Agenda and minutes

Report of the Head of Communities, Change and Partnerships examining apprenticeships in the City and changes to national and local policy including views of Unions, attached.

The Panel considered the report of the Head of Communities, Change and Partnerships examining apprenticeships in the City and changes to national and local policy including views of Unions. 

Ian Smith, National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) gave an update on National Policy changes relating to:

• Training costs, what the Government covers. 
• Minimum wage and employee rights for apprentices
• The Education Act 2011
• Minimum standards for apprenticeships
• Further Education loans for apprentices
• Grants for Employers of 16 to 24 year olds
• Higher Apprenticeships offering an alternative to higher education aimed at level 6
• Training agencies
• Access to apprenticeships
• Traineeships
• Launch of apprenticeship funding consultation

Mike Watts, Head of Strategic HR outlined current and future employment arrangements at the Council: 

• Where apprenticeships had worked well and where future gaps could be sourced with specialist career paths. 

• Future funding within current financial pressures. 
• Targeting managers by providing resources to fill vacancies.
• Reviewing the demographic of Council staff to fill future gaps. 
• Providing regular funding source rather than for one off schemes.  
• Finding the right people to oversee the process
• Ensuring functional skills are developed maths, English, language barriers

Union representatives were unable to attend the meeting.  Their views to be sought and made available to the Panel to consider. 

The Panel discussed and proposed the following draft recommendations:

(i)  To support Southampton Apprenticeship Action Plan

(ii)  To carry out an audit of careers advisors in schools and colleges

·  Recent analysis and evidence heard from the Panel meetings that improving careers guidance at schools is a necessary starting point for improving awareness of apprenticeships across the city.

(iii)  To provide Career Advisors and students with impartial and consistent career guidance across the City

·  Building on recent success of Social Media techniques across the Council especially the My-Mo application to promote recycling in the city, developing a website and corresponding application to promote impartial careers guidance for advisors and students.

(iv)  To provide a database of apprentices for promotional purposes – the Ambassador Scheme

(v)  To Host an event for career advisors, providers and businesses to talk about options and what is required.

·  Investigate how Southampton uses the “Inspiring the Future” campaign to create a joined up approach across businesses and providers to visit schools to promote apprenticeships.

(vi)  The Council to write to National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) to invite a suitable representative to attend/visit the following meetings/people to promote apprenticeships.

·  Southampton Heads Forum

·  School councils

·  Individual schools

·  Governors Forum

·  Southampton City Council’s Leadership Group

(vii)  To Research in house best practice across other authorities and public sector  agencies.

(viii)  To share best practice with other public agencies to promote apprenticeship recruitment through procurement for the people of the city.

·  Skills Team to present work done through Employment and Skills Plans to Southampton Connect then contact other agencies

·  Promote the good work achieved across the Council to promote, recruit and support Apprenticeships i.e. employment and skills plans and Housing Apprenticeships, look for suitable publications nationally and locally.

(ix)  To investigate community benefit clauses in SCC  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.