JULIA DOWD

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Learning and Skills Council

• JULIA DOWD
• Executive Director
• Cheshire Warrington Learning Skills Council
• Development Initiative for Chemical Dependent
  Areas Conference
• 27 November 2000

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Outline

• the chemical industry in the north west
• the learning and skills council vision
• current funding and planning arrangements
• the role of the learning and skills council
• what next?

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North West strong in chemicals and related
industries

• processing nuclear fuels
• salt
• other inorganic chemicals
• soap / detergents etc.
• other chemicals
• plastics in primary forms
• fertilizers
• photographic chemicals
• essential oils
• other organic chemicals
• over 40,000 employees i.e. more than double the
  national average of British employment in these
  sectors.

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The North West chemical industry

• Largest of any region in the UK
• 75 of the North Wests districts have strong
  chemical or related industries
• Cheshire has 33 of the UKs employment in
  inorganic chemical manufacture
• Cheshire has 25 of the UKs employment in
  photographic chemicals and fertilizers
• Strong support infrastructure

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The North West chemical industry

• History
• indigenous natural resources e.g. salt and water
• imported other natural materials
• advanced employment practices created skilled
  labour force e.g. Northwich and Ellesmere Port.

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but...

• workforce contracting and ageing ?current and
  future skills gaps
• low recruitment due to poor image
• schools need better promotion of the industry and
  science as a career
• need to deliver industry relevant training
  programmes
• industry is research intensive so need to ensure
  supply of high energy, high intellect chemical
  scientists and managers.

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A vision of a nation ...

• where individuals can achieve their full
  potential and companies will thrive
• that can compete with the best
• that is confident and socially inclusive
• in which creativity, enterprise and regard for
  learning flourish.

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The Secretary of States vision

• the creation of the Learning and Skills Council
  is the most significant and far reaching reform
  ever enacted to post-16 learning in this country
• learning is the key to prosperity, for each of
  us as individuals as well as for the nation as a
  whole. Investment in human capital will be the
  foundation of success in the knowledge-based
  global economy of this new millennium
• our prosperity, and vitality and cohesion of our
  communities, depends on our biggest single asset
  - the skills and abilities of our people
• our vision is of a learning society in which
  everyone has the opportunity to go as far as
  their talents and efforts will take them.
• The Learning and Skills Council will be a leading
  agent of change in realising this vision.

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Learning and Skills Council Objectives

• encourage young people to stay on in learning
• increase demand for learning by adults
• maximise the contribution of education and
  training to economic performance
• raise standards

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Current arrangements - funding routes
Unemployed young people
Work based learning
Further Education
School sixth forms
(Modern Apprenticeships)
DfEE
DETR
DfEE/DTI
DfEE
Government Offices
FEFC
Local Authorities
Employment Service
TECs
Colleges (including 6th form )
Schools
New Deal Partnership
Training Providers
Individual training employers
Young person
Young person
Young people/Employer
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(No Transcript)
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Learning Skills Council will

• put the needs of employers and learners at the
  centre
• bring together for England public funding and
  planning for
• school sixth forms
• further education
• adult and community education
• work-based training for young people
• ctd./

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Learning Skills Council

• /ctd.
• workforce development
• education-business partnerships
• information, advice and guidance for adults
• work through a national office and 47 local arms
• replace Further Education Funding Council and
  TECs.

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The National Learning Skills Council

• operational from 2001
• located in Coventry
• 6bn 6 million learners
• 2 committees for young people and adults
• 47 local councils.

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Role of National LSC
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What it will do

• strategy for Post-16 learning targets
• promote lifelong learning
• assess learning and skill needs and implement the
  Skills Task Force proposals
• plan and fund post 16 learning to achieve
  national targets
• allocate funding to local Learning Skills
  Councils.

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Role of Local Learning Skills Council
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Local Learning Skills Councils will

• identify local skill needs
• agree plans and budgets with providers
• consult RDAs, employers, training organisations
  LAs, learning partnerships and others
• manage and develop the local provider
  infrastructure
• plan to meet learning targets.

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Planning
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Timing

• Up to March 2001
• build the organisation
• establish the culture for the Council
• ensure that there is a smooth transition for
  learners.
• April 2001 - March 2002
• build relationships with key partners
• undertake a comprehensive analysis for local and
  national learning and skills needs
• run a full planning process for the 2002-3
  year.
  
  
  /ctd.

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Timing /ctd

• April 2002 - March 2003
• ensure that there are significant changes in the
  patterns of learning and skills provision
• prioritise a smooth transition with Local
  Education Authorities and schools to the new
  arrangements for funding.
• By March 2004
• secured a step-change in the performance of the
  learning and skills system
• made a significant impact on the numbers of young
  people staying on in learning
• increased demand for learning amongst adults
• improved the supply of skills among people of
  working age
• raised standards in learning
  
  
  
  

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Summary

• more money going to the learner/trainee
• focus on the employer
• plans to meet local needs
• work with the national council on targets
• work with the local council on targets and plans
  for implementation.

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Learning and Skills Council

• JULIA DOWD
• Executive Director
• Cheshire Warrington Learning Skills Council
• Development Initiative for Chemical Dependent
  Areas Conference
• 27 November 2000