“Inspiring, Engaging and Progressing”

LCC have published a draft pre-consultation document which was discussed at a workshop on Monday 3^rd December and then at the Liverpool Provider Network on Wednesday 5^th December. GMLPF is providing feedback to LCC in advance of the document formally being shared in the New Year.

The draft strategy is focused on reducing levels of NEET locally (currently 12%) to the Core Cities average (currently 8%). This equates to approximately 360 young people.

The strategy is based on 5 Pillars for Change:

• Prevention and Early Intervention
• Appropriate Referrals
• Outstanding Curriculum
• Effective Transition and Relevant Progression
• Positive Impact on Young People

GMLPF has already fed back to LCC that in broad terms the strategy needs to address the need for system change. The aspirations of the Council cannot be achieved if the current contracting and funding model remains in place. It does not maximise funding for learners in the city region and ensure a smooth transition from school into learning. In addition, we have said that the strategy needs to feature lobbying for greater freedoms and flexibiity and a link to raising achievement rates, particularly English and Maths for school leavers.

GMLPF will be coordinating a response to the strategy when the final draft is produced and shared in January.

GMLPF welcomes new member, Learning Curve Group. Founded in 2004, they are a leading education and training specialist.  They now supply approved and accredited learning materials to over 100,000 learners each year via a network of 180 Further Education colleges and training providers, making them the first choice for a range of nationally recognised qualifications.  If you are a provider with AEB their learning materials can help you get continued high success rates through the use of the market-leading materials, a positive return on income and links into local employers who could generate further interest in levy, loans for staff, Apprenticeships and commercial training.

Learning Curve Group have grown by understanding the fast-changing education landscape and listening to those who matter in their work: employers, employees, school-leavers, the unemployed, and people seeking their next career step. 

GMLPF also welcomes new members Wirral MBC and Genesis Jobs

Liverpool City Region Apprenticeship Hub is currently inviting applications from apprentices and apprentice employers who wish to become Apprenticeship Ambassadors.

What is a Liverpool City Region Apprenticeship Hub Ambassador?

An Ambassador is someone who inspires others to want to be an apprentice or to recruit apprentices as part of their workforce. They are passionate about their experiences as an apprentice or working with apprentices and are keen to promote the apprenticeship route and benefits to other potential apprentices and employers.

They undertake their Ambassador role (on a voluntary basis) by supporting and influencing their supply chains, other employers, schools, colleges/training providers and residents within the Liverpool City Region to create and apply for apprenticeships.

They champion and support marketing, publicity and events to raise awareness of apprenticeships and also mentor other employers and apprentices with the support of the LCR Apprenticeship Hub.

Ambassadors must be passionate about promoting Apprenticeships to others and be able to commit to supporting a minimum of 3 activities per year.

What does an Ambassador do?

Typically an Employer Ambassador will currently employ apprentices within their workforce. An Apprentice Ambassador will be someone who is currently an apprentice, about to complete their apprenticeship or has recently finished.

• Proactively promote apprenticeships to employers to highlight the numerous benefits of recruiting apprentices
• Act as a role model to promote and encourage diversity within apprenticeships
• Share experience, knowledge and skills and talk positively and honestly about the impact an apprentice has made within their organisation and about their apprenticeship journey to inspire others
• Promote the benefits and opportunities for progression to Advanced and Higher Level Apprenticeships
• Promote and support the work of the Apprenticeship Hub at job fairs, skills shows and events and speak about their experience as an apprentice and an advocate of apprenticeships.

What support will an Ambassador receive?

• Be part of a network of Employer & Apprentice Ambassadors across Liverpool City Region
• The Apprenticeship Hub will provide a short induction into the Apprenticeship Ambassador programme
• You will be able to share your experiences at Bi-annual Ambassador Network meetings and gain updates on Apprenticeships.
• Provided with a resource pack to support you in presenting information and given a full briefing for each event you offer to support
• Industry knowledge exchange days;
• Employers encouraged to-open up their business to other Ambassadors to exchange good practice and facilitate local knowledge and insight, here both ambassadors will be enriched with knowledge about other companies within the Liverpool City Region and given a wider view point of the skills and employment opportunities of the future.
  Apprentice and Employer development training.
• Direct links from the LCR Apprenticeship Hub’s website to your website, so anyone interested in your company can immediately click through to your site, to find out more about the company.
• Post on our social media showcasing your role as an Ambassador, and your organisation.
• You will be given ongoing support by the LCR Apprenticeship Hub, your existing employer and Apprenticeship provider.
• You will be able to reclaim travel and subsistence expenses to support events.

If you would like to get involved please contact: apprenticeshiphub@halton.gov.uk

The Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor, Steve Rotheram has launched the Mayoral Apprenticeship Travel Discount Scheme to help apprentices aged 19 to 24 with the cost of their travel. Anyone aged 19 to 24, on an approved apprenticeship and living in Liverpool City Region is eligible to apply.

Eligible apprentices will be entitled to a 50% discount on weekly or 4 weekly SOLO tickets.

To apply, the apprentice must fill out an application form available from Merseytravel Travel Centres or via their training provider. The form needs to be signed by the apprentice, their employer and their training provider. The form must be returned to a Merseytravel Travel Centre where an Apprentice Smartcard will be issued and the apprentice can purchase their first Solo Weekly or Solo 4 Weekly.

Full details of the travel discount and how to apply are listed on the Frequently Asked Question document which you should have received via email from GMLPF this week along with the apprentice application form. If you haven’t received this email, please contact pavlina@gmlpf.net

AEB SSQ Tendering Workshops

GMLPF, in anticipation of the 1^st stage of AEB tendering going live, is working with The Leadership Team (who work nationally and with some of our members to support tender writing) to deliver 2 AEB tendering workshops on Thursday 22^nd November at the offices of GMLPF.

Workshop 1 will run from 9.30 to 12.00 and Workshop 2 will run from 1.00 to 3.30. The workshops will be delivered from the offices of GMLPF. There are limited places (a max of 14 per workshop) and there will be a small charge (£49 per person) to cover the costs of the training. The workshops will be designed to assist learning providers to understand the SSQ, to walk through the first stage bidding process and ask questions relevant to the first stage bidding process.

Book on Workshop 1

Book on Workshop 2

Registration on The Chest for AEB 1^st Stage Tendering

In preparation of the launch of the devolved Adult Education Budget in the Liverpool City Region, can all parties who intend on participating in the forthcoming Procurement process and who are NOT already registered,  please register on The Chest

Guidance on how to register and navigate The Chest 

Please note, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council is acting as the lead authority for the forthcoming Adult Education Budget Procurement exercise on behalf of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. This opportunity will be available via the e-tendering portal Pro Contract under Knowsley MBC not the Liverpool City Region CA.

Guidance on AEB Devolution

The ESFA has produced a guide for learning providers that contains information for providers with a current AEB ESFA funding agreement and how devolution will impact on that.

GMLPF will be representing members at the NW FES Reference Group on Monday 12^th November which brings together Ofsted and local provider networks. Members wishing to raise any Ofsted or quality related issues can e-mail ian@gmlpf.net who can raise them there.

With regards to Ofsted, members should have received a letter on the 5^th November concerning the introduction of a staff questionnaire for use on FES inspections. These will be sent out to providers who are being inspected, immediately following notification of a full or short inspection, for completion by staff. This was an unexpected communication and GMLPF will be raising this at the NW FES meeting to understand how the questionnaire will be used.

Members are also reminded of the Ofsted event in Manchester on the 28^th November and are encouraged to register to understand more about the new CIF.

GMLPF understands that there are likely to be two open funding calls for ESF funding; one towards the end of 2018 and, the other in early 2019. The Open Call process typically entails a two stage bidding process with applicants submitting an outline application which, if successful, is followed up by a full application. It may be the case that this process is condensed into a one stage process but this is not clear at the moment. 

Depending on the timing of the calls, the application process could take up to a year before results are known. It is understood that the funding available can be delivered up to 2023. Effectively this means that projects could go live in late 2019 / early 2020 and run up to 2023.

It is understood that there is significant funding available to the City Region to support, amongst other things, Active Inclusion projects, workforce development and labour market systems.

We will update members as and when more detailed information emerges.