Why become a member?
- ALP Members can participate in any ALP special interest group
Become a member
Why all providers should join!
Click here for membership rates
ALP provides a unified national voice for vocational and work based learning providers from the private, public and voluntary sectors and is recognised by, and influential with, all the key national policy makers. We continually lobby for vocational learning, ensuring it has a higher profile not just in the media, but also within Westminster – all MPs receive a regular newsletter on current issues, and the ALP position. ALP representatives meet regularly with ministers, opposition spokespersons and officials at the highest levels, both formally and informally.
ALP representatives are to be found on many government and funding agency groups, including:
DIUS
- Apprenticeship Ministerial Steering Group
- Apprenticeships Ambassadors Group
- Ministerial FE Standing Group
LSC
- Skills Delivery Partners Group
- Provider Liaison Group
- Train to Gain Stakeholder Forum
DWP
- Provision Forum
Ufi
- Ufi Liaison Group
Others
- National Improvement Partnership Board
- Merged QIA/CEL Interim Board
These are among the groups that determine the policies, rates, quality systems, etc, that have a direct bearing on all government contracted providers and the only way to get your voice heard on them is via ALP.
Through these channels, over the last five years ALP has delivered excellent value for money for its members by helping to secure:
- a demand-led skills strategy with the support of a government-supported learning market increasingly open to all providers offering high quality learning
- a massive expansion in Apprenticeships
- reforms in welfare to work programmes recognising that skills training is often key to securing sustainable employment for Jobcentre Plus clients
- a new 14-19 learning curriculum with specialised diplomas that offer high quality vocational learning to young people of all abilities
- better opportunities for adults in the workplace to improve their skills through programmes like Train to Gain and Skills for Life
- various e-learning initiatives, such as the ALP-managed Learning Innovation Grant which has injected around £6m of capital funding into WBL over the past 2 years.
- improved support for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds with easier access to Education Maintenance Allowances, impartial advice and a chance to gain skills and work through the Entry to Employment programme
- a greater say through the setting up of the 'Single Voice' and self-regulation for providers in the direction and operations of the FE system.
We have strong regional links via regional provider networks, and we are now putting even greater energy into developing our sectoral agenda, working closely with SSCs, some of whom already become Associate Members of ALP.
Your membership is vital! ALP can only maintain its credibility if it is seen to represent the many providers, large and small, who are delivering the skills strategies. We can only continue to influence decisions if the providers that are benefiting from our work support us by joining ALP. The large providers have nearly all joined, but we also represent the army of small and medium providers – those that, without the work of ALP, could face the greatest threats if the views of providers are not being fed into policy and decision makers at the earliest opportunity. We are here to protect your interests – if you will let us. Just £20/£40 per month is a small investment to ensure we are here to do just that.