Neil Carberry

Some great practical advice here from Gill Pipkin about bid writing. Well worth a read!

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Timely release of a new report The Great Skills Divide today. This visual shows the reduction in L2&3 apprenticeships, along with the increase in pricier L4-7. The report also shows we have an oversupply of Level 2 qualified people and an under supply of L4. Interestingly, for apprenticeships there is an over demand for L3 and a huge under supply. For example, our own data shows that for those wanting a L3 Software Developer Apprenticeship, candidates stand a 1.2% chance of getting one. Yet firms are increasingly offshoring their dev work overseas. You can see where the skills gap starts to widen, in which no one wins. #apprenticeships #generalelection Report by Learning and Work Institute

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Revenues & Benefits has been going through somewhat of a BOOM the past few months, which is where your friendly Revs & Bens specialists come in - Business Smart Solutions 1️⃣ RECRUITMENT Revenues & Benefits practitioners - Are you looking to shakeup or progress your careers? Why not join the hundreds of #TeamBSS who have already taken the leap to interim contract work. Benefit from a higher salary, flexible remote working, career progression and a rewards package from our partners at Perkbox. Many of our team have accelerated their careers by navigating interim contracts. From apprentice - service manager in just a few years is very possible if you take the opportunities presented to you by me and my team. My core team are Revenues & Benefits managers (not recruiters), who better to understand your profession and slingshot your career to the top. Revenues & Benefits Hiring Managers - struggling to find hard working, cost effective, qualified, Revenues & Benefits staff, then look no further! With a network of over 3,000 qualified officers lead by a team of Revs & Bens specialists, you've come to the right place. 2️⃣ TRAINING We cover everything and more from Welfare, HB Subsidy Workbooks, Enforcement, Legislation to Systems training across the 3 core processing systems. 3️⃣ CONSULTANCY If it's related to Revs & Bens, we do it! Insourcing/Outsourcing specialists, Performance/Service reviews, Resilience Processing, Collection Improvement/Maximisation, System Conversions, Health Checks and more. If any of the above is of interest, contact me on 07807058828 for a chat or let's meet for coffee. You will also find me at the following events this year: 10th – 12th July 2024 LACEF (Local Authority Civil Enforcement Forum) / Liverpool 28th – 30th August 2024 Ascendant Solutions By the Sea / Eastbourne 4th – 5th September 2024 IRRV Scottish Conference / Glasgow 8th, 9th & 10th October 2024 IRRV Annual Conference / Telford #TeamBSS #Revenues #Benefits #staffing #recruitment #hiring #localgov

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Good luck to local authority colleagues in the run up to the #GeneralElection. A plea from the Adult Support Sector: please promote inclusive elections. #Disabled people have the same right to vote as people without a disability, and Government decisions affect them - the attack on PIP just one example, and of course funding! #MyVoteMyVoice campaign provides accessible information and resources for people with learning disabilities, #Autistic people and other support needs, including a very handy voting passport that can make the actual process easier for both polling station staff and the person with LD. My area of interest is LD, but obviously the same applies for other disabilities. https://lnkd.in/eVDFCtqV #AccessibleElections #Accessibility #Inclusion #InclusiveElections

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Today we launch the Campaign for Better Transport General Election manifesto – which calls on the next government to maintain, invest and progress public transport infrastructure and spending – for the planet, for the pound and for personal finances. We hope, in the next parliament, policymakers will put public, sustainable and active travel at the forefront of their plans – for the benefit of all.

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How much could your business benefit from offering an apprenticeship?

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📣 Opportunity to find out more about Torbay's UK Shared Prosperity Fund People and Skills Programmes! 📣 Torbay Council would like to invite Torbay stakeholders and partners to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund People and Skills Engagement and Partner event taking place on 22nd May. This event will be an opportunity for people who work within the employment and skills sectors, education sector or who are front line workers supporting Torbay residents, to hear more about five new employment and skills programmes which have recently been commissioned in Torbay. All of these programmes are fully funded for at least 12 months and have been engineered to raise aspirations, inspire inclusion and support skills gaps identified within Torbay. Additionally, employers and businesses from in and around Torbay that operate within Torbay’s key sectors (Tourism, Construction, Photonics, Health and Social Care and Fisheries) or who are interested in developing internal Green skills are also welcome to attend to hear about the Sector Skills Support and Green Skills programmes that are about to be rolled out by South Devon College. Attendees will hear more about the eligibility criteria for participants, referral routes and will have the opportunity to ask the delivery partners any questions they may have. The five programmes on offer include: 🔵 Focus Forward: Helping those most in need of support finding work by offering intensive and tailored mentoring and provision, delivered by Eat That Frog C.I.C. That Frog and I Can Do That CIC. 🔵Targeting Torbay’s Digital Skills Shortage: Supporting those at risk of digital exclusion by removing digital skills barriers residents may face such as access to technology and technological confidence, delivered by Turning Heads CIC and Maker Arts CIC. 🔵Sound Futures: Helping young people not currently in education, employment or training, delivered by Sound Communities CIC. 🔵Torbay Green Skills: Provision delivered to support the strategic green skills agenda and developing the skills required for the future workforce and economy, delivered by South Devon College 🔵Torbay Sector Skills Support: Working with employers in Torbay’s key sectors to upskill employees and enable them to progress at work, unlocking high paid and high skilled roles, delivered by South Devon College. Spaces are limited so click the link below and register now! https://lnkd.in/exmugNZT Connor Conneely Jed Stevenson Elizabeth Devonport Becky Davies JoJo Ramsden Kim Thornton Torbay Council

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Cllr Bailes said the Ofsted report showed the Merchant Venturers have ‘failed to deliver a better future for young people in these areas’. “The recent Ofsted report on Merchant's Academy, a dismal reflection of 15 years of poor leadership by the Merchant Ventures, comes as no surprise,” she said. “A generation of pupils has been left behind, their potential stifled by a system that failed to provide them with the education they deserved. While apologies may be offered, they cannot erase the damage inflicted. “The high levels of exclusions, particularly permanent ones, are a mere band-aid, masking the school's failings. Excluded children often find themselves entangled in the criminal justice system, a cycle that exacerbates rather than solves the problem,” she added. “The arrival of E-ACT brings a glimmer of hope, a chance for a fresh start. The hope is that under their leadership, the school will see vast improvements in the quality of education and the safety of all pupils, parents, and staff. While 14 years of austerity have undoubtedly contributed to the poor outcomes of many pupils from marginalized communities like Hartcliffe and Withywood, the Merchant Ventures should have been the beacon of positive school reform that the academy system promised. “Instead, it has failed to deliver a better future for young people in these areas. Change won't happen overnight, but the new head teacher, Guy Swallow, has shown a willingness to listen to pupils and parents, relaxing the overly strict uniform policy and punitive punishment system. The implementation of rewards for good behavior has been well received, a much-needed shift in the school's culture. “With aspirations for the school running high, the return of A-Levels next year, as promised by Mr. Swallow, is a positive step towards a brighter future. This will allow pupils to achieve more than they currently can, giving them the tools they need to succeed in life,” she added. https://lnkd.in/e4wQWVQ6

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Over the past four years, the British people have become more concerned about poverty and financial hardship, very unhappy about the state of some of its public services, doubtful about the wisdom of Brexit, questioning of the benefits of record levels of immigration, and lacking in confidence in how the country is governed. While they may not be in despair about their country’s future, they do appear to be worried. Turning this pessimistic mood around could well be one of the most formidable challenges facing the next government. https://lnkd.in/eZJMbYMJ

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Some great advice from Civil Service World shared by John, below 👇

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Tameside businesses, do you know how you can support young people in the Borough ❓ Would you like to support the growth, development, and future of young people in Tameside❓ Do you know how YOUR business can benefit from supporting our young people ❓ Thought-provoking fact: Young people who have four or more employer encounters with the world of work whilst at school are five times less likely to become NEET, and on average will go on to earn 16% more than their peers who did not have such opportunities 🌟   Benefits for your business: ·       Flexibility. ·       Innovation and energy. ·       Young people develop with your business. ·       Support staff retention. ·       Diversity of perspectives and experience. ·       Willingness to learn. ·       Tech savvy. This is in addition to the more widespread positive social and economic impacts. Even the smallest gesture can have a massive impact on the future of a young person 🔥 Here are some ways that you can help: Work experience: this could be to a school pupil aged 15-16 as a part of their (school) work-experience, or for a young person aged up to 18. This would provide a taste of what working life is like and give an understanding of a role in a sector that they are interested in 🔨 Taster days: invite young people to shadow one of your employees to give an insight and understanding of what the role involves 💻 Introduction to your workplace and business: highlight what your business does and provide an overview of the different departments and processes involved. Enlighten young people around the requirements of different roles and how to get into them, let them hear from your employees about what’s involved in their day-to-day duties. It’s a great opportunity to inspire young minds! 💥 Job opportunities: do you have vacancies available or coming up that would suit a young person? Would you relish the opportunity to support and develop a young person? If so, we can connect you with potential applicants. Work placements via the Youth Employment Support (YES) scheme: Do you have opportunities in the pipeline but would like to get your future employee onboard and upskilled before starting fully in their new role? Could you create a paid role for a young person? the YES scheme can provide you with financial and holistic support for your new recruit for up to six months. ✔ Apprenticeship: would you like to develop the future of your workforce, supporting them with both experience and qualifications, whilst tailoring their skills to your needs? An apprenticeship could be the perfect solution for you 📊 We are looking for opportunities in all sectors but especially 'hands on' roles in #construction #engineering #manufacturing #trades and similar! Please drop a comment or PM me and I will get one of our team to get in touch to discuss further. #tmb #recruitment #jobopportunities #youngpeople #futureleaders #trainee #workexperience #workplacement #skills #makeadifference #funding

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Out today - just ahead of the dissolution of the House of Commons - a blueprint for examining Government progress in a new Parliament from the Liaison Committee. • If the King’s Speech sets out a government’s programme of legislation and the annual Budget is about spending plans - why wouldn’t ministers tell us their ambitions for government? The report proposes an annual statement to Parliament setting out their ministerial priorities and the right for MPs to question them about it. • Fairness between generations demands action from government and Parliament. Long-term strategy needs to engage public imagination and consent, especially among younger generations. Why plan for long-term challenges like housing or social care without their input? • We need to do strategy better. Teach ministers, MPs, civil servants (not just the top people) how to scan for challenges; deliver and implement strategic planning. It’s essential.

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I'm interested in this - and worried about it. If we're going address the UK's dire productivity , we're going to need to support improvements in SME productivity - not least through investment in skills. I'd be fascinated to hear about good, evidenced, work that colleagues have done / are doing on what is undermining SME take-up - and what changes might be required to reverse the decline. I strongly suspect that the 95% / 5% copayment thing is a bit of an irrelevance. And that delivery model flexibility is the name of the game, along perhaps with something about how working with SMEs isn't all that easy or attractive for (large) providers - so is the on-the-ground proposition to SMEs all that good, really...?

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More helpful labour market insights from The CIPD in Northern Ireland for businesses, trade unions, The Labour Relations Agency & the Department for the Economy NI to take note of.

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This is a useful report from the Institute For Fiscal Studies for anyone wanting to understand the funding reductions we've seen since 2010, and the 'atrophy of fiscal equalisation' in the context of increasing demand pressures facing the sector. https://lnkd.in/etXDgWMs

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Is the "UK's current skills system, particularly apprenticeships and in work training ... fit for purpose to meet the fast evolving needs of UK industry"? The deadline for submissions to the HoL enquiry is 30th May. Tech UK has been consulting its members but the issues with regard to structures unable to cope with the pace of change go far wider than digital skills, however these are defined and/or predicted. I will be collating the material from the skills round table organised by DPA last November (I will add a link to the convenor's report in the comments below) and from the follow up work over the past couple of months. I would like to hear from those interested in joining to not only help review the submission, but more importantly work together on the solutions ... given that the key conclusion from that round table was that the UK "system" (or rather mish-mash of national, regional and local, semi-incompatible, departmental funding silos and their consultative committees) is incapable of identifying needs in the detail necessary, let alone responding to them with the time and funding available before most of the UK (aside from a few global centres of excellence) slides further behind its overseas competitors. #DPA #TechUK #Labourdigital #DigitalTories #Digitalleaders

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