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David Way, Executive Director of the Apprenticeship Division, last week announced that he will be leaving the Agency.

David Way’s decision to leave the Skills Funding Agency after 38 years in the employment and skills sector comes after a period of considerable growth and reform of Apprenticeships. More than half a million people started an Apprenticeship last year and Apprenticeships are increasingly available at levels up to the equivalent of a Masters Degree.

From 1 April this year, the National Apprenticeship Service became fully integrated within the Skills Funding Agency. The Government’s response to the Richard Review will also mean a further programme of reform.

Kim Thorneywork, Chief Executive of the Agency said: “David Way’s contribution to the success of the National Apprenticeship Service and the growth of high quality Apprenticeships is significant and I welcome the opportunity to build on that. My ambition is to work with employers and the sector to meet the challenges of the future and to truly make Apprenticeships work for England. I would like to thank David for his leadership, his hard work and commitment and wish him well in his future endeavours.”

Commenting on his departure, David Way said: “Over the past five years I have greatly enjoyed developing and leading the National Apprenticeship Service. I am proud of our achievements and in particular the extensive work with employers and partners from across the sector. We have together achieved significant momentum under successive Governments whose leadership, ambition and investment has been vital.

“With the National Apprenticeship Service successfully integrated within the Skills Funding Agency and a long term reform agenda for Apprenticeships set out by the Government, I know this is the best time to hand over the reins to others. I remain a passionate ambassador and advocate for Apprenticeships and I intend to use my extensive skills and experience to continue to develop effective partnerships between business, the FE and HE sectors and with young people, their parents and schools.”

Notes to editors

• David will be handing over his responsibility for the Apprenticeship Division on Friday 30 August.

Skills Funding Agency
The Skills Funding Agency is a partner organisation of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). Its job is to fund and promote adult further education (FE) and skills training in England, including Traineeships and Apprenticeships, in a way which supports economic growth. The Agency delivers £4.1 billion of skills training through contracts with over 1,000 colleges, private training organisations and employers, with a highly effective supply chain that means FE meets local need in the most cost-effective way.

Within the Skills Funding Agency, there are two customer-facing services: the National Apprenticeship Service, which is responsible for increasing the number of Traineeship and Apprenticeship opportunities, and the National Careers Service, which provides impartial careers information, advice and guidance online, by telephone or face-to-face. The Skills Funding Agency also hosts the Information Authority, an independent body that acts on behalf of organisations involved in further education and training in England, setting data standards and governing data collection.

National Apprenticeship Service
We enable our nation to generate a more highly skilled workforce. Through Apprenticeships, skills competitions and awards, which create opportunity, support development and showcase excellence. Our endeavours enable us to:

– Transform the lives of our people.
– Stimulate growth and strengthen our economy.
– Instill pride in the skilled people of our nation.

Visit apprenticeships.org.uk for more information