The Secretary of State for Education has witnessed firsthand how the Student Loans Company (SLC) is assisting the UK Government’s Lifelong Loan Entitlement (LLE) project.
The Rt Hon Nadhim Zahawi met with technical colleagues at the company’s head office in Glasgow this morning (Friday, 17 June) to discuss the technologies that would be required to provide LLE when it starts in 2025.
LLE agrees with the government’s objective of assisting learners to train, upskill, or retrain throughout their lives.
During his visit, the Secretary of State addressed an overview of a design prototype LLE account and took part in a design workshop focused on the personal account’s continued development.
He also held a Q&A session with colleagues from throughout the company and met with SLC technology apprentices.
“LLE is an altogether new system of student finance for England, and as the administrators of student finance, we are playing a crucial role in co-designing the service,” stated Stephen Campbell, SLC’s Chief Information Officer.
The customer experience will be at the center of this system, which represents a significant shift from our product-centric business model to a service centered on a customer’s personal account.
“Having the Secretary of State participate in today’s workshops and introducing him to the knowledge we have on staff at SLC was excellent.”
This is a major technology project that demonstrates SLC’s ability to deliver complex solutions that support government policy.”
SLC has been established in Glasgow’s Bothwell Street for more than 30 years, and it also has locations in the North East of England and North Wales. Next year, the Glasgow office will relocate to a new purpose-built location at Buchanan Wharf.
“At the heart of our vision to level-up opportunity across the country is the Lifelong Loan Entitlement; a fairer, more sustainable student finance system, which will help people access education throughout their lifetime – to upskill, retrain, and reskill – so they can boost their own life chances and meet the ever-changing needs of our dynamic economy,” said Secretary of State for Education, Nadhim Zahawi.
“The Student Loans Company is co-designing and delivering this unique approach, and I was happy to visit and witness for myself some of the innovation that is going into the new system.”
SLC has 17 technology apprentices and 19 technology graduates, totaling over 100 in its four Emerging Talent programs.
Callum Campbell, a Software Engineering apprentice, was among those who attended the visit this morning. “Being able to share our experiences with the Secretary of State was incredibly significant,” he said of the apprenticeship program at SLC, which has allowed him to grow and expand his talents.
Our technology transition will radically redefine how we serve our clients, and I believe that with this qualification, I can contribute to SLC’s future success, if not even lead the way.”
LLE is a loan for the equivalent of four years of post-secondary education that can be utilized at any time throughout a learner’s life — for full years of study or specific modules.