National Employer Service: Facilitating Skills Development

2. LSC National Employer Service (NES)

3. National EmployerService • Part of the Learning and Skills • Council • Remit to: • develop strategic relationships with national employers to identify emerging skills needs and represent their views within the LSC • Engage national employers in work-based learning

4. National EmployerService continued • 47 ‘Local’ and 1 National Office • £9bn Annual Budget • Report directly to DFES

5. Remit • The NES remit includes the following criteria: • Employers must have: • Minimum of 5000 employees • Truly ‘National Employers’ (multi-sited) • Minimum of 200 learners to include100 Apprentices

6. National EmployerService • Over 250,000 Apprentices funded by LSC • Nearly 65,000 through National Employer Service • 200 + Contracts with Employers: • - BP Oil, BMW, Orange, Kwik Fit, Honda, BAE Systems, Norwich Union, Royal Mail, Wyevale Garden Centres, MOD, Royal Navy, Royal Airforce, nPower, Blackhorse Finance, British Gas etc.

7. Funding Application Contract and supporting documents Contract requirements Quality Useful Information Apprenticeship family Frameworks Partners ALI The SAM role Other support Content of CD-ROM Topics

8. Apprenticeship Family • Young Apprenticeships (14-16) • Apprenticeships (Level 2) • Advanced Apprenticeships (Level 3) • Apprenticeships for Adults

9. Frameworks and Partners • 160 Apprenticeships incorporating: • the NVQ • Key Skills • Technical Certificates • ERR • Across 80 industry sectors • Developed by Standard Setting Bodies – now • usually a Sector Skills Council (SSC)

10. Funding • Programmes: • Apprenticeship • Advanced Apprenticeship • 25+ NVQ Initiative • Basic Skills

11. Funding – Apprenticeships • Funding paid on national tariff (see WBLYP • Requirements 04/05). 80%/20% ratio. • Data transmission via web portal monthly to • LSC or via suitable software. • Learners eligible to start up to the day before • their 25th birthday. • Requirements for WBLYP 2004/05.

12. Funding – 25+ Initiative • NVQ only funding for Adults, to support • employers delivering Apprenticeships. • Funding largely paid on completion. • Very limited budget available. • First NVQ at Level 2 or 3 • The future: possible NETP

13. Other Support • Provider Support Fund • Linked to raising standards and improving achievement. • Additional expertise • Support/consultancy agreed by Account Manager. • Matched funding basis 50%/50%. • Networking, sector, key skills and new employer events. • Data management training events.

14. ApplicationProcess • All new accounts, both direct and indirect. • Three stage process • Confirms commitment at the highest level • Gives LSC information about organisation and • proposed programme. • Allows for indicative budget approval • Supporting information for Finance (IFHA) and • Health and Safety. • Panel presentation.

15. Application - Content • Accreditation to deliver qualifications • Delivery model (in-house, outsourced) • Delivery processes • Quality Assurance arrangements • Management of programme • Learner number projections

16. Contract (Funding Agreement) • Contract awarded when approved by Senior Management Team (SMT) panel of NES. • Contract contains general terms and conditions of receiving public funds and delivery schedules – early consultation with legal team recommended. • Three year agreement subject to performance. • ‘Requirements for WBLYP 04/05 document forms part of contract. Read both documents!

17. Contract Requirements • Account contract performance measured • against learner numbers, retention and • achievement. • Controls and use of funds monitored by PFA • Audit team. Systems support visit Assurance visits on risk-banded basis • Annual Self Assessment and Development • Action Plan. • Agreement of 3yr Strategic Plan.

18. Quality Assurance • Support from Account Manager, Consultants • and Network Events. • QA Software • Self Assessment Report and Development • Action Plan. • Achievement and Completion rates. • Learner/employee satisfaction

19. Adult Learning Inspectorate • Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Education and • Training Post-16 • Legal requirement for organisations drawing • down public funding • LSC expectations • At least satisfactory provision for Occupational Area(s) and overall • Leadership and Management • Report published on Internet • Annual Self-assessment

20. Role of the Sector Account Manager • Support organisations working towards holding • a contract • Support and guide contract holding • organisations • Monitor contracts performance • Agree targets with contract holders

21. Business Benefits • Improved productivity • Motivated people • Relevant training • Avoidance of skills shortages • Improved retention of staff • Formalising induction and initial assessment

22. Next steps • Consider this presentation and supporting • documents provided on CD-ROM • Scope potential learners by: • 16-18; 19-21; 22-24 and 25+ age group • Speak to awarding bodies and/or training providers • Stage 1 application/letter of commitment

23. Useful Documents on CD-ROM • Funding Agreement • Requirements for WBLYP 04/05 • Common Inspection Framework • Application Pack • Funding Rates • Copy of contract • Presentation

24. Useful Documents on CD-ROM • Presentation • Case Studies • Business benefits • Apprenticeship family • Awarding body contact information • Sample Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI) reports • Sample Apprenticeship framework

25. Useful websites • www.lsc.gov.ukLearning and Skills Council homepage • https://ncs.lsc.govNational Employer Service homepage • www.apprenticeships.org.uk • For general information on Apprenticeships • www.ssda.org.ukfor information on Sector Skills Councils • www.ali.gov.uk • for the common inspection framework and all published reports • www.lsda.org.uk • for information on good practice within work-based learning • www.keyskillssupport.net • for information and good practice on integration/delivery of key skills • www.maframeworks.lsc.gov.uk • for details of all current frameworks