Event report - Linking London Higher Technical Education Practitioner Group Meeting
The first Higher Technical Education (formerly HE in FE) Practitioner Group Meeting of the academic year chaired by James Ward, Morley College, held on the 7th of October 2026.
After a warm welcome from James Ward, the meeting began firstly hearing from Rebecca Mameli, Senior Strategic Lead, Higher Education Qualifications at Pearson presented on research from Pearson and the Lifelong Education Institute on the Level 4 and 5 ‘Missing Middle’, highlighting demand for higher technical skills alongside barriers including low awareness, complex progression routes, funding and flexibility.
A partner roundtable then followed where we heard from partners on current Level 4+5 offer and feedback on enrolment picture for 2026-27.
This was followed by a partner perspective from Sharon Juty, Deputy Head of Pathways and Educational Partnerships at University of Greenwich who reflected on the University of Greenwich’s experience of delivering HTQs, highlighting recruitment challenges caused by limited awareness, competition with established degree and apprenticeship routes, and financial sustainability. Although Greenwich has stopped recruiting to its current HTQs, future opportunities could include closer FE and employer collaboration, clearer progression pathways and more flexible modular provision through the LLE.