Agenda item

A report was submitted which set out the proposed approach to developing the MCA’s Education, Skills and Employability Strategy.

The Board was reminded that discussions at its meeting in June 2021 had highlighted the need to consider transformative measures with the potential for significant impact over the longer term and a set of other measures with the potential to target more specific problems and skills shortages over a shorter timeframe.

The Board had also acknowledged in December that development of the strategy must take account of developments in the wider education, skills and employability landscape such as the Skills Accelerator Trailblazer being led by the Chambers of Commerce.  It was also acknowledged that it was imperative that the strategy complemented and added value to the economic and skills priorities identified in each local authority’s strategy and would need the engagement and support of partners across the region as a pre-requisite for successful implementation.

A presentation was delivered which began by highlighting skills issues identified in the Strategic Economic Plan 20221-2024 which set the scene for discussion on education, skills and employability issues as part of the future strategy.

The proposed areas for the strategy were:

·        School readiness

·        Educational enrichment

·        Apprenticeships and technical education

·        Adult basic English, maths and ESOL

·        Digital skills

·        Adult Education Budget commissioning

·        Meeting business need for skills

·        Adult enrichment

·        Skills for a green economy

·        16-24 NEETs

·        All-age career provision

The Board discussed each proposed area at length.

With regard to school readiness it was thought that lessons could be learned from the South Yorkshire Futures and DMBC including the Opportunity Area whilst ensuring that any enhanced provision did not cut across the work of the local authorities.

A Foulkes commented that in all areas it would be appropriate to look at good practice and schemes that were working in other comparable regions.

With regard to educational enrichment areas to be considered included family learning and working with schools to provide additional support and contracted provision.

The South Yorkshire Colleges Group had developed a proposal for an Apprenticeship Hub, which the Board had already had sight of.  There were also proposals to develop flexi-apprenticeships and a strategy to help businesses understand how to share their unwanted levy funds.

Cllr Houghton commented that apprenticeships had a good name, but the issue was how to scale up both in the private sector.

The Board felt there is a need to be bold, look for new and radical ideas and aim to have the biggest apprenticeship scheme.  They also felt that it was important that any unspent levy was utilised and that apprenticeships should be able to be accessed at different levels.

It had been the first year of AEB commissioning and it had been a challenging transition year.  There was now an opportunity to think how AEB was funded and move away from the methodology of the first year which was broadly to maintain historic allocations.  There was also an opportunity to be more ambitious in linking to outcomes, think about skills gaps and look at niche provision.

The Board felt that the skills for a green economy was an important area.  If the MCA’s net zero target by 2041 was to be met there was a lot of work to be done.

It would be important to work with education and businesses to understand and develop the new skills that would be required.  A Green Skills Academy and employment programme was being considered along with upskilling existing employees.

Cllr Turpin commented that the areas of agriculture and transport needed to be investigated.

D Fell commented that the MCA team available to implement all the proposals was small and it may be time to think about boosting capacity.

The Board agreed that it was important to prioritise what would make the biggest difference and stressed the importance of collaboration, ambition and innovation.

A Foulkes commented that the Skill Advisory Network would be an ideal vehicle to commission to pick up and investigate some of the threads and to return to the Board with advice.  It would be helpful for the SAN and would feed well into the Board.

Cllr Cheetham commented that it was vital to involve businesses and communities to learn what their priorities were.

It was agreed that the framework should be shared with businesses, communities and other stakeholders with the aim of receiving feedback. 

It was also agreed that the MCA should be asked to consider officer capacity.

RESOLVED – That the Board:

(i)        Agree that the overall approach as proposed in the report should be the basis for development of the strategy and the fit with developments in the wider education and skills landscape.

(ii)      Agree that the overall approach be shared with businesses, communities and other stakeholders with the aim of receiving feedback.

(iii)    Note the timeline for development and the need for further consideration of resources needed for implementation.