Agenda item

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