WMCA Technical Education, Skills and Employment Support Flexible Procurement System - Application 2

Every part of the region should have a strong local offer of numeracy, literacy, language and digital skills for communities that supports good health & well-being, builds confidence, improves inclusion & integration, develops key life skills and prepares learners for employment, self-employment or further learning. A place-based approach should ensure a focus on first engagement opportunities for communities under-represented in learning and disadvantaged in the labour market, providing a clear pathway towards level 2. This offer will take place in community settings as short first steps provision with a progression pathway onto an Adult and Community Education Service.

Every part of the region should have a strong local offer that provides any residents who need it with a good education up to level 2. This should include: A comprehensive offer of high quality, locally available opportunities to improve literacy and numeracy, including through statutory entitlements e.g. Functional Skills Qualifications A purpose-driven offer of English language learning up to level 2 that supports the cultural capital, social capital and vocational development of learners as they improve their language skills A digital skills offer that helps residents access online support services needed for health, welfare, training or employment Integrating vocational training at level 2 as a component to support progression to further learning, work or in-work progression. This should target those occupations where high vacancy demand exists, where there is a greening of job roles to support net zero and in occupations likely to have a higher proportion of workers without qualifications The offer should be relevant and adaptable to the 47% of adult residents without foundation skills qualifications who are in work. Flexible and accessible delivery models should enable learners to study alongside wider commitments. Strong partnership arrangements and personalised support should ensure clear progression pathways into level 2 provision or good work. A place-based approach should ensure a focus on those areas/people with the lowest skill levels and lowest levels of participation in adult education.

Every part of the region should have a strong into-work offer aligned to local labour market opportunities. This should include provision that supports: young people to transition into the labour market unemployed adults into good work economically inactive adults into the labour market, including those who have a health condition or disability in-work progression out of low pay, including for those in the gig economy and on zero hours contracts people in employment, experiencing systemic disadvantage due to disabilities, gender, ethnic background or other characteristics retraining for career change, including for those without good foundation skills Working with specialist providers and in partnership with employers, the offer will deliver the skills that businesses need, providing clear progression pathways into good work alongside effective wraparound support for learners. The offer should include flexible delivery models that are accessible for residents who work shifts or who can only attend at weekends and/or evenings. A place-based approach should ensure a focus on those areas/people with high levels of labour market insecurity, including unemployment, inactivity, in-work poverty and/or risk of redundancy.

Every part of the region should have a higher-level skills offer aligned to regional economic priorities. This should include: A strong and broad offer at level 3, accessible to those in employment and affordable for those in low paid work A flexible modular offer at level 4/5 aligned to the requirements of businesses, to support retraining or career progression An accessible leadership and management offer at level 4 and above that supports SMEs to improve productivity and growth and is targeted on residents currently under-represented in L&M training Working with universities, colleges, specialist providers and in partnership with employers, the offer will serve the growing requirement for higher level skills across the region – to strengthen business, improve productivity and attract inward investment. The offer should be accessible for those in work, with more part-time, evening, weekend and hybrid delivery to fit around work and wider commitments of learners. A place-based approach will ensure that higher-level skills opportunities are closely aligned to local/regional economic opportunities and strategies, including Plan for Growth and Investment Zones.

Every part of the region should have a higher-level skills offer aligned to regional economic priorities. This should include: A strong and broad offer at level 3, accessible to those in employment and affordable for those in low paid work A flexible modular offer at level 4/5 aligned to the requirements of businesses, to support retraining or career progression An accessible leadership and management offer at level 4 and above that supports SMEs to improve productivity and growth and is targeted on residents currently under-represented in L&M training Working with universities, colleges, specialist providers and in partnership with employers, the offer will serve the growing requirement for higher level skills across the region – to strengthen business, improve productivity and attract inward investment. The offer should be accessible for those in work, with more part-time, evening, weekend and hybrid delivery to fit around work and wider commitments of learners. A place-based approach will ensure that higher-level skills opportunities are closely aligned to local/regional economic opportunities and strategies, including Plan for Growth and Investment Zones.