelong ambition to become a qualified carer. Airing on BBC One from Monday 25th May, the 8 episode series ‘Natalie Cassidy: Caring Together’ follows her journey studying a BTEC in Health and Social Care, highlighting the vital role of frontline health and social care professionals. To read more, please click here.
T Levels Guidance
The Department for Education updated the ‘T Levels Industry Placements: Guidance for Education Providers’ to include new flexibilities, highlighting that placements should be with a single employer and no more than 20% remote where possible. The updates now permit fully remote placements and allow placements to be split across multiple employers. Please click here to read more.
Apprentice social workers
Freeing up hospital beds remains a key challenge in reducing waiting lists and apprenticeships may be part of the solution. Hertfordshire County Council is “growing its own” social workers through apprenticeships, with 27 existing employees training in adult social care roles. To find out more, please click here.
Why has the NEET rate risen?
New research from the Institute for Fiscal Studies and the King’s Trust highlights why the NEET (not in education, employment or training) rate has risen. The findings suggest this trend is not purely due to the wider economic climate, but reflects a complex set of pressures facing young people today, including barriers to work, education and wellbeing. To read more, please click here.
Work Experience: Erasmus+
Apprentices can now apply to gain work experience at a leading European company following the UK’s official signing of the legal agreement to join the Erasmus+ programme. Placements are expected to begin in the 2027/28 academic year. For more information, please click here.
NAW 2027 planning webinar
On Thursday 25th June, 3.30pm-4.15pm, join Amazing Apprenticeship for their first NAW 2027 planning webinar, designed to inspire and help you prepare for the biggest week in the apprenticeship calendar. As National Apprenticeship Week marks its 20th anniversary, this free session with colleagues from the Department for Work and Pensions will offer practical tips to get you started. Please click here to register.
British Army Apprenticeships
Share with your networks the ‘British Army Apprenticeships: What Parents and Educators Think’ webinar on Thursday 18th June, 3.30-4pm. Explore key findings from national research involving over 640 parents and carers and 840 education professionals. Discover where awareness is strong, where misconceptions remain and explore resources to support you. Please click here to register.
Gemma Collins x DfE
The Department for Education has launched a new social media campaign featuring Gemma Collins to showcase how the government is transforming post‑16 education and to highlight the benefits of high‑quality vocational courses. You can watch the short video clips by exploring the Department for Education’s social media platforms here.
National Apprenticeship Awards
There is still time to submit an application for the 2026 National Apprenticeship and Skills Awards. The awards celebrate apprentices and T Level students, as well as the skills champions and employers who support them. The extended deadline is 12pm on the 28th May. For more information and to make a nomination, please click here.
Multicultural Awards
Nominations close on 31st May for the 2026 Multicultural Awards in partnership with NOCN Group. The Awards celebrate training providers, apprentices and employers who are breaking down barriers, creating inclusive pathways to success and demonstrating the transformative power of apprenticeships within diverse communities. Please click here for more information.