20th November 2014 - Sussex Council of Training Providers

Minutes of the SCTP Members Meeting held on Thursday 20th November 2014
9.30am – 1pm at Plumpton College
Attendees: Andrew Ayres (SCTP Chair/Rewards), Mark Syrett (SCTP Vice Chair/JTL), Corinne
Hills (Plumpton College), Jo Bridger (SCTP Director/Campus Training), Vicky Franklin (Albion In
The Community), Clarissa Harrington (NCFE), Angela Wooller (Sussex Downs College), Amanda
Beevis & Emma Barrett-Peel (Lookfantastic Training), Jayne Boyd (Chichester College), Simone
Miles (MYT), Charlotte Blant & Richard Whitmore (Youthforce), Jeremy Gilbert & Claire Bullimore
(Training Associates); Oliver Trailor (Runway Training); Beth Robertson & Karl Wilcockson (Darley
Training), Simon Harris (CXK), Paul Kendall (The EDF), Debbie Wheatley & Shannen Thompson
(Training Associates), Caroline Bragg (ESCC), Jane Chew (WSCC), Sian Crossland and Steph
Dudson (Crossland & Dudson), Jo Cronin & Yvonne Schofield (Heathercroft), Alastair Brindle
(Tempus Training), Kerry Chapman (ESG), Brendan Williams (Building Heroes), Peter Hoggan
(Babcock), Julie Hoggins (Phoenix 4 Training), Emma Hotston (Asphaleia), Jane Phelps (Insight
Skills), Sarah Hinks (SCTP) and Paul Mitchell (SCTP Executive Director).
Speakers: Thanks to our speakers Ben Payne (SFA) and Jez Brooks (IBM and Digital
Apprenticeship Trailblazer Employer Group).
Guests: Alex Shaw (EN Campaigns)
Apologies: Claire Reed (City College Brighton & Hove), Marie-Ange Coxhead (Bexhill College),
Vanessa Potter (SCTP Director/Asphaleia), John Clay (HIT Training), James MacGregor & Sue
Brady (RM Training), Joe Davenport & Rob Swann (Proactive Training & Skills), Sue Richardson
(Hygiene Sue), Sam Mansfield (Abacus), John Norton (SIGTA), Nadine Fox (Building Heroes),
Jane Williams (Rewards), Paul Smith (Swim UK), Claire Witz (Working Rite), Zara Jones (SCDA),
Liz Cadman & Kirsten Trussell (BHCC), Brenda Cook (SCTP Director/Northbrook College), Dave
Watson (SCCH).
1) Welcomes & Farewells
Andrew Ayres welcomed members to the meeting, especially new member Building Heroes. To
mark the fact that this would be Andrew’s last meeting as Chair (Andrew retries from the board in
January) Andrew was presented with a small gift as a token of the network’s appreciation for the
time, effort and commitment he had invested in the network over his time as Chair.
2) Minutes of the last meeting 18th September 2014
A correction to the minutes of the last meeting was approved relating to Item 4 which stated that
Brenda Cook’s term of office as a director ended in January 2015. In fact Brenda has another year
of her term on the board to run which finishes in January 2016. Subject to this amendment the
minutes were approved as a true record - proposed by Jo Bridger and seconded by Paul Kendall.
There were no matters arising from the previous minutes that didn’t appear on the agenda.
However, Paul M drew members’ attention to the ALPSE Provider Conference on Apprenticeship
Reform that was to take place on the 26th November near Guildford and also the SELEP Area
Provider Seminars organised by KATO, SCTP and EPN (Essex Provider Network) taking place
on the 4th, 11th and 16th of December covering Higher Apprenticeships, Traineeships and English &
Maths respectively. See www.sctp.org.uk/calendar.html for all forthcoming events. Paul M also
explained that 2 director posts were up for election at the 22nd January AGM (9.30-10.00 – full
members only). Jo Bridger would be standing for re-election and as stated above Andrew Ayres
would be leaving the board. Members were encouraged to consider joining the board and to
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submit their nominations to Paul Mitchell by the 10th December. Finally, membership
subscription invoices for were soon to be issued and members were urged to pay promptly to
ensure that SCTP resources were spent on supporting members rather than chasing invoice
payment.
3) Member Introductions
Brendan Williams of new member Building Heroes introduced their work as a charity founded
to train and employ service leavers and young people in sustainable buildings refurbishment and
horticulture. They target past and present members of all of the three armed services as well as
those furthest from the workplace and those socially excluded. For more information see
www.buildingheroes.org.uk
4) Board Report
Andrew reported on the SCTP Board Meeting held on 14th November 2014.
• SCTP’s cash position was satisfactory. Accounts for the financial year to 31st October 2014
would be available for the AGM in January.
• Jo Bridger is SCTP’s treasurer and as such the address of her organisation, Campus Training
is used as the SCTP trading address. However, Campus Training has recently moved giving
SCTP a new trading address of Norfolk House, Norfolk Way, Uckfield, TN22 1EP.
• Membership numbers remained at record levels.
• Progress was being made in representing members to the SELEP and C2C LEPs. SCTP was
treating this activity as a priority in order to ensure that members’ contribution to the skills
agenda was understood and recognised by LEPs.
• A request was made to let SCTP know about any required CPD events that the network could
organise for members.
• After 4 years on the board and 2.5 years as Chair Andrew said he had enjoyed his time
serving the members of a ‘great network’ and thanked members and directors for their support.
5) Information Exchange
Members took the opportunity to share useful information including:
• A video clip of Nick Boles from the AoC Conference was shown to give context to the
Government’s view of the skills agenda.
• A presentation by Andrew on the recently published Coast To Capital LEP Skills Strategy –
click here for the slides. The importance of the LEPs in the coming years appeared to be
beyond doubt so providers may want to take a close look at the skills priorities that would be
the focus of LEP funding and activity. It was also confirmed that Paul M will be representing
members on the Coast To Capital ESIF Committee while Sarah Hinks would represent
members on the E Sussex Employability & Skills Partnership Board that feeds into SELEP.
• Debbie Wheatley from 3aaa was congratulated on her organisation’s OFSTED grade 1 and
Debbie spoke briefly about their experience and agreed to do a longer session at the next
meeting.
• Simon Harris of CXK briefed members on the delivery of two recent contracts that they had
won for the National Citizenship Service and the National Careers Service and outlined
opportunities for partnership working with SCTP members. Contact Simon here.
• Mark Syrett updated members on his initiative to bring the training of Gibraltar’s apprentices to
England based around air travel to Gatwick, Birmingham and Manchester (details previously
circulated) and also discussed figures issued by NAS regarding AV usage which showed a dip
in use amongst younger age groups. Mark also drew members’ attention to the resources
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•
available through the Traineeship Staff Support Programme and Apprenticeship Staff Support
Programme developed by providers as part of these EFT funded programmes.
There was a discussion about how providers might respond to apprenticeship funding reforms
with the suggestion that provider employer links were more important than changes to the
funding system and that providers might want to start gently informing and reassuring their
employers about possible changes. The need for providers to re-plan their businesses and
their delivery was made in a video clip shown of Karen Woodward of the SFA.
6) ESF Skills Support For The Workforce Project
Sarah Hinks reported on the delivery of this SCTP project and her role as Employer Liaison Coordinator. SCTP continued to deliver an ESF funded project via East Kent College to support the
promotion of Apprenticeships, Traineeships and workforce skills to employers across East Sussex.
Between August and October fifteen Apprenticeships in Sussex events were delivered in schools
across the county including assemblies, workshops, careers fairs, parent meetings and options
evenings. Sarah continues to represent SCTP and members' interests at key strategic groups,
attending over 28 meetings across the county. Progress was still being made with the Skills
Advisor website that had been featured at the last members’ meeting and employers were now
testing the site’s functionality. Members were encouraged to take the time to engage one of their
key employers to become involved in testing the portal. A Skills Advisor leaflet aimed at employers
can be seen here. Click here for Sarah’s slides.
7) Member Discussion
Members enjoyed the chance to network and discuss issues of the day and to prepare questions
for the speakers. Questions and answers can be seen in the next two sections.
8) An Employer View Of Trailblazers – Jez Brooks, IBM: Chair Of The Digital
Apprenticeship Trailblazer Employer Group
The Richard Review had heralded the rewriting of Apprenticeship standards to ensure their
relevance to employers – however there appear to be few employers who wish to get actively
involved. IBM are an obvious exception and the whole process has benefited from existing good
relationships with an effective sector skills council in e-Skills. The task was to write new, simplified,
2-page, high level standards for generic digital sector job roles that would be fit for purpose for all
(including small) employers. The first two standards developed were for Software Developer an
Network Engineer roles. The standards need to be relevant enough to generate sufficient demand
to make delivery viable. A further task for the Trailblazer group was to redefine assessment
processes as well as looking at changing the funding processes. Providers have not been involved
in the workshops that have been held as it was felt to be crucial that the groups be employer led.
However, the link with and important role of, training providers in delivery was recognised. IBM, for
example doesn’t want to change their existing training provider and is happy with the existing
relationship and it is believed that many employers will feel the same. 9 different standards have
been defined so far with the aim that all apprenticeships delivered in England by 2017 will be on
the new standards. Work with training providers and assessment bodies will be ongoing to develop
training and assessment delivery models as well as working with the industry’s professional body
the British Computer Society to ensure that the system cross references with professional
accreditation. The aim is to keep the whole process simple and keep delivery costs down.
Q. Had the Employer Group had control over the development of the standards?
A. Jez asserted that the employer group did feel in control of the process and although guided by
BIS, they were driving the developments in the way they wanted. BIS had also brokered links with
other relevant Trailblazer groups.
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Q. What are the mechanics of providers and employers adopting the new standards?
A. The onus is on employers to talk to providers about adopting the new standards although
employers might not realise they need to do this. Providers could broker this process.
Q. How will the standards be future proofed?
A. The Trailblazer group is looking at how this will be achieved.
Q. How will employers respond to apprenticeship funding being routed through them?
A. It’s a positive opportunity as is the Government commitment to put in £2 for every £1 of
employer contribution and the incentive payments for 16-18 and small businesses - although the
funding processes are yet to be agreed.
9) SFA/NAS Update – Ben Payne, SFA
Ben responded to members’ questions as follows:
Q. Can apprenticeship certificates be claimed for those aged over 19 after 6 months on the
programme?
A. (provided post-meeting by Ben) – ‘there should not be a problem getting an ACE certificate for a
19+ learner who has not been on programme for a full year as a result of RPL. The ACE
certification checklist states that if RPL has been used the RPL checkbox must be selected on
ACE’.
Q. Would ‘purdah’ (pre-election ban on significant election-influencing government activity) impact
on provider payments or other activities?
A. No interruptions to normal business are anticipated.
Q. Is OFQUAL being abolished?
A. (provided post-meeting) ‘There is no information anywhere to say that Ofqual is going. This may
have been confused with the changes that are being made to QCF’.
Q. Will SASE requirements be removed in the near future?
A. (provided post-meeting) ‘There is no information which points to whether SASE will be deregulated before the election. I think this is now down to the ‘wheels of Government’’.
Q. Will there be a level playing field on VAT for private providers?
A. Recommend lobbying through AELP
Ben updated members on the latest information from the SFA which can be seen in Ben’s slides –
click here.
10) Dates of future meetings
• Thursday 22nd January 2015, Plumpton College
- AGM 9.30-10.00, (Full Members Only)
- Members Meeting 10.00-1.00
• Thursday 19th March 2015, 9.30-1.00, Plumpton College
• Thursday 21st May 2015, 9.30-1.00, Plumpton College
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