Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill

Perhaps I could have phrased that more carefully. I certainly did not mean to impugn the quality of FE colleges. I was trying to say that I do not want us, as the noble Lord, Lord Lucas, was suggesting, to start distinguishing between FE colleges. That makes the point. Why do we need to do this? I recall that my City and Guilds certificates probably contain the name of the college, but they are not the apprenticeship certificate. That is not the only thing that an employer will be requesting of a potential employee, as I am sure that noble Lords are well aware. I do not accept the analogy with HE. Of course the employer can be aware if they want to see the individual’s actual qualifications. However, first, not all apprentices, as we have heard the noble Baroness, Lady Garden, tell us, will do their training in FE colleges. So, what are we saying? That we will leave a blank space in some cases, so that some certificates will contain that information and some will not? We are trying to create a situation where we acknowledge the fact that the individual concerned has been through a properly accredited and validated apprenticeship scheme where the standards have been clearly defined and inspected. Surely that is the number one consideration of any employer.