Comprehensive Spending Review: What's in it for our members?
The Apprenticeship Levy
The government announced further plans for its apprenticeship levy. It will be introduced in April 2017 set at a rate of 0.5% of large employers’ pay bill paid through PAYE. There is no further news of the type of organisation that will be required to pay the levy only that it will affect ‘large employers’. It is therefore unclear whether larger professional bodies and learned societies will be affected. The Science Council has made inquiries and will update members in due course. The Chancellor also announced that the Institute for Apprenticeships will be an independent, employer-led body established by April 2017 to take over from the current Trailblazer scheme to ensure apprenticeship standards and quality, as well as advise on funding levels for each apprenticeship.
In related news, the Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi has been appointed as the Prime Minister’s new Adviser on apprenticeships to help drive the government's target to create 3 million apprenticeships.
Adult skills
The Chancellor announced core funding of £1.5 billion to deliver what he called “high-quality professional and technical education at higher levels”. Tuition fee loans will be extended to 19 to 23 year olds who study at levels 3 and 4, and 19+ year olds at levels 5 and 6, hopefully increasing opportunities for young people looking to pursue a career in science to re-skill and up-skill.
STEM in higher education
For higher education, from 2016-17, the age cap on new loans to postgraduates will be available to all those under 60, and, from 2017-18 tuition loans will be extended to students wishing to do a second degree in a STEM subject. In its response to the government’s consultation on support for postgraduate study, the Science Council called on the government to provide a financial package for those over 30 years of age who have not yet begun a postgraduate qualification.
Read the full Spending Review and Autumn Statement.
No recognition for technicians in government review of Research Councils
Sir Paul Nurse’s Review of Research Councils has been published, recommending that more is done by the Research Councils to enhance researchers’ careers through supporting training and career development opportunities, and facilitating part-time work or career break returners. However the review fails to acknowledge the vital role that technicians play in underpinning higher education research and the need to improve their professional development opportunities.
… and no recognition for technicians in higher education teaching either
The government has outlined its proposals for a Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) to recognise and reward high-quality teaching in higher education. One of its aims is to ensure that outstanding teachers enjoy the same professional recognition and opportunities for career and pay progression as researchers. Similar to the Nurse Review, the proposals do not recognise technicians as a vital part of the teaching workforce. The Science Council will be responding to the government’s proposals (deadline 15th January 2016). We would like to hear from you if your organisation is responding.
