The Potential of Technology to Enhance Employer Engagement

1. The Potential of Technology to Enhance Employer Engagement Lorraine Collins Executive Director Enterprise and Development Uxbridge College

2. About Uxbridge College….. Outstanding in May 2008 OFSTED Inspection Top London* College for last three years One of the first 12 providers nationally to achieve Conditional Part A TQS in November 2007 and reaccredited in Summer 2009 Achieved Beacon College Status in January 2009 Principal awarded O.B.E. in New Year’s Honours List * For long qualifications based on LSC (FE) institution level success rate report 2007/08,

3. EMPLOYER ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY Maintaining and expanding employer responsiveness • Providing local employers with quality skills solutions • Working with local employers to respond to rapidlychanging skills needs • Working in partnership with funding agencies and stakeholders Using effective account management arrangements and CRM database Working with employers to deliver employability programmes for unemployed

4. CURRICULUM AREA TARGETS TO SUPPORT THE STRATEGY e.g. • Use baseline data from the CRM database to increase contacts with local employers by 10% • Research ten employers with a customised training needs analysis to establish sector requirements • Respond to broker referrals within 48 hours • Use the CRM database to record one mail shot per term • Attend one sector skills council event per term

5. EMPLOYER SERVICES’ TARGETS • Map the Employer Journey to the CRM Journey • Achieve an annual 10% increase in response rate for employer satisfaction feedback • Achieve a minimum 90% satisfaction rating • Achieve an 11% annual increase in active employer count on CRM • 3% of 11% should be from inactive to active employers

6. EMPLOYER RESPONSIVENESS – COMMUNICATION FRAMEWORK Operational Plan CRM Action Plan and Reports World Class Skills CRM Thematic Project Portfolios CRM Action Group Communication to Employers Performance Reviews Marketing Employer Responsiveness Strategic Plan Employer Engagement Strategy Directors’ Reports Financial and Target Reports Project Monitoring Group Employer Responsiveness Group College e-bulletin-RESPONSE T2G Report SMT Project and Partnership Report Governors Operational Plan Corporate Goals Employer and Employability Activity Reports

7. TYPES OF REPORTS

8. EMPLOYER REPORTS

10. How Marketing can support your CRM • Marketing colleagues are your partners – build a good relationship! • Be clear about your expectations and their capacity • Agree a marketing plan and monitoring system to measure impact and added value

11. Example - Targeting employers to offer jobs for participants on an ESF programme • Agree sectors to target and timing. • Marketing selects employers from CRM • Check employers aren’t in communication overload • Agree type of communication and message • Marketing sends communication • Contact details to appropriate department • Monitor response and impact

12. After 2 Years… Cascade training out to ‘champions’- agents of change – 46 staff trained with regular slot on College Training Days Staff Governor CRM Champion who attends Action Group ‘Response’ regular e-bulletin – to all staff includes CRM update and voucher for ‘user of the month’ Employer Engagement targets and CRM use in Appraisals and termly Performance Review Keep identifying and developing relevant reports - e.g. customer satisfaction, impact of marketing activities Put clear protocols in place for users, marketing and management

13. Plan for Year 3 • Map the CRM journey to the Employer Journey so the two processes link • Link the Marketing and Promotions strategy to the CRM • Establish a list of fields required for future campaigns • Include contractors/suppliers in the CRM and promote service area usage • Review staffing expertise in line with expanded CRM use

14. E-assessment in work based learning • E-learning operational plan- main reference to support development of e-learning materials for Functional Skills and Diplomas • Delivery of London Assessor Project initiated buying an e-portfolio system • Joint Investment Plan Funding enabled us to link strategy to support flexible assessor models with development of e-portfolios • Initially some resistance – people like what they know!

15. Evaluation- Benefits • Martini model- any time, any place, any where • Easier for candidates to track own progress • Candidates comfortable with I.T. • No heavy folders to carry around • More transparent assessment process • Travel time and costs significantly reduced • FUN for assessor and candidate • Too soon to gauge impact on success rates

16. Benefits • Improved communication between assessors and candidates • Immediacy of feedback • System logs and dates all activities • More varied assessment methods- professional discussion and sound recording • Encouraged development of fair and replicable assessment methods • Evaluation now extended to include employer views

17. Benefits • Provides flexibility and allows the learner to personalise their own learning experience to a far greater extent • Can engage learners (bearing in mind that the use of technology then needs to become transparent so that the learning is the focus) • Use of video and audio recording devices can simplify the process of providing evidence for learners for whom writing is a challenge

18. How e-assessment supports e-portfolios • Training on e-portfolios and e-assessment- for assessors and support staff • Resource Development • I-pod touch devices to show staff and students in-house created training resources (and those created by others) and also provide access to the internet via wifi networks • Related equipment, mobile phones, cameras, voice recorders, Dongles • Meeting a training need through blended learning

19. What next? • Take evaluation report to e- strategy group • Consider how to expand delivery across college • Include in e-learning and employer engagement Operational Plan • Links to Enterprise and Development • Use to support recruitment of good assessors • Include in induction training • Look for other sources of funding e.g. Molenet • Re-brand to raise profile - E..asy assessment?