BIS FE and Skills e-Newsletter

Audience: All

The Government has created a new Department for Business, Innovation & Skills whose key role will be to build Britain’s capabilities to compete in the global economy. 

The merger between BERR and DIUS creates a single department committed to building Britain’s future economic strengths. To compete in a global economy and create the jobs of the future Britain requires a regulatory environment that encourages enterprise, skilled people, innovation, and world-class science and research. The merger brings together the parts of the government with key expertise in these areas.

Peter Mandelson, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills set out his thinking on the creation of BIS. Click here to see his article in the GuardianEducation
Click here to read the full press notice

Audience: FE college principals and training providers

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has announced a shortlist of 13 further education building projects which are proceeding to the next stage of development. The 13 colleges will now be asked to make cost reductions to their initial project plans, to maximise borrowing within prudent limits, and to examine other possible sources of funds, while at the same time maintaining the planned project benefit for future learners and enabling construction to proceed rapidly.The LSC has been working in close consultation with the sector to use transparent and objective criteria to inject funds where they will have the greatest impact for learners, employers and communities, to get building work started quickly and to get the best value for the taxpayer.

For colleges which have not been selected to proceed this year, the next steps will start this autumn wh en further consult with the sector takes place to agree a robust, fair and transparent process for prioritising the capital investment programme for the next Spending Review period starting in 2011/12. The size and scope of the programme will depend in large part on the outcome of the next Spending Review.

Click here to view the full news update
 

Audience: All

In this and the next academic year our training programme Train to Gain will deliver more than 100,000 additional training places than previously planned. We expect that 1.4 million people will be supported through the scheme by the end 2010.

This is backed by a budget that is planned to increase to over £1 billion by 2010-11. While it is a large budget, it is not limitless and therefore it is right that the LSC has taken steps to manage it and to ensure that we get best value for money and prioritise effectively.

That is why some providers will see the value of their contracts change. In the next academic year many will see an increase to their funding levels and where there are reductions we have focused those on the training providers where delivery does not meet expected volumes or levels of quality.

Click here to view the news update

Audience: All

Seven college principals feature in the Queen's Birthday Honours list this year, four of whom are women.
The list is headed by Maggie Galliers, principal of Leicester College, and Elaine McMahon, principal of Hull Group of Colleges, who are both appointed as Commanders of the Order of the British Empire.
Five principals are appointed as Officers of the Order (OBE). They are: Meredydd David, of Reaseheath College, Nantwich, Cheshire; Glyn Jones, of Pembrokeshire College; Fiona Larden, of Fircroft College, Birmingham; Marion Plant, of North Warwickshire and Hinckley College; and Allan Stewart, of Selby College, North Yorkshire.
Dan Taubman, FE official for the University and College Union, is appointed an MBE.

Click here for the full list
 

Audience: All

As part of the Government's overall response, DIUS will be issuing periodically updated sector-specific guidance for HE and FE institutions regarding sensible precautions that can be taken to mitigate the possible effects of swine flu
Download the current guidance on swine flu.
This guidance has also been distributed to institutions and learning providers through Universities UK, GuildHE, the Association of Colleges, the Association of Learning Providers, the National Union of Students, the Higher Education Funding Council of England and the Higher Education Business Continuity Network.
The most accurate public information on the latest situation can be found at www.direct.gov.uk/swineflu, and the Department of Health and Health Protection Agency websites.

Audience: All

Graduates who want to boost their skills for employment will get real help through the new ‘Graduate Talent Pool’, the next stage in our graduate internship initiative launched by Universities and Skills Secretary John Denham on the 28 April 2009.
The scheme which will help create and match people to internships will, assist more graduates kick-start their careers by gaining the skills and experience they need to get-on through an internship and will offer a great way for companies to inject fresh talent into the workplace.
A new dedicated website, which will match employers with suitable graduates will be launched over the summer, although interested organisations can register their interest in becoming part of the Graduate Talent Pool online at www.dius.gov.uk/graduatetalentpool. Businesses that have already signed up to the Talent Pool include Network Rail, the Police Service, Marks and Spencer and Microsoft. Click here to read the full press notice

Foresight (http://www.foresight.gov.uk/index.asp) has developed ‘Take Shape’, a set of educational materials which draw on the findings of the Foresight report, ‘Tackling Obesities: Future Choices’, published in October 2007. ‘Take Shape’ are designed to appeal to students aged 14-19 years, and inform the curriculum for PSHE, Citizenship and Science.
The Foresight report considers how the challenge of obesity might play out over the next 40 years in the UK and explores how society, in particular government, might respond to it.
‘Take Shape’ are an innovative range of resources which aim to communicate some of the project findings to students in secondary and further education, and will help them explore the issues around managing a healthy weight in today’s society.
‘Take Shape’ are available at http://www.foresight.gov.uk/Obesity_Teachersguide/Contents.html
Foresight’s role is to help government think systematically about the future. It is in the Government Office for Science, headed by the Government Chief Scientific Adviser.

Audience: All

More Apprenticeships will be open to young people thanks to £11 million in Government funding as part of a new approach to help employers train the skilled workers of the future. Businesses which already have a proven track record in offering high-quality Apprenticeships, will share the cash to train extra apprentices - over and above those they already employ. This will result in around 3,000 new apprentices being trained at 20 firms over the next two years. Nearly 60 per cent of the funding will be targeted towards 16 to 18-year-olds with the majority of the remaining support going to support 19-24 year old Apprenticeships. The announcement delivers on a pledge by Ministers in last year’s Apprenticeship Review to explore financial incentives so larger firms could take on apprentices to benefit smaller companies in their supply chains. Click here to view the Press Notice

Audience: All

DIUS and DCSF are running a series of regional events on the new pre and post 19 landscape during July. They will provide an opportunity for partners to consider how the new Skills Funding Agency will work with regional and local partners to address the skills needs of adults and to consider how services for adults are coordinated. They will also enable those working with young people to hear about the Young People's Learning Agency and how it and local authorities will work with learning providers. NIACE are organising the events on our behalf and we would encourage you to attend. The dates of the events are listed in the latest edition of 16-18 and post 19 funding transfer bulletin. Click here for further details

Audience: All

We are giving a greater role to local authorities, working with the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), providers and other partners, to identify and meet the needs of vulnerable groups who need to improve their English skills and to ensure ESOL provision better supports social inclusion and community cohesion.
Local authorities will have flexibility to define local priorities groups so that ESOL investment and provision plays a more effective role in supporting community cohesion e.g. by focusing on those who have made a long term commitment to living in this country. Local authorities will take the lead in bringing together key partners, including the voluntary sector, and will work closely with the LSC.
A number of local authority pathfinder areas across England will spearhead the new approach before national rollout in the autumn when further guidance will be issued. More details about the new approach can be found at www.dius.gov.uk/esol or by contacting John Mackie by email or phone on 0114 259 3560

Audience: All

Please click here for the most up-to-date edition of the 16-18 and post 19 funding transfer bulletin

Audience: All

The 157 Group has published six case studies describing how member colleges are working with local people and businesses to help them find creative solutions to the challenges they face and capitalise on new opportunities. The case studies feature innovative work being done by:

• City and Islington College
• City of Bristol College
• Cornwall College
• St Helens College
• Stoke on Trent College
• West Nottinghamshire College

Lynne Sedgmore CBE, executive director of the 157 Group, said, "While providing education and training to enrich people's lives is an important part of colleges' work, the severity of the current economic downturn gives a real sense of urgency to the economic mission of colleges and their crucial role in supporting local businesses. These stories illustrate the good work being done by 157 Group colleges and the enormous contribution they make to their local communities, society and the wider economy." 
The six case studies are available to download in PDF format from the 157 Group website. Click here to view or email info@157group.co.uk  for further details

Audience: All

From 3 June to 15 July, the Vetting & Barring Scheme Information Roadshow Series will be held at venues across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. These are being presented by the Home Office in association with the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department of Health.
The series will demonstrate how the Criminal Records Bureau and the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) will deliver the new scheme, as laid down by the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006.
The events will explain the scope of the scheme and impact on employers, voluntary organisations and service users, and provide an opportunity for delegates to have their questions answered. Those with responsibility for safeguarding and child protection in FE colleges and other post-16 provision are strongly encouraged to attend.
The events are free. However, places are limited and must be booked online and in advance via the ISA website - Click here to book or contact Lawrence Fry  for further details Tel: 0114 259 1159
 

Audience: All

Today’s and Tomorrow’s Leaders
In spite of the challenges posed by a two-day Tube strike, more than 130 people attended the second annual conference of the Women's Leadership Network (WLN) in London on 10 June 2009. They included representatives from 62 further education providers – general FE colleges, adult and community learning providers, sixth-form colleges and specialist providers – and three universities.
Sally Dicketts, chair of WLN and principal of Oxford and Cherwell Valley College, chaired the event. Calling for a shift in culture, she said:
"We know that senior teams and boards with well-balanced profiles bring more success, and it's time for female leadership styles to be celebrated.
"In the next few months, we plan to roll out the regional meetings across all regions. We will be offering individual mentoring for women who wish to pursue senior posts in the sector and, subject to funding, we propose to undertake a series of relevant research projects."

For more information, visit http://www.wlnfe.org.uk/events.html or contact, phallam@ocvc.ac.uk
or call 01865 551 001
Membership: http://www.wlnfe.org.uk/membership.php