IOC Chair Carl Lomas was at the emfec 2016 Feb 08 conference to hear the headline ‘1/3rd of colleges gone by end of area review rugby scrum.’

College principals, governors, teaching practitioners and students for a full house of 240 folk talking Further Education (FE) shop that focused on 'a third of colleges gone by the end of area reviews' and how important the student voice was. Paul Eeles talked 'rugby match on a muddy field', could college mergers include private training providers ? It was howling wind outside and howling inside for a frank and energetic exchange across area review, LEP and devolution.

Stewart Segal AELP, 'Our sector needs to be driven by learners and employers'. Stuart Cutforth Chesterfield College, ‘Area reviews. This is real, radical restructuring.’  Baroness Sharp, ‘Why have we cut cultural learning for adults?’ Gill Clipson AOC. ‘Our advice on area reviews is engage.’ Buxton & Leek College got a mention under the umbrella of the University of Derby.

An energetic exchange. Corridors of trade show from award body to AELP, lashings of tea and coffee, two workshop sessions, three headline panel events and a finish on the Skills Education Group formation news from Paul Eeles ABC awards and Maggie Walker ASDAN.