Welcome

2. Learning & Skills Provision 2008 / 09 Welcome

3. Agenda • Introduction • Statement of Priorities • Demand Led Funding • How to Complete the ITT • Q & A session • Coffee • ITT Regional Requirements (Break out Sessions) • Train to Gain, Skills Solutions, Skills Brokerage • Apprenticeships, E2E, Youth Participation Project • Community Grants, Support for Offender Learning • and Skills

4. Introduction 01

5. Statement of Priorities 02

6. Priorities 2008/09 • Creating demand for learning and skills • Transforming the FE system to meet demand • Delivering better skills, better jobs, better lives • Invest in people: to give them the skills • they need for success in work and life

7. Targets to 2020 Young People • Increase educational achievement with the aim of preparing every child and young person with the knowledge and skills to succeed in education and life Adults • Improve the skills of the population by 2011, consistent with the aim of having a workforce that has a world-class skills base capable of sustaining economic competitiveness by 2020

8. Key messages • Young people • Offer for 100% of young people – increase participation • Deliver the entitlement, September guarantee at 16 AND 17 • Roll out of diplomas • Target efforts to provide Specialist provision to engage Young People who are currently not in employment, education or training (NEET) • Significant growth in Apprenticeships • Adult Learning • Develop a core adult offer to help people upskill, reskill and learn in each local area • Within public funding focus on disadvantaged • Progression – to higher levels of learning and employment

9. Key Messages • Employers • Massive ramping up of Train to Gain activity required • New flexibilities to enhance the Train to Gain service • Local Employment Partnerships – skills for jobs and Train to Gain • Integrate Employment and Skills • Local Employment Partnerships must be ready to deliver for employers who sign up • Locally we need to put together packages of support for individuals and employer. • Focus on meeting local needs and tackling disadvantage through priority learning delivery – it isn’t an either/or we need more disadvantaged individuals on priority learning

10. Key Messages • A world class system • Continue to focus on increasing responsiveness • Much greater emphasis on fees and commercial work • LSC to continue with role of market maker – intervening where the market is not responding • Investing in infrastructure – leadership, capacity, capital

11. Demand Led Funding 03

12. Mode of Delivery School/college/ provider-based Employer-based 16-18 offer, part of 14-19 entitlement 16 –18 Budget Provision funded through strategic commissioning without in/end-year reconciliation Apprenticeships (funded through employer-responsive model Train to Gain service: TtG funds, NVQs in workplace; Apprenticeships 19+ (funded through employer responsive model) Provision funded through strategic commissioning with in/end-year reconciliation 19+ Budget

13. Funding Agreements www.lsc.gov.uk/providers/funding-policy/strategic-overview/ • The type of funding agreement will depend on the type of organisation. • Further Education Corporations who are successful will be funded under the terms of their financial memorandum. • Other public bodies such as local authorities will be funded under conditions of funding. • All other organisations will be expected to agree to the LSC standard contract for education and training. • All organisations responding to these ITT’s will be taken to have accepted the appropriate terms and conditions of funding appropriate to their type of organisation

14. Funding Requirements • Additional requirements in relation to each programme are set out in the relevant funding guidance which form part of the terms and conditions of funding • Organisations are advised to visit the LSC website www.lsc.gov.uk/providers/provider-procurement to see the appropriate Funding Guidance for the programme for which they are tendering. This will include details of funding rates for qualifications and other programme delivery requirements

15. Agreeing funding levels • Funding levels of contract to be agreed as part of contract clarification and where appropriate the national funding formula will be applied. • New providers tendering for provision funded using the demand led funding system will soon be able to download a funding calculation programme to support undertake modelling of potential contract award levels. Check on the LSC website for more information www.lsc.gov.uk/providers/provider-procurement/

16. Invitation to Tender 04

17. Procurement Policy We believe that a sensible balance of commissioning and tendering will: • help to secure the provision we need • allow new entrants to the market where they add value and choice; • and, simultaneously, enable good providers to grow • The LSC introduced the e-tendering system in February 2007, because it is quicker, there is a robust audit trail, it is more environmentally friendly, and is more secure.

18. Procurement Policy • As a public body, the LSC has to follow the public procurement rules and must ensure that the process is open, fair and transparent. • We will issue 3 year contracts (where appropriate) that will be extendable to 5 years subject to performance. Contracts can be varied up and down in value as a result of reconciliation and performance. • Contracts will have start date flexibility to allow provision to start when appropriate (i.e. do not all have to be 1st August).

19. Schedule Time deadlines will be specified on each ITT We advise providers to submit early

20. PQQ’s • PQQ’s closed on 3 March 2008 • PQQ Evaluation completed. • Fair and equal consideration given to all tenders. • Consistent process across all LSC regions. • 1746 number of providers successful at this PQQ (4). • 998 had already qualified at PQQ in September 07.

21. ITTs • Tenders due 6 weeks from ITT • Using fair, transparent and robust scoring framework. • Contract Award panels will agree each contract offer against original tender specification. • Local partnership team may carry out “contract clarification” with relevant providers - this will also be used to agree contract levels. • Contracts awards expected from end of June 2008.

22. Things you will need to do • Read the “ Read me first” document FIRST • Start early • Save regularly • Publish your response well before closing date – we cannot accept any tenders that are received past the closing date and time. • Only use the message facility on Bravo for queries • Check that the ITT is complete before submitting • Attachments must be attached • All asterisked sections MUST be completed • If you need guidance try the “supplier help guide” on the e-tendering portal or email help@bravosolution.co.uk

23. You should not • Try to upload documents other than Word or Excel. • Omit Attachments. • if they are missing when we evaluate then you will not be successful. • Leave it until the last minute to submit / publish your tender(s) • Leave your LSC e-tendering session running with no activity - if you do your session will time-out after 15 minutes and you will lose all unsaved work

24. Content: Train 2 Gain Structure of theITT(s) • There is 1 National ITT that MUST be completed for each programme • ‘READ ME FIRST’ Attachment – provides instructions and guidance for completion and details of the programme both National & Regional • National Questionnaire Attachment – specific to the programme. 1 NATIONAL ITT To be completed once for each programme • There are 9 Regional ITT’s for each programme (you should only complete those regional ITTs for which you expressed an interest): • ‘READ ME FIRST’ Attachment – provides both national & regional instructions and guidance for completion and details of the regional tender. • Regional Questionnaire Attachment – specific to the regional programme requirements. • Regional Demographic Spreadsheet Attachment – specific to the regional programme requirements. 9 REGIONAL ITT’s 9 Regional ITT’s to be completed for each region for which you wish to provide the programme

25. Read the READ ME FIRST Thoroughly Refer Back Opening the ITT(s) NATIONAL ITT READ ME FIRST Instruction and Guidance & National & Regional Objectives NATIONAL QUESTIONNAIRE Quality, Equality & Diversity

26. Read the READ ME FIRST Thoroughly Refer Back Opening the RegionalITT(s) REGIONAL ITT READ ME FIRST Instruction and Guidance (access from National ITT) REGIONAL SPECIFICATION & REQUIREMENTS AND QUESTIONNAIRE

27. Attachments Word Excel ONLY! Opening the RegionalITT(s) SPECIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS What’s required and where QUESTIONNAIRE What and How you intend meet the requirements SPREADSHEET Numbers / Outputs / Locations

28. Hints & Tips • Bid Writers • Question • Questionnaire Tips • ‘Assume’ • Characters • Word search

29. PLEASE NOTE • Late Tenders cannot be considered The time deadline will be specified on each tender document • The content from these events is available athttp://www.lsc.gov.uk/providers/provider-procurement/

30. Q & A Session 05

31. Regional Requirements Skills Solutions Skills Brokerage Train to Gain – Core & Enhanced 06

32. RegionalSkills Solution Fund • Aim • To increase demand for • Core TtG • Enhanced TtG Provision (ESF) • Apprenticeships • Adult FE • NOT displacing provision • b) Respond to employer demand for provision, outside the above, that supports identified business needs

33. Regional Skills Solution FundStrategic Objectives • To support individuals under threat of redundancy- transition into alternative employment • To extend the publicly funded offer • To respond to the demand led aspirations of Leitch • To increase employer investment in skills • To increaser the number of employers committing to Skills Pledge • To grow the market for ‘mainstream activity’ • .

34. Regional Skills Solution FundStrategic Objectives • To demonstrate the quantifiable impact on business performance / productivity • To extend the number of publicly funded training providers, to identify new providers selected by employers who may wish to become LSC approved providers • To support the diverse nature and needs of employers across the region. • To comply with State Aid regulations

35. Regional Skills Solution Fund • Investment Banker (Prime Contractor) • Fund of LAST resort • Access to fund via the Regional Skills Brokerage Service- ONA • No marketing / promotion of the fund • Support for individuals • a) under threat of redundancy (all sectors except public) • b) employed by SME that has not previously engaged with publicly funded provision and or where clear business case that intervention will support business improvement / GVA

36. Regional Skills Solution FundThe Model • Redundancy • Support for individuals- not the company therefore no state aid issues. • Skills and Training Needs Analysis to JCP specifications plus training activity, all activity to start whilst in employment. • All sectors and sizes – except public sector • Links to Strategic Account Managers at ONE

37. Regional Skills Solution FundThe Model • Improve Business Performance • Where there is a clear business case that intervention will support improved performance / GVA / growth. • Maximum intervention rate – public funding- 45%, employer contribution 55% in cash • Only 1 intervention over the period of this contract (2008-2010) • De-minimus applies

38. Regional Skills Solution FundThe Model • Conditions • Supported only if: • a) Scope of maximising / increasing the employer’s own contribution has been explored and exhausted. • b) The availability of LSC mainstream – funded provision explored and discounted… documented evidence of why discounted. • c) Discussion re Skills Pledge

39. Regional Skills Solution FundThe Model • Contract Requirements • a) Management Information (MI)- which training providers selected • b) Accredited and non-accredited provision • c) ILR for each learner • d) Payment to Investment Banker (Prime Contractor) on unit cost basis • e) Procurement of Approved providers- call off basis • f) Investment Banker (Prime Contractor) liable for ensuring sub-contractors comply with assessment of quality / H&S of learners etc • g) TUPE – legal advice required by Investment Banker (Prime Contractor) whether TUPE applies.

40. Regional Skills Solution FundOutputs • Number of participants 13,429 • Of which • Number of participants with basic skill needs 5,282 • Number of participants without Level 2 qualification 5,582 • Number of participants without Level 3 qualification 1,690 • Number of participants without Level 4 qualification 875 • The above learning will be funded via TtG Enhanced Provision Contract and not this contract… expected to drive the demand not pay for the above training. • Number of participants referred to core TtG provision 5,000

41. Regional Skills Solution FundThe Contract • Total contract Value £8 million • Released in tranches of £1 million • (£500k redundancy and £500k for business improvement) • up to a maximum of £4 million per annum • Start Date 1st August 2008 • End Date 31st December 2010

42. Enhanced Skills BrokerageServiceAim • Stimulate demand for skills and thereby raise the skills profile of workforce and increase productivity • Independent, Impartial and Informed Regional Skills Brokerage across all sectors and size bands (up to 5000 employees) excluding public sector. • Fully integrated Skills and IDB service

43. Enhanced Skills BrokerageServiceThe Service • High quality advice and guidance to meet employers needs • Assess and design training support required- both public and employer funded • Source Funding if appropriate

44. Enhanced Skills Brokerage Service • Experience and Knowledge • a) Proven track record – relationships with employers and assisting employers develop strategies to address future skill needs • b) Understanding of regional and sub-regional skills and sector priorities • c) Working knowledge of provision (including Higher and non-accredited) • d) Understanding of TtG and contribution of various partners • e) Track record of partnership working and making referrals

45. Enhanced Skills Brokerage Service • The Proposal • How will you? • a) make service available to under-represented groups • b) meet needs of rural and urban employers • c) share Management Information with LSCNE and LSCNO (interface designed by LSCNO) • d) Link with NES • e) promote benefits of business improvement tools, e.g. IiP, Skills Pledge

46. Enhanced Skills Brokerage Service • How will you (contd) • f) develop regional protocols • g) identify and allocate a thematic lead re Leadership & Management and JCP • h) TUPE may apply and contractor must obtain own guidance

47. Enhanced Skills Brokerage Service • Outcomes • Engage with 4,335 employers of which 3,750 must have completed an ONA/ In depth Skills Diagnostic- which has resulted in costed training proposal or referral. • Min 51% and max of 61% of employers Hard to Reach • Min of 25% of employers must be new • Min level of 90% customer satisfaction as measured by 3rd parties

48. Enhanced Skills Brokerage Service • Contract • From June 2008- 31st December 2010 • Break Clause 31st March 2009- Transfer of Skills Brokerage to ONE North East • £3 million

49. Employer Responsive – Train to Gain Core Offer ESF Enhanced Offer

50. Purpose of ITT • To procure core Train to Gain provision • To enhance the Train to Gain core offer • To provide progression routes for learners