1. Cheshire and Warrington Lifelong Learning Network AND Leading Employer Engagement Project (LEEP) Selina Green – Director LLN/Employer Engagement 19 th October 2007

2. LLN What were our aims – related to Employer Engagement? To advise and guide on programmes into and through HE To support the RDA in skilling employers in order to allow movement from declining growth skills sectors To develop appropriate Curriculum

3. LLN To work with course/programme design teams to produce qualifications that employers want and are relevant to local need. To advise and guide CPD ‘stand alone’ Modules Modules that can be used as building blocks towards A Full Foundation Degree An HE Certificate

4. HEFCE Strategy Engaging Employers with Higher Education (posted HEFCE website 15 th Nov 06) “We expect that LLNs will be a primary, although not exclusive, route for delivering elements of our strategy. Their contribution will be important in building on the links already forged with employers and the work to improve vocational pathways to HE. LLNs will also have a key role in promoting HE delivered in further education colleges (FECs)”.

5. World Class Skills A more highly skilled workforce – higher productivity- private sector greater competitiveness and profitability By 2014 36% of adults at Level 4 and above Employers working with their SSC’s should articulate their priorities for high level skills and influence the development of HE programmes to meet their needs

6. A strategic focus to further develop rather than to simply deliver its original business plan Lead on a strategic development fund bid in response to circular 06/2006 “Employer Engagement in Learning at HE Level”. Cheshire & Warrington LLN Developing Strategy

7. The Employer Engagement Project £1 million HEFCE Funding 3 year project Leading Employer Engagement Project (LEEP) Working within the Cheshire and Warrington Lifelong Learning Network and three of the partner organisations;

8. Partners Reaseheath CollegeLocal (CoVE in Food Processing/Technology) Total people Regional (Private Training Provider) Value Projects National (Independent Consultants)

9. Outcomes 20 – 25% Co-funding by employers (ultimately 50%) ASNs 2006-2007 Fully funded 57 – Deliver 69 2007-2008 Fully funded 210 – Deliver 260 2008-2009 Fully funded 315 – Deliver 400

10. Curriculum CPD modules Professional Certificates (60 credits) Accreditation of in-house training Embedding of NVQs and professional Qualifications into HE provision

11. Learner Envelope Employer Contribution Employee Time Payment for NVQ/CPD In-house training Assessments HE Contribution Foundation Degree CPD In house Training NVQ 4/5 CPD Workshops Employer Benefits Enhanced contribution by employees to innovation/‘real time’ problem solving Improved Business Processes & Developments

12. Model for Delivery Project Steering Group Project Director Employer Engagement Officer Private/Voluntary & Community Sector Private Training Provider Employer Engagement Officer Food Processing Sector Centre for Work Related Studies Centre for Work Related Studies Employer Curriculum Development Officer LLN Link Support

13. Employers lack of understanding of the HE Sector HEI’s lack of understanding of the needs of employers HEI’s need to learn to speak the language of employers Consequently long lead in times – Relationship Management Advise and Guidance Issues of Working with Employers

14. To reduce skills gaps and shortages Improve productivity, business and public service performance Increase opportunities to boost the skills and productivity of everyone in the sector’s workforce Improve learning supply including apprenticeships, Higher Education and National Occupation Standards Key Goals of Sector Skills Councils

15. Helping us make the links with Employers Keeping us up to date with developments within SSCs Keeping us up to date with any legislation which affects employers in their sectors How do we link our work with the SSCs

16. Different stages of development –Emphasis so far on Sector Skills Agreements Lack of resources (Staff) Differing approaches to Strategy –Emphasis on 14 – 19 Diplomas Issues of Working SSCs

17. Feedback from LLN Employer Engagement Strand Meeting 18 th October 2007

18. Questions for the National Conference: 1.How do we fully engage employers in working with Universities? What are the barriers to engagement, how do we overcome these barriers? 2. What are the costs/resource issues? 3. How do we acknowledge resource from employer if in- kind (Hefce definition) contribution not allowed?

19. Contact Details Ms Selina Green University of Chester Faculty of Lifelong Learning E-mail s.green@chester.ac.uks.green@chester.ac.uk Tel 01244 512179 / 07921941351