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North East Colleges – Responding to Demand Presentation by Alan Dixon (Regional Director, Association of Colleges (North East) to the Tyne and Wear Employment and Skills Board 5 October 2010. Colleges as Employers.
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North East Colleges – Responding to Demand Presentation by Alan Dixon (Regional Director, Association of Colleges (North East) to the Tyne and Wear Employment and Skills Board 5 October 2010
Colleges as Employers • The North East has 21 Colleges. In 2008/09 they employed 14,524 staff, including 7,719 teachers.1 • Total College income in the North East in 2008/09 was £519.8 million2 • The total Allocation for education of 16-18 year olds in the NE in 2009-10 was £185.1 million (about 5% of the total for England).2
Colleges as Providers for Young People • In 2008/09, 50,623 16-18 year olds were studying in Colleges compared to 22,519 in schools and 3,258 in work based learning.3 • Total Success Rate for 16-18 year-olds in NE Colleges was 79.7%. This places the North East in 4th position in comparison with similar Colleges in the other English Regions. 4
Colleges as Providers for Employers and Adults • Total Success Rate for Adults for North East Colleges was 81.7%%, the highest figure for all the English Regions. 4 • The value of Employer Responsive Services for the three years 2007-08 to 2009-10 seems to have plateaued-out at £60M in 2008-09. The number of separate employers contributing to the total spend was between five and six thousand, and this continued to increase in 2009-10.
Areas of Provision Included • Renewable energy, particularly solar, water, wind (offshore). • Domestic installation of solar and other renewable energy devices. • Battery production and electric vehicles (linked to renewable and transport). • Advanced manufacturing. • Lean Manufacturing. • Sales
Higher Education • More than 13,000 learners attended Hefce funded provision in Colleges in 2008-09. • More than 75% were part-time • Programmes with the largest numbers of students were: • Arts Media and Publishing • Business Administration and Law • Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies • Education and Training • Health Public Services and Care
Producing a Better Fit with Employers Needs • Involvement in the National Skills Academies for nuclear and process industries. • Working with the Chamber, SSCs, etc • Using ‘industry liaison groups’ for development and delivery of Foundation Degrees. • Trainer/assessors working alongside shift managers to minimise off-the-job time.
Barriers Demand was sometimes inhibited by: • the slowness of the system to accredit qualifications • the tendency of the system to provide funding for ‘full’ qualifications • the rules that prevented Colleges from accessing Hefce funding for modules • the opportunity cost to start-up businesses of engaging in training
Delivering ‘Demand-led’ Provision - a flexible offer in response to local needs This will be helped by: • a move towards a single-line budget • a reduction in the number of targets • Colleges funded according to their plans, developed as part of a strategic dialogue with with LAs and other stakeholders • a simpler qualification approval process, and removal of the requirement that Sector Skills Councils approve every qualification.
References • 1. LLUK SIR Report 2008/09 • 2. Skills Funding Agency Financial Management College Accounts 2008/09 - 2006/07 (Excluding Skelmersdale College, part of Newcastle College Gp.) • 3. ILR FE/WBL 2008/09, Department for Education 2008/09 • 4. NE Region Performance Report, LSC, April 2009 • 5. ILR F05 08/09 ILRw 08/09