New for 2026 — School Improvement Programme: a levy-funded Level 6 route for improvement leaders. Find out more
NCE partners with FE colleges, sixth forms, specialist colleges, ITPs and universities to convert the levy into a coordinated workforce, teacher-pipeline and progression strategy across the full post-secondary ecosystem.
At a glance
60+
FE colleges, specialist colleges and HE partners
£9m+
Post-16 levy mobilised into delivery in 2024/25
180+
Cross-campus cohort learners currently in-flight
96%
Learner retention to completion
The workforce reality
Every partnership starts with a clear-eyed conversation about what is actually broken, not a generic apprenticeship pitch.
FE colleges, specialist colleges and university partnerships all report the same story: recruitment is harder each cycle. A grow-your-own pipeline into Learning and Skills Teacher is the most reliable way to protect delivery.
In most colleges and HE providers, levy spend is decided school-by-school or faculty-by-faculty. A coordinated plan unlocks funding that currently expires back to the Treasury after 24 months, or 12 months if added after 31st July 2026.
Learning support, technicians, coaches and administrators keep provision running, but rarely have a visible career pathway. Structured apprenticeships convert them into a stable, progressing workforce.
Whether you're inspected under EIF for FE and Skills or reporting to the Office for Students, boards need consistent, structured evidence that CPD spend moves outcomes.
How we work with you
Step 01
A working session with your principal, HR and curriculum leads across FE, HE, specialist and partnership provision, priorities, levy forecast and constraints.
Step 02
We map standards to roles across every campus and faculty, agree the cohort model and set the delivery calendar around your term rhythm.
Step 03
Blended, in-role learning with subject mentors, dedicated tutors and evidence built through real practice, aligned to EIF and OfS expectations.
Step 04
Termly impact reviews against the outcomes you agreed at Discovery, board-ready reporting on levy, learners and progression.
What we bring
Every tutor and delivery lead has worked inside FE, HE, specialist colleges or university partnerships. No re-purposed corporate content.
Blend learners from multiple sites, faculties or partner providers into shared cohorts to build common practice and cut cost per head.
One senior NCE contact who knows your principal, your teams and your calendar. No ticket queues, no rotating account managers.
A single dashboard covering levy status, learner progress, off-the-job compliance and impact metrics, ready for governors, Ofsted and OfS.
The 2024/25 funding reforms have changed what's possible - and what's expected from your workforce. Budgets are tighter. Statutory demands haven't gone away. This is the moment to plan differently.
Outcomes you can plan around
Every partnership is underpinned by an outcomes framework agreed at the start, so you can report impact back to boards, members and elected officials with confidence.
Most requested by further education
Level 5 Apprenticeship
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Level 5 Apprenticeship
Level 6 Apprenticeship
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Level 3 Apprenticeship
“NCE is the first partner that has treated our FE college, our specialist provision and our university partnerships as one workforce challenge. One plan, one dashboard, one honest conversation with our board every term.”
Sector FAQs
Share your context, team, levy position, priorities, and we will come back with a tailored partnership proposal within five working days.
We're happy to help. Get in touch with our team. Real people, real answers, no pressure.
