Agenda item

The Committee considered a joint-report of the Director of Resources and Executive Head of Economic Services providing an update on internal and external apprenticeship activity and programmes being delivered, or part funded, by the Combined Authority.

The following were in attendance for this item:

·         Joanne Grigg, Head of HR

·         Michelle Burton, Head of Employment and Skills

·         Catherine Lunn, Skills Funding Manager

After questions and discussion, the Committee concluded that:

·         It is essential that the Combined Authority leads by example by recruiting and strongly supporting apprenticeships internally, as it cannot credibly promote externally what is not being achieved internally. The Combined Authority's role as an enabler and promoter is weakened if it does not meet internal targets.

·         The ongoing development of an internal staff development strategy and framework where apprenticeships feature as a key element was welcomed and progress is expected in the near future.

·         More financial data about how Combined Authority's apprenticeship levy has been spent and the cost and quality of apprenticeship schemes the Combined Authority has enrolled apprentices on, would be useful context for Members in a future report.

·         While it is understood that European Union regulations make too much flexibility in procurement challenging and that the Combined Authority is currently bound by existing contracts and funding agreements, in the future, stronger consideration should be given to a more being more selective in which suppliers and partners it procures and enters into contracts. Current work being undertaken within the Combined Authority to revise procurement policies is a good opportunity to support apprenticeships through a more selective approach.

·         It is vital that businesses take ownership of their role in, and impact on, communities – particularly those businesses who are in receipt of Combined Authority funding and support. Funding and support should come with stronger conditions and 'strings attached' that aim to enable better practices and outcomes.

·         The regional and national picture regarding apprenticeships appears bleak. Members expected an upswing of apprenticeships, at larger organisations in particular, following the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy.

·         The report's appendices are not clear on what action can be taken to mitigate the downturn. Statistics and data presented in reports in future should include further analysis alongside a greater insight into what actions the Combined Authority could take to help mitigate the downturn and bridge the gap.

·         While the Combined Authority cannot access much data from the private sector, it should seek to gain a greater insight into the current picture and data from partner organisations and other public sector organisations regionally which make up around 35% of the economy – such as the NHS, local councils and other agencies.

·         Feedback to Members indicate that there appear to be too many barriers to young people being able to take on and complete apprenticeships including cost, quality of training provider's provision, quality of placement, awareness and access to opportunities, and when completed, not enough progress from an apprenticeship to a long term, meaningful job.

·         To encourage apprenticeship starts, the Combined Authority supports businesses through the bureaucracy involved in taking on apprentices through the Employment Hub and incentivises small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) to take on apprentices for the first time though the Apprenticeship Grants for Employers (AGE) programme – however, the Combined Authority does not fund apprenticeship training directly, does not monitor the quality of apprenticeships (currently OFSTED's remit), and is not funded to perform follow-up checks on apprentices (funded through AGE grants) while they are in training or after their apprenticeships are completed. Although, a survey of businesses funded through Phase 1 of the AGE programme was undertaken.

·         Both nationally and locally, there appears to be a greater focus on apprenticeship starts than on completion of apprenticeships and outcomes arising from apprenticeship-related activity. Increasing the number of completed apprenticeships should be a key priority in the long term – not just increasing the number of starts. The difficulties of gathering this data was also noted.

·         Apprenticeships must lead to long-term meaningful jobs and monitoring and enabling that ultimate outcome should be a priority for all apprenticeship activity.

·         Responsibility for the success of apprenticeships should not be left solely with the training providers and employers. The Combined Authority should consider what it can do to help through existing service delivery and in future service / programme development to 'fill the gaps' and support apprenticeships more broadly.

·         The Combined Authority should consider whether it is in a position to monitor the quality of what training providers are delivering and engage with apprentices directly to influence and enable higher completion rates – particularly in respect of programmes and businesses it is involved with.

·         Where the Combined Authority provides funding or support to apprenticeship, the Committee expects that the outcomes and impact of spending / support is being monitored and evaluated and future policy and delivery models are being developed with those outcomes and conclusions in mind.

·         Further information on how the first phase of the AGE programme was evaluated and how the conclusions from that evaluation informed the development of the second phase would be useful information in a future report. Information on how apprenticeship activity more broadly has impacted on the regional picture was also requested.

·         The Committee was alarmed by reports that many schools and sixth forms are not receptive to approaches from education and training providers to promote apprenticeships amongst students and that when schools do engage, they often direct apprenticeships to a regressively stereotypical cohort of students.

·         Members suggested officers speak to STEM coordinators that many schools have, who may be more receptive, and Members also expressed a desire to assist officers in any way they could either through formal correspondence or through their positions as school governors.

·         There may be a need to develop a broader engagement strategy aimed at reaching young people and students directly and cross-selling opportunities through other services areas, such as transport services, as well as targeting the 80% of businesses in the region that have never taken on an apprentice. The Combined Authority currently aims to build apprenticeship messaging into all of its 'Enterprise in Education' activity in order to reach as many people as possible.

·         The current gender disparity across apprenticeship types and sectors is disappointing and Members would support a piece of work focused on unpicking the reasons for the disparity and discussing potential solutions.

·         Future reports to Overview and Scrutiny on apprenticeship activity should aim to include:

­   more information and focus on the impact of, and outcomes arising from, apprenticeship activity and money spent by the Combined Authority

­   more detailed information about financial, legal, and staffing implications for the Combined Authority

­   greater evidencing of the planned timescales of major areas of work, such as phase 2 of the AGE programme and the Skills Commission, to enable Members to understand targets and better determine when to scrutinise developments

­   Further information about engagement strategy and performance

­   Further information on long term sustainability and achievement in apprenticeship activity and delivery

­   and take into account and reference feedback and suggestions that Members have provided and focused on at previous meetings

Resolved:  That the report be noted and the Committee's feedback and conclusions be considered further.