SCTP ACTIVITIES
In addition to bi-monthly membership meetings and regular information updates SCTP has been working on a range of joint WBL development activities that have a positive and direct impact on SCTP members. These activities include:
a) Continue our work in supporting providers to improve quality and drive up success rates through an LSIS funded Peer Review Development group. Caroline Lewin has been working 1:1 with a number of SCTP members to help them understand success rate measures and take actions to improve success rate performance.
b) Supporting a system for appointing and supporting provider representatives at local authority partnership boards. This allows WBL to be fully represented on these increasingly important groupings that will take control of the 14-19 agenda from 2010. For a chart showing SCTP's representatives click here . Representatives meet regularly to feedback and discuss plans for action.
c) Supporting members to focus on their strategic planning and business development through an LSIS funded Peer Review Development group. Caroline Lewin & Paul Mitchell have been working 1:1 with a number of SCTP members to help them develop their business plans and have brought providers together to share best practice.
d) Ensuring that secure links are established between providers and other brokers that engage with employers e.g. Skills Brokers and NAS so that apprenticeship and e2e leads flow to members. The recent Meet The Providers Event in Uckfield brought together 21 providers with Business Link Skills Advisers, Local Authority 14-19 staff, the NAS and Job Centre Plus Lead providers.
e) Working with NAS and Connexions to ensure that there is a co-ordinated effort to ensure that the WBL offer has a high profile in schools and 6th Form Colleges.
f) Making sure that SCTP members are represented and not lost in the transition from the LSC to SFA, YPLA, LAs and NAS. SCTP is working on a regional project with ALP SE to underpin this work.
g) Ensure that members receive information and support relating to staff and organisational development opportunities provided by organisations such as the Learning and Skills Network and the Learning and Skills Improvement Service. A number of training and information sessions have taken place and been well attended by members including sessions on Safeguarding, QCF, Preparing for Inspection, Health & Safety Vetting and Functional Skills in WBL - see calendar page for latest details.
h) The appointment and management of a West Sussex Apprenticeship Champion to work with providers to promote apprenticeships and engage new employers. Tim Sorensen has been appointed. This project is managed jointly by SCTP and FE Sussex.
i) Working with providers to open up new opportunities to deliver DWP programmes. Through a LSIS Enterprise PRD SCTP will be looking to broker links between its members and those organisations that are seeking to help the young unemployed back into work. This project is led by Tim Sorensen.
j) Working with providers to develop effective collaboration with Higher Education Institutions that will enable real Level 4 vocational progression routes to be opened up for Advanced Apprentices. This will build on work carried out by SCTP for the Sussex Learning Network. This work is led by Tim Sorensen.
k) Supporting apprenticeship members in building their expertise in contract profiling. SCTP is leading a regional project on behalf of the regional provider network (ALPSE) that will enable providers to learn from eachother and work with the Skills Funding Agency. This project is led by Paul Mitchell working with 2 'Profiling Champions', Anna Rule of Look Fantastic and Michelle Pedder of PETA.
We hope that you'll agree that the above activities will be of great benefit to members. Paul Mitchell (Executive Director), Tim Sorensen (Associate: Employer Engagement, HE and DWP) and Caroline Lewin (Associate: Quality and Business Development) are leading the work in supporting the members backed by Operations Co-ordinator, Anna Barry.
They can be contacted on:
Paul Mitchell 01273 891232 paulmitchell@sctp.org.uk
Caroline Lewin 07817 941051 carolinelewin@live.co.uk
Tim Sorensen 07890 388624 timsorensen7@hotmail.com
Anna Barry 01444 259274 info@sctp.org.uk
