NFEC was formed in 1992, as the National Forum for Engineering in Colleges, at the time when colleges became incorporated. There was a general feeling among providers that engineering and the related technology subjects in the post-16 Sector were under threat, and this was quickly confirmed with the introduction of the Training and Enterprise Councils, outcome-related funding and the development of a market economy in education and training. In June 1993, at the first NFEC National Conference in Birmingham, colleges were invited to come together to establish NFEC as a corporate membership organisation. They did so, NFEC was born and its constitution (aims and objectives) was agreed by the delegates.

In recognition of the need to be truly representative within the post-16 sector NFEC members agreed at its AGM in December 2003 to change its name to one more representative of this broader ‘constituency’. Accordingly, from 1 August 2005 NFEC was re-launched as a new limited charitable company and is now known as the National Forum of Engineering Centres. Its aims, role and operation will remain the same. NFEC’s membership now includes colleges, Group Training Associations, Specialist Schools, employers and individual memberships and has a broad representation within the sector.

Today NFEC's subscribing member organisations, consist of both colleges and other publicly-funded providers of learning, and together they deliver over 85% of the post-16 engineering and technology education and training provision in Engineering.

The fundamental changes in the 14-19 provision, the post 16 sector in general, reduced funding, creation of brokerage models, Sector Skill Councils and implementation of Sector Skills Agreements, Skills Academies, the move towards a single inspectorate and other pressures within the system highlight the greater need for engineering and technology to be represented and have a strong membership voice to ensure this crucial sector to the UK economy is properly represented. NFEC is proactive and actively engages with partners and key organisations within the sector. NFEC also provides pragmatic advice and good practice to help managers within our sector to solve day to day issues and to facilitate the sharing of good practice through networking.

Click here for further details about Key Members within the NFEC organisation.

NFEC’s ROLE

NFEC's primary aim has always been to promote the relevance and quality of the post-16 engineering and related technology provision. 

NFEC contributes to the design and interpretation of Government initiatives, to the development of National Standards and the design of related Qualifications.   In this we work closely with the SSCs, QCA, Awarding Bodies, the ETB and the Engineering Council (UK) and we take part in all relevant Government Consultations.

We are also very aware of the need for curriculum and qualifications to be 'deliverable' and we devote considerable efforts to ensuring that sufficient resources are available so that quality can be maintained.

A further key 'strand' of NFEC's role is awareness-raising and continuing professional development for managers of learning and delivery staff, so that they are able to stay abreast of changing curriculum and qualifications needs.  Previous success in this work was to develop and deliver a £1.6M LSC-funded Dissemination of Good Practice project in Engineering and Construction, with outstanding levels of participation and benefits for the Sector.  An important aspect of that work has been retained and remains available to Centres, across Engineering and Construction, in the form of NFEC’s Critical Friends Service.

NFEC continues to be proactive within the sector and has been successful in a bid to manage the Standards Unit piloting of engineering learning materials to over 40 learning centres. Recent collaborations also include being part of a task force with the British Council to explore how British education establishments and companies may be able to support the improvement of engineering and technology learning provision in India.

NFEC maintains close and productive links with a range of other organisations in working for the interests of our Members and the Sector. 

These include:

Each of these (and others) has a bearing on the environment in which learning in engineering and technology is delivered.  NFEC works to establish consensus views that will influence or modify any policies, systems or procedures that do not contribute positively to the quality of training and education in our Sector.