Issue - meetings

The Board received an overview of the ESF Employees Support in Skills Project, which was managed by Halton’s Employment, Learning and Skills Division on behalf of the Combined Authority.  The presentation was made by Mel Dodd who was the Skills Strategic Manager for The Hub; the Liverpool City Region (LCR) Apprenticeship Hub.

Members were advised that in the summer of 2016 the Council submitted a competitive bid for a Skills Funding Agency ESF allocation of £875,000, on behalf of the Combined Authority, to deliver a series of Apprenticeship Hub related activities.  The bid was successful and the contract was officially awarded in January 2017.    The first meeting with the Skills Funding Agency (now the Education and Skills Funding Agency) took place in February 2017 to agree project details.  Four staff members were then recruited to drive forward the project, which included Mel Dodd.

It was noted that Halton Borough Council already held the Chair position for the LCR Apprenticeship Hub and was responsible for the Hub’s activities, and financial and personnel resources on behalf of the combined Authority and Local Enterprise Partnership.

The report explained how the young people and adults across Halton and the wider LCR had benefitted from an integrated programme of activity, led or supported by the LCR Apprenticeship Hub.  The report provided examples of these.  Ms Dodd went on to explain the aspirations of the Hub; its strategic priorities; and the three key areas of the ESF Employees Support in Skills Contract and Deliverables (20 x skills shows/events, 600 x targeted stakeholder engagement meetings and 10 events to articulate sector skills for growth agreements).  The Apprenticeship qualification equivalents were also presented to the Board with the vision of the Hub by 2020.

The following was noted following Members queries:

·       A school leaver wishing to apply for an apprenticeship would visit the Apprenticeship Hub website to register, or could telephone the office.  They would receive help and support to apply for the vacancy they were interested in and advice would be provided if for example, they needed further education to qualify for an apprenticeship;

·       There may be funding available for an employer who hired an apprentice;

·       The Hub did work with other partners such as Job Centre Plus (JCP), the National Careers Service, local colleges and other learning providers;

·       The Apprenticeship Levy was applied in May 2017 for the private and public sectors and the advantages of hiring apprentices was being highlighted in both sectors;

·       A discussion around the lack of skilled workers for Daresbury Sci-Tech took place and some Members wished to comment that the Schools were letting the children down with regards to science subjects as they were not being taught; and

·       The Apprenticeship Hub would host two large ‘Skills Events Shows’ this year with employers from the region; smaller events would take place in Halton;

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.