BROKERING PARTNERSHIPS WITH EMPLOYERS IN A REGION The North West Higher Level Skills Pathfinder Pete

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BROKERING PARTNERSHIPS WITH EMPLOYERS IN A
REGIONThe North West Higher Level Skills
PathfinderPeter Davies Specialist
AdvisorCreative Digital Industries17th April
2007
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Outline

• Context
• Northwest Region
• NWUA
• Creative Digital Industries
• HLSP Background
• NW Model
• Brokerage
• Development of Provision
• HLSP Development Funding
• Next Steps

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Context

• Context - Northwest Region
• The North West is a region of contrasts covering
  the five areas of Greater Manchester, Merseyside,
  Cheshire, Cumbria and Lancashire.
• With a population of 6.7 million the North West
  is larger than several EU countries.
• Four-fifths of the region is rural, but most
  people live in the urban areas 60 per cent of
  people in the two core conurbations of Greater
  Manchester and Merseyside.
• The region generates 11 per cent of the UK's
  Gross Domestic Product, despite a decline in
  traditional manufacturing and engineering
  industries.
• New industries are growing - the region has the
  biggest film and television production industry
  outside London.
• Areas such as Cheshire, southern Greater
  Manchester, Liverpool and Manchester city centres
  continue to grow, but many communities have yet
  to see the fruits of this urban renaissance. This
  is reflected in the continued presence of North
  West neighbourhoods high in the Indices of
  Deprivation.

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Context

• Context - Northwest Region
• They are areas with acute needs. The Northwest
  has significant concentrations of unemployment.
  3 billion of the GVA gap is caused by fewer
  people working than the England average.
• Despite recent improvements, there are still
  major concentrations of deprivation and poor
  conditions restricting economic growth, closely
  associated with health inequalities and high
  crime.
• The Northwest employment rate is 73, 2 behind
  the England average. The Northwest would need
  80,000 more people in work to bridge the gap. 90
  of the gap is in six districts Liverpool,
  Manchester, Knowsley, Halton, Salford and Barrow.
• Regional Economic Strategy (RES) Northwest
  Development Agency
• Vision - A dynamic, sustainable international
  economy which competes on the basis of
• knowledge, advanced technology and an excellent
  quality of life for all.

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Context

• Context - Northwest Region
• Skills component of the RES to be delivered by
  the Regional Skills Partnership
• expressed via the North West Statement of Skills
  Priorities 2007-2010.
• The RSP outlines the need to focus on five key
  objectives
• 1 Tackle the lack of basic skills and
  qualifications to improve employability
• and reduce unemployment.
• 2 Meet the skills needs of sectors and growth
  opportunities - essential to
• support expansion.
• 3 Invest in workforce development - the
  development of intermediate and
• higher level skills in the current workforce is
  a key driver of productivity and
• economic growth. Increase the number of people
  in the workforce with graduate qualifications by
  120,000 in order to meet the England average.
• 4 Develop leadership, management and enterprise
  skills - crucial to
• company survival, innovation and productivity
  improvement.
• 5 Develop the educational infrastructure and
  skills of the future workforce
• - ensuring young people are developing the
  skills they need for employment
• and progression to Higher Education.

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Context

• Context - Northwest Region
• Level 4 and 5 skills are required for
  growth in the knowledge economy. However, the
  region has fewer people with level 4 skills than
  the England average. Although the training of new
  graduates and their retention is high, the
  proportion of the existing workforce with the
  higher level skills required for the knowledge
  economy is inadequate
• Regional Economic Strategy 2006-09

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Context

• Context NWUA
• The Higher Education Institutions of the North
  West
• Have nearly 235,000 students on certificated
  programmes.
• Have more than 53,000 students graduating
  annually in the North West.
• Generate a total annual turnover of around 1.6
  billion.
• Employ more than 33,000 staff.
• Win over 220 million from research grants and
  contracts.
• North West universities achieved scores of 4 or
  more (signifying nationally and internationally
  recognised research) in 62 of the 68 Research
  Assessment Exercise 2001.
• North West universities achieved scores of 5
  (the highest award) in one third of all subjects
  in the 2001 RAE.

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Context

• Context NWUA
• NWUA is the representative body of the sixteen
  higher education institutions in the North West
  of England and within this role NWUA has the
  following objectives
• To provide a means whereby member institutions
  may co-ordinate their regional activities
• Identify opportunities for collaborative action
  so as to maximise their contribution to the
  social, economic and cultural life of the North
  West of England
• Develop partnerships with business, industry and
  public bodies accordingly.
• Facilitate and effect such joint activities or
  collaborations within the Region with Members
  and/or non-members, as agreed by the member
  institutions.

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Context

• Context NWUA Members
• The University of Bolton University of Central
  Lancashire
• University of Chester Cumbria Institute of
  the Arts
• Edge Hill University Lancaster University
• The University of Liverpool Liverpool Hope
  University
• Liverpool John Moores University The University
  of Manchester
• Manchester Metropolitan University The Open
  University in the North West
• University of Salford St Martin's College
• Royal Northern College of Music Liverpool
  Institute for Performing Arts

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Context

• Context Creative Digital Industries
• The Creative and Digital sector in the North
  West is a key and growing
• driver of the regional economy.
• The North West Development Agency has identified
  Creative and Digital Industries as a priority
  sector in the region.
• In the North West it is estimated that
  approximately 140,000 people are employed in the
  sector in 26,000 companies and it creates some
  6billion, 4.5 of regional wealth.
• The sector footprint is vast and varied but
  broadly includes
• audio visual industries,
• apparel, footwear and textiles
• advertising, crafts, cultural heritage, design,
  music and the arts
• information technology in relation to creative
  and digital industries

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Context

• Context Creative Digital Industries
• CDI in the NW now identified as second largest
  cluster in Europe.
• Much of the gravitational pull is around Media
  City development / BBC move to Salford Quays / 5
  departments operational by 2011.
• 1 billion GVA growth year on year predicted!
• There is now a sense that we are moving from
  consultation and strategy development in relation
  to skills to practical innovation and delivery.
• Lots of optimism, real sense of the scale of the
  opportunity, desire to really join up effectively
  particularly with the range of public sector
  support.

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HLSP Background

• HEFCE Pathfinder Objectives
• Embed HE in employer workforce development and
  skills strategies regionally, sectorally and
  nationally
• Embed workforce development and skills in HE
  providers strategies
• Promote greater co-funding of HE provision by
  employers

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HLSP Background

• The Leitch Review (2006)
• Current practice
• supply-side in education dominates what skills
  are delivered
• demand-side is not interpreted as what employers
  need
• over 22,000 qualifications, many little valued
• complexity and bureaucracy are a major deterrent
• regional-based structure misses sector needs
• Leitch view
• a system that gives employers the strongest voice
  is essential
• the world of skills to be simplified, fewer
  employer-facing bodies
• develop relevant, up-to-date skills
  qualifications
• sector-based organisation based on Sector Skills
  Councils

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North West Model

• Two main aspects to the NW model
• Brokerage
• Business Link IDB Brokers
• Train to Gain Skills Brokers
• HLSP supports brokerage via
• 4 Specialist HE Advisors
• Online searchable database of current HE
  provision
• Training of brokers to increase knowledge of
  HE
• Development of Provision
• Reactive in response to demand identified
  through the
• brokerage
• Proactive through partnerships with SSCs,
  cluster
• organisations
• Co-ordinated with Foundation Degree Forward and
• regional Lifelong Learning Networks

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North West Model

• Working with Sector Skills Councils

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North West Model

• Brokerage
• Through the LSC Train to Gain Skills Brokers
• Skills brokers
• are independent
• will be trained and accredited against the
  National Brokerage Competency Framework
• help employers identify training needs and
  appropriate training providers at all skills
  levels
• can be sector specific
• understand remit of SSCs and will be conversant
  with the sector priorities of individual SSCs

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North West Model

• Brokerage
• Through the regional IDB (Information /
  Diagnosis / Brokerage) Business Link service
• Launched 1st April 2007
• Refers higher level activity via the Specialist
  Advisors
• Provides consistent regional service with
  Regional Economic Strategy sector focus
• Highly responsive involving sector specific and
  generic brokers
• Significant investment in knowledge platform
  (including information on HE provision gathered
  via HLSP)

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North West Model

• Development of Provision
• Reactive when needs are identified by brokers
  they will work with the specialist advisors to
  link to HEIs / FECs interested in meeting this
  need
• Proactive 4 sectors identified for initial
  focus
• Advanced Engineering and Materials
• Creative and Digital Industries
• Business and Professional Services
• Construction

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North West Model

• Development of Provision
• Four sector panels convened involving SSCs, NWDA,
  SSPAs and LSC
• Panels will produce guidance and issue call for
  proposals, then assess proposals and agree
  funding
• Panels will also consider funding development
  which emerge from the brokerage activity
• Funding available includes development money and
  ASNs

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HLSP Development Funding

• Applications for development funding will be
  assessed by each Sector Panel
• Proposals will be assessed against SSC criteria
  to ensure development funding is driven by
  employer demand
• Additional Student Numbers applications sent to
  Steering Group for approval
• Feedback to providers from Specialist Advisors,
  opportunity to re-apply if unsuccessful
• Led by relevant Sector Skills Councils
• Creative Cultural Skills / Skillset /
  Skillfast UK / eSkills UK
• Also includes LSC NWDA
• Supported by the Pathfinder Project Manager and
  Specialist Advisor

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HLSP Development Funding

• Gateway Criteria for all applications
• Demand led / Meets a recognised skills gap
• Refer to SSC Prospectus, RES, Regional
  Statement of Learning and Skills Priorities,
  additional sector research if appropriate
• Employer linkages/engagement
• Funding can only be allocated to proposals that
  demonstrate this
• No displacement
• Does not currently exist in region
• Can include development of existing provision to
  be
• delivered in a new format (e.g. online) to meet
  employer
• demand

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HLSP Development Funding

• Gateway Criteria for all application
• Learning Outcomes
• All Level 4 and above provision but must have
  accreditation
• What are the progression opportunities?
• Management and QA
• Detail mechanisms for the management, monitoring
  and
• review of new provision
• Include diversity and equal opportunities
  considerations

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HLSP Development Funding

• Application Process
• Project / Programme Description
• Include project objectives, and a full
  description of how proposal will offer
  new/adapted provision
• Detail any partner institutions
• Refer to additional guidance from FDF for the
  development of Foundation Degrees
• Timescales / Project Milestones
• Target audience identification / Evidence of
  employer involvement / Anticipated numbers of
  learners
• Funding will only be granted to proposals that
  show detailed evidence in the development and
  delivery of new provision
• Fully detail all employer contributions, e.g.
  financial, in kind etc. Include letters of
  support where possible

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HLSP Development Funding

• Application Process
• Development Funding Required
• Enter a full summary of all costs
• Include details of funding from any other sources
• Additional Student Numbers
• Enter as FTEs
• Include number and year required
• Mainstreaming Sustaining Activity
• Areas to consider include plans to maintain and
  expand employer linkages and strategies to
  promote demand-led curriculum development
• HEFCE strategy on employer engagement
• Staff Development
• Detail staff development needs within institution
• This will inform other HLSP activity in
  conjunction with HE Academy

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Next Steps

• First call for proposals launched on Friday 16th
  March, deadline for first round is 30th April
• Specialist Advisors will be visiting HEIs and
  FECs to discuss and support development within
  each of their sectors
• HE Providers work in partnership with employers
  to submit proposal, proposals approved and funded
• Continue development of database of HE provision
  and integration with the Business Link Knowledge
  Platform
• Specialist Advisors to job shadow T2G brokers
• Roll out training and development for T2G and
  Business Link skills brokers

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Further Information
For further information on the HLS Pathfinder
please contact Dr Celia Brigg Assistant
Director (Skills) cbrigg_at_nwua.ac.uk 0161
2348891 Fiona McGregor Specialist Advisor
(Construction) fmcgregor_at_nwua.ac.uk 07769
883460 Peter Davies Specialist Advisor (Digital
Creative Industries) pdavies_at_nwua.ac.uk
07769 882 487 Eddie Keating Specialist Advisor
(Business Professional Services) ekeating_at_nwua.a
c.uk 07769 883 460 Karen Lang Senior
Officer klang_at_nwua.ac.uk 0161
2340438 Virginia Mitchell Administration
Assistant vmitchell_at_nwua.ac.uk 0161 2340431