“I am deeply worried about the ongoing industrial relations within our further education sector. Issues of pay and conditions have been ongoing for years and if we are to reform and progress the sector it simply needs to be sorted. At this stage, I believe the Economy Minister now needs to direct officials to reset the relationships between colleges and unions.”
 
“Further Education is essential to our current and future economic ambitions, delivering a culture of life-long learning and community building but without a valued and supported staff this isn’t possible.”
 
“Now is the time for DfE to be champions for Further Education, to give it a renewed vision, address funding inequalities, and provide clear delineation of the role and functions of universities and colleges.”