Hertfordshire Training & Development Consortium Welcome to: EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS – MAKING IT WORK Wednesday 17 th July 2013

Aims of Today To share the experience/outcomes of recent employability skills improvement programmes To demonstrate the benefits of partnership working and promote networking To provide ideas for further improvement programmes for providers

LSIS – East of England Programmes Mark Barnsley Regional Development Manager

Employability Skills Improvement Programmes Sarah Elliott Development Worker Hertfordshire Training & Development Consortium

Agenda HTDC – Introduction HESPIP –Hertfordshire Employability Skills Provider Improvement Programme Empower –Regional programme with Learn EAST Workshops for Children’s Centre Managers Sustaining voluntary sector provision

HTDC - Introduction Conceived Autumn 2007; Launched Autumn 2008 Over 300 Full and Associate Member Organisations 2 principal aims: –To bring together VCS Training Providers –To promote and facilitate VCS Workforce Development Lead body - Hertfordshire Community Foundation

HESPIP Funded by LSIS Led by HAFLS –Hertfordshire Adult and Family Learning Service Worked with 6 providers in Hertfordshire: –ASCEND –Dacorum Communities for Learning (DCFL) –Groundwork Hertfordshire –Herts Mind Network –Herts Trade Union Learning Centre –Safer Places

HESPIP – Programme Outline Self Assessment Lesson Observations Workshops Action Planning Regional Dissemination Provider Questionnaires 1. Differentiation 2. Best Practice Sharing 3. Partnerships

Best Practice Sharing Based on end to end process from learner perspective Developed a blank template in Excel Master sheet and tabs for each provider Participants’ laptops connected with facilitator’s File shared across the “mini network” Initial discussion of each section followed by completion by participants Able to save, view and further discuss each response Overall analysis available to share more widely Enjoyed by participants: –“The technology used allowed for everyone to participate and share ideas”

Building Partnerships Jobcentre Plus Other Funded Training and Advice e.g. –SFA Support for the Unemployed ; Support for the Unemployedwww.tchc.net –National Careers Service ;National Careers Service –Self Employment/Business start-up – New Enterprise Allowance Wenta (Herts and Beds)Wenta Ixion (East Anglia and Essex); Job and Enterprise Clubs Work Experience Volunteering – local Volunteer Centres – Links with Employers

Empower Programme Funded by LSIS Led by the Learning Partnership Bedfordshire and Luton Programme of Capacity-Building workshops Delivered via Learn EAST HTDC delivered Building Partnerships session

Employability “Checkerboard” Pre-/ Planning Core DeliveryFollow-on activities Monitoring Understand Local Need Recruit Learners Skills Training Personal Skills Job Search Business Start-up Volunteering Work Experience IAG Job Club Tracking/ Progression In Work Support On our own With partners or external providers Gaps to fill

Employability Programmes – The Process End to end Client not provision focussed Sequence and timing may vary by client group/provider Recognises that it’s fine not to do everything yourself

Key Steps in Process Understand Local Need Local Community (unemployment %, skills, existing provision); Employers (vacancies, skills needs) Recruit LearnersMarketing, Referrals Skills Traininge.g. IT, Vocational skills Personal Skillse.g. Confidence-building, Communications, Teamworking Job Search e.g. using the internet, online tools, cvs/ application forms, interview skills Business start-upInc self employment, business planning Volunteering/Work ExperienceLinking with the right employers/roles Information Advice and Guidance (IAG)National Careers Service Job (or Work) ClubsMaintaining activity, motivation, contact Tracking/Progression Keeping in touch, Project evaluation, payment by results (PBR) In work supportSustaining work, PBR

How do you approach each step? On your own – your facilities, staff/tutors In partnership – working collaboratively with other organisations Use external providers – bring them into your premises or refer clients out Or is there currently a gap? – you haven’t yet identified how to tackle

Workshops for Children’s Centre Managers “Working Together Better – To Help Parents into Employment”

HTDC and HCC Childhood Support Services Commissioning small projects designed to reduce Child Poverty in Hertfordshire HTDC involved in a range of initiatives around developing Employability Skills provision Welfare Reform changes mean more lone parents need to seek employment –Unable to claim income support once child is 5 Identified the potential to develop the capacity of Children’s Centres to support parents into work

The Workshops: WORKING TOGETHER BETTER to help parents into employment Choice of 2 dates and venues in Watford and Stevenage For Children’s Centre Managers, Family Support Workers, Providers of Careers Advice, Employability Skills and Housing The workshops aim to help Children’s Centres to: –Improve understanding of current Welfare to Work programmes –Identify the role of Children’s Centres –Develop links with providers of employability skills and housing –Establish best practice in engaging/supporting unemployed parents

Key messages Children’s Centres are well placed, but you can’t do it on your own Partnerships are key to developing provision: –Bring in expertise –Utilise existing funded programmes –Partner with each other in local areas –Communicate to share best practice/learning Via findings from table discussions - developed Top Tips for Engaging with Parents

Sustaining Voluntary Sector Provision Sources of funding – a continuing challenge –ESF Community Grants –Adult & Community Learning –Other/various Future ESF Programmes –Need to engage with your Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) DWP Work Programme –A missed opportunity to help the long term unemployed –Limited VCS participation

Key areas for development Accreditation of training Links with employers Tracking outcomes In work support

HTDC is a project led by Hertfordshire Community Foundation, registered charity number Sarah Elliott Development Worker Hertfordshire Training & Development Consortium