The Overview and Scrutiny Board
received and considered an update on the progress made in relation
to the key components of Work and Skills Strategy. The Board were
informed that the impact of Covid 19
had been significant and noted a supplementary paper had been
produced to examine the primary impact upon
unemployment.
The
Work and Skills Strategy (2016-2020) sought to improve population
skills outcomes to support Oldham’s
strategic goals. It was intended to inform
and raise awareness across the Oldham Partnership of the complexity
of and multiple challenges facing the employment and skills
systems, and to position the Oldham economy in the context of
emerging strategies for employment and skills across Greater
Manchester (GM).
The
Work and Skills Strategy was organised around four strategic goals,
supported by a new outcomes framework
for work and skills:
1.1. Create
jobs, including targets for Phase 2 of
Get Oldham Working
1.2. Social
regeneration and in-work progression, including the new pilot Career Advancement Service
1.3. Deliver the OESC
and improve the colleges, including a
commitment to support the sustainability of the post-Area Based
Review settlement for Oldham
1.4. Support a
thriving private sector, including to
better represent our six priority employment sectors in our
partnership framework
The Board were informed of key highlights,
including:
- The successful
attraction of £3m of European Social Fund monies (to date) to
deliver the Skills Support for Employment (previously Skills for
Employment and Skills Support for the Unemployed), RAISE, National
Careers service programmes which had enabled a full programme of
employment and skills support to be delivered by Get Oldham
Working.
- In addition, as a
response to the economic fallout from Covid 19, the Get Oldham Working team had secured
an extension of Skills for Employment until 2023 and a new contract
called JETS (job entry targeted support) secured for next 18
months, starting in October 2020 for those that had been unemployed
short term and been on benefits for 13 weeks, a total value of
£370k.
- Agreement with GM
Combined Authority to maintain the £2.83m commitment to
Oldham Lifelong Learning Service to deliver Adult Education Budget
related activity. Additional funds had been secured to deliver the
Talk English programme.
Key risks were noted, including:
- 75% of corporate
funding had been disinvested due to budgetary pressures but this
had been more than offset by winning externally funded
projects.
-
The devolution agenda was more keenly
focussed on skills provision that led to increased productivity and
met the needs of employers. This would reshape the current offer
which might have an impact on some learners.
The
position in June 2020 in relation to each outcome was set out and
compared to the position in 2016 and the intended outcome by
2020.
Members requested and received clarification on the
following:
- Apprenticeship low pass rate – the apprenticeship levy had
changed the way the programme was delivered and current learners were not necessarily
as motivated.
- Acceleration of priority aims – this would be happening.
Oldham had upskilled many people who had then moved on. The
pathways were established and employers
being encouraged to use them. The aim was to offer progression to a
career rather than just a job.
- Impact of Covid and Brexit – a
recovery plan would be put in place for the next twelve months,
which would be brought to the Board. It was expected that a revised
Strategy would be brought after that.
- Education and training in the recovery period – the
comprehensive spending review had looked to devolve funding to
colleges and the colleges had been expected to improve employer
involvement. In the current situation, the spending review had been
revised and there may be a delay to devolving the
funding.
- The impact of the ending of the in-work training fund on the
recovery plan – the Council will be looking at all available
funding and there could be more funding for Kickstart. As people
increasingly needed to compete in a global market, there was a need
to develop their skills.
RESOLVED that;
1.
The update be noted.
2.
The recovery plan to be put in place for the next
twelve months be
brought to the Board for review.
3.
The revised Strategy be brought to the
Board