How ‘to be’ the Foundation – an easy tool

2. How ‘to be’ the Foundation – an easy tool

3. How to talk about the Foundation When communicating externally on behalf of the Foundation we need to: • Be confident about what we (the Foundation) are doing • Do research- know our background • Understand the Foundation’s priorities, valuesand goals • Believe in why we do what we do

4. The role of the Foundation is to enhance professionalism

5. Who we are: • We are the Education and Training Foundation • Established by sector bodies and funded by The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) • We are owned by our members, the Association of Colleges (AoC), the Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP), the Third Sector National Learning Alliance (TSNLA), and the Association of Adult Education and Training Organisations (AAETO, operating through the Holex and LEAFEA networks) • The Foundation was launched on 1st August 2013

6. What we do: • It is our role to enhance professionalism • The Foundation sets professional standards and provides support so that the education and training sector benefits from a well-qualified, effective and up-to-date professional workforce supported by good leadership, management and governance • We do this to support the education and training sector to improve the quality, outcomes and impact of all learning: for learners, providers and the wider communities served by providers • We are focused on raising the status, esteem and ambition of the sector in the pursuit of excellence • Our work concentrates on four priorities…

7. Fourstrategic priorities to enhance professionalism: Clink the links for the most up-to-date information

8. We value: • All learners and all learning • Innovation and collaboration • Ambition and excellence • Pride and professionalism

9. How we do it: • We do it with the sector • We offer assured collective leadership, working in partnership, with those bodies that represent the sector and shape and inform the context in which the sector workforce operates • We are confident in our approach to empowering professionals • We share and facilitate professional conversations so that the sector can keep pace with change, the ambitions and expectations of learners and Government • We support, promote and build capacity for evidence based education and innovation

10. Howwe are different: • We value professionalism, and believe that enhanced professionalism is the route to raising the quality of teaching and improving standards • We engage with the sector, and its professionals, undertaking work that they feel will enhance their professionalism • We are a small executive organisation that conducts much of its work through other bodies or through commissioning where appropriate and cost effective • Our work is openly commissioned; developed in response to, delivered through and with, and evaluated by the sector.

11. Communication and Engagement aims • To engage, and listen to, the education and training sector in defining the programmes that will enhance its professionalism • To inform the sector about the Education and Training Foundation, how we are responding to their ideas and proposals, and how we are improving the professionalism of the sector’s workforce In our engagement and communication activities we will be clear, open, transparent and inclusive.

12. How we communicate The Foundation will engage with parties in all groups at various times, and recognises that the flow of influence between the individuals and organisations in these groups is two-way, and that there is a correlation between the views of one group and the decisions of another.

13. Building the Foundation It is important to share the story of how the Foundation has been built to date, and the processes we are taking to establish the Foundation (procurement, recruitment, scoping); confirming the appointments of Chair and Chief Executive, and affirming that we aim to be part of the sector for the long term; reminding others of the services that continue to be available, how they are being reviewed and developed; explaining what will happen next, how we will operate in the future, how we will engage and when.

14. Shapingthe future We need to explain that the future of the profession and the Foundation is in the sector’s hands; making clear that we are listening, learning and responsive to their needs; that we are acting as a critical friend to the sector, consulting on specific developments and questions around each of the Foundation’s strategic priorities; that they are informing how we are enhancing the services that have been continued by the Foundation.

15. Enhancing professionalism We are enhancing the professionalism of the education and training sector; you (the sector) can develop your professional capabilities and practices through us.

16. From FE Guild to Education and Training Foundation • Summer 2012 –Governments seeks applications to establish an FE Guild • November 2012 –Opportunity to develop an FE Guild awarded to the Association of Colleges and the Association of Employment and Learning Providers • Spring 2013 –A sector wide consultation • April 2013 –FE Guild Implementation plan approved and published • May 2013 –FE Guild becomes Education and Training Foundation • August 2013 – Education and Training Foundation launched • October 2014 – Permanent Chair and CEO announced

17. Resources • Brand Guidelines – read our brand guidelines to ensure your written communications are in line with the Foundation brand. • Communications Strategy – what is the Foundation’s communications plan? The most up-to-date version is saved here. • Foundation Core Slides – these are updated monthly. Click here for the most up-to-date version.

18. Play your part • Remember to say you work at the Foundation • Bring back feedback about the Foundation • Bring back contacts • Ask the communications team for help with any communications you are planning