FE Careers sign strategic agreement with the Association of Training Providers

The specialist Further Education and Work Based Learning jobs site FE Careers and their sister news site www.FEnews.co.uk has signed a strategic partnership with the Association of Training Providers (ATP). www.FEcareers.co.uk are celebrating their 3rd anniversary this month and are pleased to announce yet another specialist partnership with a large body representing the Work Based Learning industry.

Kerry Amos from the Association of Training Providers said: ìIn an increasingly competitive environment, the Association of Coventry & Warwickshire Training Providers (ATP) recognises the opportunity that FE News provides for training providers in keeping them up-to-date with news and features about the FE Sector. Alongside valuable contributions from key national stakeholders, ATP will be encouraging members to share their news, views and successes. We are looking forward to developing our partnership with FE News and FE Careers.î

The partnership has got off to a flying start with FE Careers sponsoring the Association of Training Providers annual conference this week. The CEO of FE Careers comments on the partnership: ìWe are really pleased to formalise our relationship with the Association of Training Providers. FE Careers and FE News have made a huge commitment to assist in the development of the Work Based Learning industry, the ATP are equally as passionate about Work Based Learning as us and I am glad we can work together on pushing the continual development of FE and Work Based Learning.

ìThis is a big month for us. Itís our third birthday for a start. We are launching 3 new sites in literally a couple of days, we are testing, having all of the legalís covered and then we are ready to roll. We are also sponsoring two events, the Association of Training Providers this week and the Association of Learning Providers at the end of the monthÖ so it is all go at the moment. It must be the annual conference season! We have flyers and merchandising moving up and down the country from branded Parker Pens to BagívertsÖ all Exciting stuff!î

There seems to be a huge push from FE Careers towards the Work Based Learning industry. Gavin explains ìThree years ago we went through a massive re-brand very early on from our inception as FE Careers and FE News cover the entire FE industry, Work Based Learning is obviously a huge part of FE and the Government skills strategy. 65% of the jobs advertised on FE Careers are Work Based Learning or NVQ related; this is mainly due to our partnerships with the Associations within Work Based Learning. On FE News we have about 50% news covering Work Based Learning, so we really are about the whole FE sector. ì

ìThe Further Education sector is so vast and to some people it is seen to be so fragmented. It is quite funny, but the majority of conferences I have been to, there is always a speaker dedicating at least one of their speeches to a joined up approach to FE. Our new sites that we are launching this month should also help in solidifying FE and Work Based Learning into one big FE structureÖ. Thatís the aim anyway, and with our partnerships with the major associations in Work Based Learning, this should hopefully come to a quick fruition.î

Gavin only smiles when asked to hint on what the new sites are going to offer. ìWe are testing this week, so in a couple of days we will be able to show you. I am so excited... tired, but excited! We just need to thrash out a legal agreement with another organisation that is going to be a major contributor to one of the new sites and we are ready to go.î

www.FEcareers.co.uk
www.FEnews.co.uk