Adult Education, Localism and Me

Funding for Adult Learning

Biggest Train Set in the World… (Government likes to play and rearrange!) Since early 1980s   28 major pieces of legislation related to vocational, FE and skills training 6 different ministerial departments with overall responsibility for education 48 secretaries of state with relevant responsibilities No organisation set up by Government in FE has survived longer than a decade. ‘All Change’ - Institute for Government March 2017

Funding – Who can access it? Direct – funded providers Colleges, local authorities, External Institutions – grant Commercial companies, third sector providers, employers – contract Subcontractors Main contractor passes on % of funding (usually retains a %) All liability rests to ESFA and OfSTed remains with main contractor Majority route for third sector organisations

Joining the party Pre-qualifying Training Organisation Register Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers Compulsory for subcontractors of Apprenticeships and others with >£100k contract Competitive Procurement for non-grant funding

Main funding streams Apprenticeships Advanced Learning Loans Apprenticeship levy Non-levy apprenticeship funding Advanced Learning Loans Adult Education Budget

Adult Education Budget ‘Engage adults and provide the skills and learning they need for work’ Includes flexible programmes (including non-qualification) based to help hard-to-reach learners to: Engage in learning Build confidence Enhance their well-being Has absorbed former Adult & Community Learning funding

Summary of funding eligibility for individual learners: Provision 19-23 yr olds 24+ unemployed 24+ Other English & Maths up to and including level 2 Fully funded Level 2 Co-funded Learning to progress to Level 2 Level 3 Fully funded (first & full)   Loan funded if already have level 3 or higher Loan funded Levels 4, 5 & 6 Traineeship N/A English for Speakers of Other languages Co-funded (Fully funded if unemployed) Up to level 2 when learner has already achieved at level 2 Apprenticeships Funded by employer/ESFA

Tory Manifesto

Localism in the Manifesto “We are determined to move many of the functions of central government out to cities around Britain where possible... we will support local growth through combined authorities, mayoralties and local enterprise partnerships. We will make each partnership and combined authority responsible for co-ordinating their own local industrial strategy in alignment with our national industrial strategy, bringing together local businesses, political and public sector leaders to drive growth and economic regeneration.” “We will give local enterprise partnerships greater weight by backing them in law.”

“To ensure that further, technical and higher education institutions are treated fairly, we will also launch a major review of funding across tertiary education as a whole, looking at how we can ensure that students get access to financial support that offers value for money, is available across different routes and encourages the development of the skills we need as a country.” “We will deal with local skills shortages and ensure that colleges deliver the skills required by local businesses through Skills Advisory Panels and Local Enterprise Partnerships working at a regional and local level.” “We will allow large firms to pass levy funds to small firms in their supply chain, and work with the business community to develop a new programme to allow larger firms to place apprentices in their supply chains.”

“We will help all workers seeking to develop their skills in their existing jobs by introducing a new right to request leave for training for all employees. Alongside this, we will help workers to stay in secure jobs as the economy changes by introducing a national retraining scheme. Under the scheme, the costs of training will be met by the government, with companies able to gain access to the Apprenticeship Levy to support wage costs during the training period.” “We will equip people with the digital skills they need now, and in the future, by introducing a right to lifelong learning in digital skills, just as we have done for literacy and numeracy.”

Localism

Background Driving Growth by devolving power and influence locally Combined Authorities & Devolved Powers Local Enterprise Partnerships Impact of Heseltine report ‘No stone unturned’

Devolution deals

For completeness –other devolved funds City Deals European Funding Regional Growth Funds Apprenticeship Grants for Employers FE Capital Expenditure

Localism and skills – influence ‘Providers must respond to the priorities set by local commissioners and other stakeholders – eg local enterprise partnerships and combined authorities’ Employment & Skills boards and similar – encouraging shared agenda Shifting emphasis from supply to demand – e.g. Sheffield Skills Bank Area Review Process

Devolving of funding Combined Authorities from August 2018 or later Only Adult Education Budget being devolved Tension between central prescription and local ambitions Different position of grant and contract providers No plans to devolve outside of CAs at present

Local Enterprise Partnerships Mixture of private sector and public bodies LEPs influence over skills reinforced by Heseltine report Given control over European Funding, College Capital and a top-slice from the Adult Skills Budget Role in Devolved Authorities less clear-cut No public plans to devolve control of AEB to LEPs outside of CA areas

Local Examples Sheffield City Region Liverpool Control of AEB from 2018 Set aims for Sheffield City Region Sheffield Skills Bank – aiming at being demand driven Liverpool Skills for Growth – reports on sector priorities Apprenticeship Hub

Leeds Devolution Agreement not yet in place Leeds LEP has a ‘third sector’ member:  Stephanie Burras - Founder and Chief Executive, Ahead Partnership Stephanie is also Chair of Employment and Skills Panel  ”This panel brings employers together with local authorities and skills providers. They oversee projects to address skills gaps in the city region's key industry sectors, and create local leadership that drives improvements in skills and employment. Their work is driven by the needs of employers and the region's economy.”

Leeds LEP Plan Framework

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