Agenda item

Report by the Chief Operating Officer

59.1     The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development (HR & OD) introduced the report which provides an update to the information that was presented to the Audit Best Value and Community Services (ABVCS) RPPR Board in December. Since that time the Council has received more detailed guidance. A steering group for apprenticeship delivery has been established and a manager has been appointed to co-ordinate the work on the implementation of the Levy. There are a number of strands to the work:

·          Communications and engagement with frontline managers and staff on the Levy and the benefits and value it will bring;

·          A procurement strand, linked to Orbis and West Sussex County Council, to use the ‘dynamic purchasing system’ to procure apprenticeship training.

·          Workforce mapping which examines which current training across ESCC can be converted into an apprenticeship standard, and which posts would be suitable for apprenticeship recruitment. The workforce mapping has nearly been completed.

59.2     It should be noted that the responsibility for the delivery and management of apprenticeships lies with departments, and the central team will work through them. The target number of apprenticeships for ESCC staff is 102 apprenticeships, and 137 apprenticeships for East Sussex maintained schools.

59.3     The performance against these targets will be measured by ‘having regard’ to the targets, which includes evidence of having the right approach and processes in place to deliver apprenticeships. The performance against targets will not have an impact on finances. The Government has recognised that where organisations have large numbers of part time posts, this will have an impact on the number of apprenticeships that it will be possible to provide.

59.4     The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development outlined that the central team has done the workforce mapping on behalf of schools. Work is ongoing to examine the use of apprenticeships for teaching, but the training framework will not be available until September 2018. Work is also being undertaken on the social work programme with universities on Level 6 qualification training, but this again will not be available until September 2018.

59.5     The Committee discussed the implementation of the Apprenticeship Levy and a summary of the points raised is given below.

Impact on Schools

·          The Committee is concerned about the financial impact of the Levy on schools and in particular on small, one form entry, primary schools. It asked if it would be possible to return some of the pooled money as part of the school funding system, and highlighted that there is a significant impact if small schools fail, the costs of which will fall to ESCC. The Interim Chief Finance Officer responded that these are issues that can be explored in terms of how ESCC manages school finances.

·          The Committee asked if there was an emergency plan if the Levy and other financial pressures, such as the draft revised schools funding formula, threatens schools’ financial viability. The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development responded that the Children’s Services Department is aware of the financial issues for small schools, and is asking them to work in their school improvement area partnerships on this issue.

Implementation

·          The Committee asked if the target for apprenticeships will be met by converting existing posts. The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development outlined that the approach being used is to examine whether existing training programmes could be converted into apprenticeships, and when existing posts become vacant to look at creating an apprenticeship. The Apprenticeship Programme will cover a whole range of skills, including older workers as well as younger workers. So the Apprenticeship Programme may be renamed so it is clear that it is open to all types of applicants and employees.

·          Members of the Committee expressed concerns about: the speed of the implementation of the Levy; what they saw as a bureaucratic approach and; the issue of the capacity of the organisation to provide support for the apprentices. The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development responded that part of strategy is to support existing career pathways. There is a need to co-ordinate implementation across departments which is not overly bureaucratic. ESCC has not been any slower than other local authorities in implementing the Levy, and in many cases ESCC is ahead of our partner organisations (e.g. ESCC will use the East Sussex Qualification and Assessment Centre, ESQAC, to offer training to partners).

Summary comments

59.6     The Chief Executive summarised the approach the Council has taken to implementing the Apprenticeship Levy. The Council has tried to take advantage of the benefits of the scheme and has lobbied hard to exclude small schools from the Levy. The Council has been working on apprenticeships through the devolution and skills work stream for some time, and has a good understanding of what is needed to support apprenticeships, and in particular, the support needed for managers. A lot of good work has already been undertaken, which has prepared the Council for implementing the Levy. It is understood that schools are facing a ‘perfect storm’ of challenges and central Government may recognise the challenges for smaller schools.

59.7     The Committee remained concerned about revenue costs of the implementation of the Apprenticeship Levy. It commented that it would be helpful to understand what sort of targets ESCC will achieve next year, and have a framework to monitor performance of the Apprenticeship Programme.

59.8     The Committee Resolved to:

1)           note the progress on the implementation of the Apprenticeship Levy; and

2)           request an update report at July 2017 Committee meeting to include, and the progress against targets for the number of apprenticeships in both the Council and in schools.