Innovation in Further Education and skills can bring about positive change despite the current period of transformation for the sector.

This is the message from Going Places: innovation in Further Education and Skills which examines the leadership and innovation needed in FE to face the challenges of reforms.  These reforms include the apprenticeship levy, Area Reviews and the Post-16 Skills Plan which will all impact significantly on FE and the wider skills system.

The report recommendations are based around four themes: serving learners, local employers and regional economies; delivering higher level skills and improved employment outcomes in a changing labour market; operating effectively in the digital world; and creating sustainable institutions and a thriving system.  Recommendations for the sector include:

• Flexibility and responsiveness particularly when engaging learners
• Collaboration and strong partnerships with stakeholders
• Delivery that is underpinned by a clear sense of mission and understanding of who the provider is there to serve
• Engagement with employers and ownership of provision which should be at the forefront of the sector’s approach to innovative practice and change
• The opportunities for innovation presented by new digital technologies
• Exploration of areas of specialisation.