Organised by:
Supported by
Special Interest Group forum – 30 January 2013Adult
Skills and Apprenticeships – Brief Notes (SIG)
Euston House, Learning Tree International Ltd, 24 Eversholt Street, London, NW1 1AD
In Attendance
John
Hyde
Hit Training (Chair)
Lorraine
Tomlinson
John Laing Training
Terry
Fennell
AELP
Terri
MacDonald
Key Training Services KCC
John
Landeryou
AELP
Peter
Routledge
Learndirect
Stewart
Segal
AELP
Chris
Garcia
Lifetime
Beverley
Ejimofo
Be Totally You
Charlotte
Moreland
NHTA
Kim
Bridgman
Brunel & Gordano Training
John
Brenchley
OCR
Heather
Armstrong
Croydon College
Ian
Bamford
Qube Learning
Tracy
Tennant
CTS Training
Josephine
Roarty
Reed in Partnership
Kirstie
Filby
CTS Training
Steven
Mitchell
Skills Training UK
Christine
Jeffery
GP Training
Chris
Reeves
Specialist Recruitment Partners
Brenda
Allan
HABIT
Huw
Wrigley
Hit Training
Don
MacDonald
IPS International Ltd
Brief Notes and Actions
Item
Welcome & Introduction - Chair
Notes and Actions
The Chair welcomed members to the 1st Adult Apprenticeships and Skills SIG of 2013 and encouraged
members to outline their challenges at a busy time of the year.
Organised by:
FE Guild Consultation – John Landeryou,
AELP Consultant
Supported by
FEG overview
January 13 John Landeryou.pptx
JL confirmed the Consultation will go out to the sector on 1st February and encouraged ITPs to have their
say on the key issues of governance, structures, Guild Name and other important matters such as
activities. JL also highlighted the regional events (see slides) and hoped to see many ITP reps.
Adult Skills & Apprenticeships, inc
Funding One: Q1 & Q2 Growth – Many providers (including at least 2 that had raised issues at Q1) have been told very clearly
by their local Relationship Managers that 'it’s not worth putting in any growth cases because there is very little money and nothing
other than 19-24 Apprenticeships will be looked at and not many of those will get through. This situation conflicted with SFA note of
21 January that went to providers stating clearly that “Firstly, the Agency will look at funding needed to support changes introduced
for English and Maths. Then, where funding allows, we will continue to expand the offer to the unemployed and provide growth for
Apprenticeships where there is clear employer demand”
Open
Forum
AELP also under the impression that there would be a serious review of cases at Q2 as a number of providers have tried to hold off
terminating contacts with employers etc on the basis that there would be a genuine review and that there would be some funds to
reallocate. Several providers had put in a growth case for 19-24 Apprenticeships but these were turned down despite the fact that
the briefing note said that the SFA was able to fund all 16-24 Apprenticeship growth requests. AELP Concerned by the lack of
definite information on this. Questions remain Did SFA make any contract adjustments downwards in Q1. How much of that
money was reallocated. What do the performance figures look like for periods 1/2 so do you have a view as to what might be
available for the Q2 review and do you know how much the E&M and stand alone rate adjustments cost in Q1.
Members currently in ‘negotiation’ with SFA on Growth Requests especially where it might be preventing 19-24 apprenticeships
starts were encouraged to contact their NAS regional rep and in some cases to contact local MP as clearly it was not in interests of
SFA to be seen denying these type of starts.
Short discussion on the thriving Supply Chain Market with Colleges in particular very happy to procure provision from other
providers to assist their ability to deliver ASBs, consensus was this would gradually increase from April as year-end performance is
galvanised. Some providers warned that they are still feeling the repercussions of 2011/12 requests by SFA for growth that are
impacting on 2012/13 performance so members should be mindful of late year activity.
ACTION; AELP to feed back the comments from yesterday's meeting to SFA.
Funding Two - Indicative Allocations for 2013/14 were sent to providers just before new year and it would appear that
most providers have seen cuts to the ASB in the region of 9% + caused in part by the loss of Advanced 24+ provision
funding. AELP has received few queries suggesting an air of acceptance to the cuts and a general have to do a little more
for less realisation. Some members present were not 100% sure if they had received their 2013/14 allocation fearing it
may have got mixed up with the Loan facility offer...
Organised by:
Supported by
AELP policy update
 Richards Review Update
 Learner Loans Update
 Supply Chain – Sector Developments
 Study Programmes for 14-19 –
Readiness
Richards – AELP understands that BIS working on a ‘discussion paper’ for the Spring to further explore some of the
Richard proposals suggesting no short term change to provision.
Learner Loans – VAT will apply to all loans provision delivered by ITPs and AELP looking to put on webinars to support
member understanding. Student Loans Company hosting regional events and VIP for provider staff to attend as it covers
key admin and technical info. SFA development fund of £6.5m has been allocated to the 800 or so loan facility
‘acceptors’, the level of fund given depends on size of loan allocation ranging from Min of £1k to max of £25.
Many members continue to voice concerns about Apprenticeship offer next year for 24+
Supply Chain – Two new funding rules that require’s prime providers to publish their policy and end of year accounts
will be in force from August 2013. Members advised to download the new Supply Chain Management Guide
commissioned by LSIS and also go to the AELP website and look at the Common Accord of Guiding Principles that has
been developed by the Sector for the Sector. AELP also has an event 21st Feb in Leeds that explains on all things supply
chain.
DfE/EFA Preparing for Study Programmes 2013 – AELP Regional Events x4 (see website) that focuses from an
Independent Training Provider Perspective and will include elements on Traineeships
AOB
Set and agree DATE with JH for next


New Dates for 2013
Thank you and final remarks
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