Greater Merseyside Learning Providers Federation (GMLPF) is proud to announce that it has been awarded the contract to deliver a £500k Provider Improvement Fund. This project is funded through the European Social Fund (ESF) and Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) and is being taken forward in conjunction with the Liverpool City Region Mayoral Combined Authority.
The Provider Improvement Fund (PIF) programme runs from June 2021 to September 2022 and will be financed by the European Social Fund and Strategic Investment Fund via the Liverpool City Region (LCR) Skills and Apprenticeship Hub project.
The PIF programme will offer a comprehensive portfolio of CPD resources and support to all LCR-based learning providers with registered offices, employees or delivery hubs located in the region. The focus will be on the provision of CPD to our region’s learning providers. Specifically, objectives are to improve the quality and delivery of post-16 education, enhance the relevance of learning provision (apprenticeships in particular), build the capacity of providers, develop their performance through the review of quality assurance processes, and upskill provider employees to improve the delivery of existing and future curriculum areas.
GMLPF will manage the funding to deliver training and support programmes where impact is likely to be most significant. Initial emphasis will be on quality assurance, leadership and management training, tutor training and curriculum development, boosting English, maths and digital skills, improving mental health awareness, increasing employer engagement, developing new and improved standards, and improving governance, audit and compliance processes.
Ian Lomas, CEO of GMLPF, comments:
“This latest contract win is not only hugely positive for GMLPF, our members and the wider learning provider community; it also signifies a terrific boost to our sector’s post-pandemic recovery.
” We welcome the financial support from the European Social Fund and the Strategic Investment Fund and the commitment of the LCR Mayoral Combined Authority to channel investment into the local provider base, working collaboratively with GMLPF. The Provider Improvement Fund will allow providers to raise standards and drive their businesses forward and innovate.”
Bev Ellis is Training Director at TRS Training, a local apprenticeships provider specialising in logistics and warehousing. She acknowledges the positive impact the new PIF programme will have on providers and employees alike. She comments:
“We are delighted to hear about the launch of the new Provider Improvement Fund in Liverpool City Region. With its focus on improving the quality, capacity and standard of skills training by developing learning provider capability, it promises to boost the learning experience for young people and adults across the region. This unprecedented investment in the development of skills provider staff will be a crucial driver for the success of programmes like Apprenticeships.
“We would like to thank both the LCR Mayoral Combined Authority and GMLPF for creating this unique opportunity, and of course the European Social Fund and Strategic Investment Fund for financing the programme.”
GMLPF has already been in consultation with providers throughout the Liverpool City Region and is looking to start an initial programme of CPD but will be rolling out a more detailed programme of research to help shape a calendar of CPD to be available on the GMLPF website.
If you are an LCR based learning provider who wants to know more about the programme or a supplier of CPD courses that might be of interest to providers wishing to develop their staff, please contact [email protected]