and enhancing employer leadership of the skills system ensure that they recoup their full levy. Ensure employers are fully sighted on the potential of L4, L5 and L6+ trailblazers as a route to resolving skills challenges and making good use of levy – employer awareness of trailblazers and levy are weak Provide for employer collaboration in response to levy both locally and at a national level 1.3 Via the LEP, develop a relationship with BIS on trailblazers, enhancing participation of Lancashire employers and providers Ensure Lancashire (via its Skills Hub) understands the latest trailblazer developments and that employers/providers participate more – be seen as supportive but also gaining insight that can help Lancashire to adapt its local activities in response Lancs Skills Hub Winter 2015
Priority 2: Targeting growth in higher/degree apprenticeships Ref Action Rationale Lead Timescale 2.1 Undertake an occupational review of the ‘best’ route to market for jobs, highlighting the critical pathway from classroom-based FE to higher apprenticeship and degree apprenticeship Take a demand side approach to help the LEP re-engineer FE delivery, responding to growth sectors, reducing costs, and prioritising ESF funds working with sub–contractors and partners e.g. Huntington College Trailblazer delivery example. Engaging with new blood employers may need a shift from providing Apprenticeships to meeting business needs (specifically how HAs can support Sector Skills Development Partnerships Development of new delivery in 2016-17, in advance of withdrawal of Frameworks (and funding model) in 2017.
created by apprenticeship opportunities especially at higher/degree level. Providing a career pathway for key sector skills. will be a key consideration for Lancashire FE Colleges as part of the area review and there may be advantages in bringing this forward. Bring together with the intelligence gained from employers who may want to deliver (action 1.1) to build full picture of Lancashire higher/degree Apps activity Address gaps in provision that might be identified under action 2.1 to ensure employers have access to a high quality mix of provision. 3.2 Create an ESF capacity building programme for colleges, universities and This should cover employer engagement, recruiting and retaining assessors, tutor upskilling. LEP Skills Board Spring 2016
training providers. This should include target delivery volumes for participating providers to grow higher/degree apprenticeships Partnership approaches and pooled approaches to ‘independent assessment’ To strengthen the supply side response to higher level vocational skills Colleges delivering volumes of level 4 classroom delivery should be a focus – conversion to higher Apps Specific actions here should include: the of to ‘market test’ higher Models where IT technical training is delivered by apprentices
costs and improve quality for employers (and learners). Priority 4: Stimulate learner demand for higher and degree apprenticeships Ref Action Rationale Lead Timescale 4.1 Ensure that IAG mechanisms at sixth forms, sixth form colleges and FE providers incorporate clear messaging about higher and degree apprenticeship opportunities. This should be promoted via NCS but also any IAG activity supported by the LEP via Providers felt that learner demand would be strong but communication of opportunities, funding etc to learners (and, for young people, their parents) – especially in degree apprenticeships, which are unknown – would be required. Awareness of Level 4 opportunities for A-level students and the LEP Skills Jan 2016
transferring from Loans funding, and all new starts will need to be assessed to ensure they meet all existing eligibility rules for adult skills funding Priority 5: Sector-specific actions, to be taken forward via ESGs (see Annex B and action 1.3) Ref Action Rationale Lead Timescale 5.1 Engineering and advanced manufacturing Check relevance of trailblazers with SMEs – are different standards needed? Support trailblazer participation/ development if required, working with BIS Concerns about the specificity of trailblazers were especially prevalent in engineering and manufacturing Increasingly competitive provider market with extensive recent capital investment – are these Relevant Sector Skills Development Partnership Spring 2016
Confirm capacity and desire of provider base to deliver to this market – likewise for large employers facilities relevant and useful for L4+? A number of engineering TBs coming on stream that better reflect employer and so Lancashire needs to ensure employers are aware of these and 5.2 Financial and professional services Set targets for HEIs and colleges to convert large volumes of classroom-based postgraduate professional qualifications to degree apprenticeships Encourage subcontracting of provision if FE inspection regime and Significant scope to provide more cost effective routes to professional qualifications benefitting learners and employers Opportunities to tap into national online provision e.g. BPP apprenticeships Split between trailblazer
Use ESG to develop new approaches to on IT apprenticeships. Understand plans and support capacity where required. There are also quite a few opportunities at Level 4 and examples of progression from Level 3. Awareness raising with schools to improve understanding of this route and sharing case studies with employers. 5.4 Health and Social Care Prioritise mapping of professional standards to vocational pathways, in collaboration with employers, HEE and Slow pace of trailblazer development risks hampering skills response to health and social care transformation. However, NHS vocational
universities / providers Seek a dialogue with HEE about influencing spend in Lancashire to promote higher/degree apprenticeship routes to addressing critical skills shortages routeways strong and emphasis on developing the skills of caring staff support development of apprenticeship models Bulk of investment is made by HEE via HEIs. Strong learner demand, skills shortages - need to access to professional roles to address current and future skills shortages in HSC in Lancashire 5.5 Construction Subject to feedback from providers, set targets for the delivery of L4+ This is the sector that presents some of the most obvious opportunities to
apprenticeships in construction Consider capacity of provider base to deliver at level 4+. Our sense is that colleges have not prioritised construction of late – focus has been on engineering and manufacturing grow higher and degree level apprenticeships. Labour demand is growing, professional qualifications are valued, employers are used to working with apprentices and contributing to costs, and trailblazers are (nearly) ready 5.6 Visitor economy Check plans by Blackpool and Blackburn colleges to convert classroom-based L4 delivery to apprenticeships; trailblazers may be at level 3 (Blackpool working on Tourist Practitioner trailblazer) Ensure employers in Lancashire are An important sector for Lancashire but not one that employs large numbers of L4+ staff. However new standards could provide good career pathways for local people into management and higher level food and drink
abreast of other trailblazer developments and have chance to contribute/shape 5.7 Energy and environment Work with employers to consider whether trailblazer in response to Lancashire energy developments (e.g. Onshore Shale and Gas) is required Focus on SME engagement – Sellafield driving forward nuclear trailblazers, SME participation understood to have been patchy policy uncertainty for onshore oil and gas an issue, however nuclear sector continues to offer opportunities in the county
large proportion of its workforce over the next 20 years over a range of positions. A41 In the advanced engineering sectors there are a wide range of existing frameworks and new standards. The majority of existing provision is at level four. This provision is however relatively specialised and amongst some stakeholders there are concerns that it may be too specific to appeal to those leaving sixth form provision. All bar one of the new apprenticeship standards are at degree level (level 6) and all focus on the automotive and aerospace industries. Higher level Apprenticeships in Advanced Manufacturing New Standards (Ready for delivery) Level Automotive control/technical support engineer 6 Automotive electrical/electronic technical support engineer 6 Automotive manufacturing engineer 6 Automotive product design and development engineer 6 New Standards (Ready for delivery) Level Aerospace engineer 6 Aerospace software development engineer 6 Aircraft maintenance certifying engineer & rotary wing) 4 Existing Frameworks Level Professional Aviation Pilot Practice 6 Furniture Manufacturing Technician 5 Automotive Management and Leadership 5 Life Sciences & Chemical Science Professionals 4 & 5 Mineral Products Technology 4 & 5 Advanced Manufacturing Engineering 4 Engineering Environmental Technologies 4 Power Engineering 4 Advanced Diagnostics and Management Principles 4 Jewellery Manufacturing, Silversmithing and Allied Trades 4 A42 Nationally are estimated to be around 20 HE providers of degree level apprenticeships in engineering. The majority of this provision is existing degree level provision which has been incorporated into an Apprenticeship. For example, The University of Warwick delivers its Applied Engineering Programme (BEng) as part of a Higher Apprenticeship. This has been used at Jaguar Landrover and is a six year Apprenticeship designed for A-Level students who have acquired A-Level Maths and Science/Technology/Engineering in addition to five GCSE's at grades A-C incl. English, Maths, Science / Technology / Engineering subjects, or a BTEC level 3 (180 credits) or equivalent in an Engineering/Technology related subject. The programme focuses on roles in product development, finance, purchasing and manufacturing. A43 Higher Apprentices spend the majority of their first year at college learning the fundamentals of engineering. Outside term time Apprentices will work at
A97 A total of 311 organisations delivered at total of 4,746 Level 3 Apprenticeships (31.5% of all starts in the county) to Lancashire residents in 2013-14 across a total of 102 different frameworks. The table below lists the most common Level 3 frameworks in 2013-14: Lancashire Level 3 Apprenticeship frameworks Framework No of starts % of L3 App starts Health and Social Care 655 13.8% Business Administration 539 11.3% Children and Young People’s Workforce 414 8.7% Management 376 7.9% Engineering 353 7.4% Customer Service 288 6.1% Hairdressing 151 3.2% Sales and Telesales 128 2.7% Electrotechnical 123 2.6% Hospitality 120 2.5% A98 A of 365 Apprenticeship starts were made by Lancashire residents in 2013-14 at level 4 and above. Common frameworks were: Lancashire Level 4+ Apprenticeship frameworks Framework No of starts % of L4+ App starts Care Leadership and Management 154 42.2% Management 61 16.7% Accounting 48 13.2% Health (Assistant Practitioner) 20 5.5% Business and Professional Administration 15 4.1% A99 Lancashire-based organisations feature heavily among the largest providers of level 3 and level 4+ apprenticeships, alongside well-known national training providers. Lancashire Level 3 Apprenticeship providers Provider Title Learning Aims Training 2000 Engineering, Dental Nursing, Business Admin 347 Burnley College Engineering, Business 265 N Lancs Training Business Customer Service, Hospitality 237 GP Strategies Childcare, Health and Social Care, Management 233
B: – Sector Future labour demand, L4+ Current delivery (SFA funded 2013-14 Learning Aims) Key providers Key findings Conclusion – prospects for growing higher level vocational skills demand Engineering & Advanced Manufacturing Good. High location quotients. Major focus from LEP in supporting sector to grow Forecasts suggest: strong replacement demand at all levels negative expansion demand in skilled trades and below positive expansion demand at assoc and above 480 L3 Apps 10 L4+ Apps 340 L4 classroom Apps: Training 2000, Burnley College, BAe Systems, Rolls Royce, Runshaw College Classroom: Blackpool & Fylde College, Blackburn College Good levels of progression to L4+ from those undertaking L3 Apprenticeships (54%) Trailblazers perhaps too occupation & employer specific with some evidence SMEs finding the new funding arrangements too expensive HNC/HND route well established, many employers happy to pay Recent FE capital investments = busy provider market (although sectoral report highlights some employer GOOD. However, unclear whether this is additional demand or switch from previous HNC/HND route Potential for growth is in terms of employer demand – but this is mostly in replacement demand not net growth. Some employers in the sector are engaged on skills but others are reporting that they will ‘invest’ in higher wages to recruit skilled staff. Lancashire is not short of
smaller firms sticking with Frameworks as they are lower cost. Financial and professional services Mixed. FPS in Lancashire is lower GVA-adding than FPS in major cities. However employment is expected to grow and gap in skills requirement in Lancashire vs. major cities likely to narrow Moreover, accountancy, marketing, management, HR and digital skills are required in businesses across key sectors Location quotient is low however significant volumes of demand for new and replacement demand remain 1008 L3 Apps (Business, Management and Accounting) 128 L4+ Apps (Business Admin, Accountancy, Management) 1033 L4 classroom Apps: North Lancs Training, GP Strategies, JLP, Training 2000, Runshaw College Classroom: Blackburn College, Blackpool College, Runshaw College, Preston’s College Significant potential to convert existing professional qualifications to degree and higher apprenticeship delivery Professional qualifications are critically important to generating employer demand. Some employers just to pay for AAT and avoid additional requirements of an apprenticeship Excellent progression rates for L3 Apprentices in some EXCELLENT. While labour demand may not match other areas, potential learner volumes remain large. Opportunity for employers to draw on wider talent pool than traditional graduate entry. Strong potential to convert existing professional qualifications to higher/degree apprenticeships. Some evidence to suggest that this will deliver productive employees more efficiently as vocational route more effective in embedding
Only 2 trailblazers ready – but standards for accountancy, actuary, legal, management consultancy in pipeline skills in day to day work. Good flow of new standards in the pipeline or already in place. Employer expectations and bureaucracy would need to be managed. Construction Good. Sector has strong history of apprenticeship and vocational routes. Growth in Lancashire construction labour demand seen (up 10% in 5 years), contrast to falling demand nationally. Strong growth forecast Impact of technology and low carbon methods will require re-skilling and 135 L3 Apps No L4+ Apps 130 L4 classroom Apps: CITB, Accrington & Rossendale College, NLTG, Classroom: Blackburn College, Blackpool & Fylde College, Accrington & Rossendale College Low volumes at L3+ but strong growth potential. Good of trailblazers about to be launched, with further frameworks in the pipeline Viable alternative to traditional HE route for roles such as surveying, site management and design management Modest foundation of existing activity EXCELLENT Construction should be a priority sector for higher level vocational study. However, industry fragmentation remains a challenge and so collective action required. Increasing % of construction firms do not train. Trailblazer standards are in (or will be soon). The sector is in good
but excellent potential to grow higher vocational skills – especially at Colleges which (CITB aside) dominate the market shape in Lancashire and will grow further. Supply side isn’t as strong as expected but colleges are well placed to deliver. Strong potential to convert existing professional qualifications to degree/higher apprenticeships. Health and Social Care Good. Largest sector in Lancashire by employment. Significant skills shortages in key good potential to develop higher level vocational career pathways to broaden access. 655 L3 Apps 174 L4+ Apps (mainly care leadership) 1070 L4 classroom Apps: AgeUK, GP Strategies, NCG, Learndirect Classroom: Blackburn College, Blackpool and Fylde College, Accrington & Rossendale College Major changes in delivery are coming via HSC transformation, which will have implications for the structure and content of existing training systems – opening up opportunities for new pathways GOOD There is good demand already for higher level vocational learning and scope to grow this further; HSC transformation could create significant change in employer demands and curriculum delivery
Trailblazer development sluggish compared to other sectors – limited Lancashire involvement in process. Dental and Assistant Practitioners in pipeline, nursing delayed. Bulk of skills funding tied up with HEE However work needs to be done to develop more the vocational pathways to higher levels. Rationale to ‘grow your own skills among those who care’ remains strong. Need to secure greater Lancashire influence over HEE spend (c£150-200m) to widen access and grow higher and degree apprenticeship volumes Digital and Creative AWAITING LANCS SECTOR SKILLS ACTION PLAN & DATA 164 L3 Apps (mainly IT, only 10 creative) 15 L4+ Apps (14 software, 1 social media) 195 L4 classroom (ICT) Apps: BT, Burnley College, NLTG, Blackpool & Fylde College Classroom: Blackpool & Fylde College, Burnley Fast changing industry requirements Length of apprenticeships a barrier – low job duration However good commitment from national employers to new degree AVERAGE. Unclear whether local provider base has the capacity required to deliver digital and creative in large volumes. Employer leadership is
College, Accrington & Rossendale College, Blackburn College apprenticeships – blue chips are signed up. Seven universities will offer technology degree apprenticeships from Sept 2015, three more in Sept 2016 – none in Lancs critical fast changes in technology Good scope for universities to get involved on IT, given that other HEIs are gearing up to deliver Visitor economy Employs large volumes but mainly at lower skill and salary levels. Overall employer demand is edging lower. 370 L3 Apps (retail, hospitality) No L4+ Apps 220 L4 classroom (leisure, travel & tourism) Apps: Babcock, NLTG, Lifetime Training Classroom: Blackburn College, Blackpool & Fylde College Limited demand for L4+ skills in the sector and a handful of new and emerging trailblazers, e.g. senior chef, hospitality manager, retail manager (level 4). Expect pilots to commence in Jan 2016. Current demand for L4 framework around 100 nationally but expect standard to increase to 2-3,000 over time. AVERAGE. Employer demand between those who want a specific Hospitality management standard and those who prefer a more general management qualification. Standard in development is expected to be a more qualification than previous framework.
Energy and environment Total employment likely to remain steady. Labour demand will be concentrated in associate professional/technical roles upwards. Skills shortages focused on technical skills and ‘softer’ skills Unable to tell – delivery will be across Engineering and Construction and Civils sector subject areas (see above) University of Cumbria (Gen2) developing L6 Nuclear Scientist L4 Nuclear Welding with 15 starts in Sept ’15. Most trailblazers are at 3. Nuclear welding technician apprenticeship at level 4 (led by Sellafield) is approved and provider interested in rolling out to employers across NW. AVERAGE. Lack of frameworks, little local provider delivery except potentially via University of Cumbria on nuclear