DfES

Employment and Skills

2014 - 2020

Overview

What will we cover?

1. Explain the changes and rationale for new approach to ESF delivery across DfES

2. Provide an overview of the DfES Footprint Document and ESF programmes in development

Context

• Lessons learnt from current ESF activity

• Duplication/competition across multiple funding sources

• Guilford review of European Structural Funds

• Introduction of new UK mainstream programmes – DWP Work Programme – Welfare reform – Universal Credit etc.

• Drive to make best use of reducing public funds

• First Minister’s focus on Delivery

• Managed transition to post-2014 Structural Funds Programmes

1. Skills Strategy

• What? – Policy Statement, Implementation Plan

• Why? – Economic & skills challenges, reducing budgets, need for clear priorities

• When? – Policy Statement on 30th Jan, Implementation Plan by end of July

2. Employment Policy

• What? – Joint working with UK Government

• Why? – To ensure we support Welsh Job seekers into employement

• When? – Access to Employment Group - ongoing

3. Employment & Skills Programmes

• What? – New E&S programme offer to businesses and individuals

• Why? – Delivery of Skills Policy Statement, less duplication, greater integration and simplification

• When? – Throughout 2014-15

Policy Statement onSkills

Four priority areas of Statement:

• Skills for jobs and growth: stimulating demand for a more highly-skilled society

• Skills that respond to local needs: skills system which reflects local needs, including accessible employment and skills offer

• Skills that employers value: engaging employers in the skills system in return for co-investment needed alongside government if Wales is to remain competitive.

• Skills for employment: providing employment support necessary to assist individuals into employment and to progress in work

Delivering our plans

• Implementation Plan - July 2014

• Consultation on co-investment – February 2014

• Input- particularly from employers- is vital

• Performance indicators published as part of plan- as well as full financial assessment

• Plan will set out how we will deliver our key policy actions – when and how?

• Close working across Division on translating policy into delivery that helps employers to grow and flourish.

2014-2020 A New Approach

• Fit with wider Skills Strategy

• Consolidate current employability/workforce development programmes and implement an integrated adult employment and skills offer

• Simplify and strengthen DfES interface with business

• Guilford Review

DfES Footprint Document

• Provision landscape • Ensures sufficient coverage and avoids

duplication and competition• Takes account of local and regional as well as

national requirements. • DfES Discussions - July - December

DfES ESF Programmes 2014-2020

DfES ESF Projects 2014-2020

New Projects:• Skills Gateway• Flexible Skills Programme• Skills Priorities Programme• ReAct III• Education Employer Enhancement Project• Early Years Workforce Projects• New Adult Employability Programme

(including Essential Skills)• Technical Assistance

Continuing Projects: • Apprenticeships • Traineeships • Jobs Growth Wales

Projects Not Continuing (in current form): • Reach the Heights Routes to the Summit • Reach the Heights First Footholds • Pathways to Apprenticeships • Minority Ethnic Learning and Achievement • Genesis • Skills Growth Wales • Enhancing Leadership and Management Skills

New E&S Programmes

• Flexible Skills Programme– Targeted fund aimed at delivering on the recruitment and skills

needs of strategically important companies– Innovation Provision Strand – build on current SPF model

• Skills Priorities Programme– FE Strand – ring – fenced activity within FEIs– Procured call off contract from provider network

• ReAct III– Deliver employment and skills support for those facing redundancy– Essential Skills Delivery

Continuation of Current Projects• Based on current projects operating under 2007-2013 ESF

Programmes

• World Class Apprenticeships– Foundation Apprenticeships and Apprenticeships: employment

based learning programmes for employed learners at QCF levels 2 and 3

– Higher Apprenticeships: employment based programme for employed learners, at QCF level 4 - 6

• Traineeships– Non-employed status training programme for 16-18 year old school

leavers not otherwise engaged in post-16 education or employment.

• Jobs Growth Wales

- Paid job opportunities for unemployed 16-24 year olds

- Six month job opportunity

Development of Other WG Projects

• Cross Government Employment and Skills Group– Maximise contribution to wider potential

outcomes through skills interventions

• Work with other Welsh Government Departments– Joined up approach to ESF delivery– Maximise links to ERDF projects

Questions ?