About Linking London

Linking London is a unique partnership network of Further Education Colleges, Universities, Private Training Providers, Awarding Bodies, Professional Bodies and unionlearn, based at Birkbeck, University of London.

We have been in existence for five years as a Higher Education Funding Council for England project and the work we have done in the area of improving the progression opportunities for vocational learners is available on our legacy site www.linkinglondon.ac.uk/legacy/.

We are now working in three major areas for this year (2011 - 12). Access agreements and retention is a major workstrand in conjunction with our Universities, for our Colleges the strategic area of HE in FE is also of significance in the coming year and for everyone there is a desire to work in the area of engagement with employers on several fronts, including work based learning, APEL services and the desire to reach those in need of higher skills who are already in the workforce. These work strands are underpinned by a need to know more (data), work in the area of Apprenticeships and access to higher level provision, and of course given the gaps now emerging in the whole area of information, advice and guidance to help the navigation of an increasingly complex terrain.

We now have 26 signed up members. If the agendas above are of interest to your organisation or you think you could benefit from joining us - please get in touch with me, or the team. The next Board meeting is 12th December here at Birkbeck and I look forward to seeing you there.

Best wishes,

Sue Betts, Director.