How will the NHS spend its apprenticeship levy?

The NHS will build strong partnerships with colleges and training providers, as long as they are honest about their capacity, says Lucy Hunte.

With the imminent introduction of a public sector target which will require all public sector organisations to have 2.3 per cent of their workforce on apprenticeships, the NHS will have an estimated target of 28,000 apprenticeship starts in 2017/18 – a 75 per cent increase on 2016/17.

With such a rapid ramp-up, capacity and quality of delivery from training providers is a key concern.

The annual NHS levy spend will be £27 million across London and £200 million nationally. With this money effectively being taken away from frontline services there is a huge focus across all NHS trusts on planning to maximise levy spend and ensure funds do not expire.

Realistically trusts will not have the vacancies or budget for salaries to spend the levy solely on training new recruits, although this is a key focus, so a large percentage of funds will be used on training and upskilling existing employees.

There will be no hiding place for poor quality providers

Many hospitals already deliver elements of their apprenticeship programmes in partnership with chosen training providers, and have applied to the new register of apprenticeship training providers to formalise these arrangements on either the employer-provider route or the supporting route. 

This is an attractive option for many trusts as they can be paid for their expertise, and funds that come back into the trusts via these partnerships will be incremental revenue.

Hospitals recognise that their expertise is in the clinical domain, and for non-clinical apprenticeships;most NHS trusts will continue to depend on partnerships with colleges and training providers. The focus will therefore be on building effective partnerships with training providers. Our priority is quality training and added value – we are not interested in a race to the bottom on price.

Due to some negative experiences in the past, the dedicated regional apprenticeship leads have started to share best practice around apprenticeship delivery between trusts. We are rating training providers based on factors such as success rates, FE Choices employer feedback scores, complaints and quality management and learner progress. 

This data will be shared centrally with other NHS trusts to ensure quality provision, which means no hiding place for poor providers.

We are planning a pan-London procurement exercise in the coming months, to allocate contracts to a core bank of trusted providers.

Given the demand for a large volume and variety of required standards and frameworks, multiple partnerships will be required. Colleges and training providers will need to be realistic and honest about their capacity in order to avoid over-promising and under-delivering, resulting in being removed from the preferred suppliers list.

While many NHS trusts already deliver part of their apprenticeship programmes such as the Care Certificate, we are recommending that trusts now look to do this on a formal basis and get paid for this delivery. 

For those looking at the employer-provider route, they will still be interested in partnerships with training providers who could support the MIS and administration functions as well as compliance and Ofsted requirements. 

These partnerships would then enable trusts to deliver the parts of the apprenticeship programmes in which they have the expertise, but without the added pressure of becoming fully-fledged training providers.

The beauty of many of the new apprenticeship standards is that they do not have a mandatory qualification. This gives trusts the flexibility to work with a training provider to match their existing training programmes to the standards – for example a trust’s existing leadership and development programme might map across to the new L5 management standard.

Large public sector organisations face significant challenges in implementing the new legislation, including delayed government guidance and a lack of clarity around how honorary contracts will affect workforce count. Despite this, the overall picture looks very positive, and there are substantial opportunities for training providers if they can offer high-quality provision and bespoke training packages, and adapt to trusts’ needs. 

 

Lucy Hunte, Apprenticeship Lead, Health Education England – North, Central & East London

Movers & Shakers: Edition 198

Your weekly guide to who’s new, and who’s leaving.

Shirley Brookes-Mills has been appointed the new academic head for two sites with the Newcastle and Stafford College Group.

NSCG is the result of a merger between Newcastle-under-Lyme college and Stafford college, which took place in November 2016. The group is now one of the largest educational providers in Staffordshire.

Ms Brookes-Mills has more than 26 years’ experience in the further education sector, and was most recently vice-principal at Brighton Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College, which currently holds an Ofsted rating of outstanding.

She began her career as a trainee chartered accountant in 1986 before taking up her first teaching position in 1989 as a teacher of English and KS4 coordinator at Malet Lambert school in Hull.

Her appointment follows the college’s recent announcement that A-levels will be returning to the campus in September 2017, alongside a launch of combined courses, both of which she will be responsible for overseeing.

She said “This is an incredibly exciting time to come to the organisation and deliver a new vision across both sites. I’m looking forward to the launch of A-level and combined courses along with the new Science and Technology Centre at Stafford College whilst also building on NULC’s high pass rates.”

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Marie Gilluley is now principal of Kirklees college in Huddersfield.

Ms Gilluley brings 30 years of experience to the role, most recently as principal at Bolton college – a position she had held for the past five years. 

As chair of the Greater Manchester Colleges Group she helped develop significant collaboration between the 10 FE colleges to improve curriculum quality.

Her first job in FE was as a lecturer in computer-aided engineering at Central Manchester college, something she says got her “hooked on FE and its power to change lives”. Prior to this she had a brief stint as a plant engineer in County Durham, where she was responsible for training apprentices.

Ms Gilluley says it was Kirklees college’s “responsibility for industrial liaison” that first attracted her to the role, adding: “Employer engagement and responsiveness has been a theme throughout my career in FE and something I have always believed in.”

Speaking of the challenges she will face in the role, she said: “There will be continued change in our sector and I believe I am someone that can quickly get their feet on the ground within the communities I serve. I’m able to work constructively alongside colleagues to build relationships and influence decision-makers.”

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Truro and Penwith college’s sport lecturer, Matt George, has been appointed goalkeeping coach for the English Schools’ Football Association under-18s.

The association is the national governing body of school and college football, with previous ESFA players including Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney, Leon Osman, Ben Amos and Chris Smalling.

Mr George will take up the new role alongside his position at the college, where he teaches on the BTEC level three coaching, development and fitness course. 

He hopes the appointment will inspire his students, saying: “Having worked towards and achieved my UEFA B licence and FA goalkeeping B license, to coach goalkeeping and training as a teacher, will mean students have a positive example of where success, commitment and dedication can take them.”

Martin Tucker, the director of Penwith College said: “To have an international coach working with our sport students is an asset to their education and development.”

 

If you want to let us know of any new faces at the top of your college, training provider or awarding organisation please let us know by emailing news@feweek.co.uk

FEATURE: West Nottinghamshire college flies the flag for diversity

A Nottinghamshire college has been recognised by equality charity Stonewall as a top employer for promoting lesbian, gay, bi and trans diversity amongst its staff. Samantha King reports.

This year, West Nottinghamshire college was voted as the 60th best employer on Stonewall’s list of 100 LGBT-friendly organisations, rising 33 places from last year, where it placed 93rd. 

The college, which is based in Mansfield, has climbed the top 100 list rapidly since it first took part in the charity’s voluntary audit in 2015 and came 143rd. 

Louise Knott, its vice-principal and chair of its equality and diversity steering group, said: “As a college, equality and diversity is deeply embedded within our culture and ethos, and over the last three years we have really focussed on LGBT+ equality. Our result this year is a clear indication that the hard work has paid dividends. 

Many choose their transition to college to come out

“For many of our students, coming to college at the age of 16 serves as a bit of a watershed, where they feel they can start to be themselves. Many choose their transition to college to come out.

“Therefore providing a safe and welcoming space for them to do this is essential.”

Now in its 13th year, Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index celebrates the efforts of employers to create inclusive workplaces, and is compiled through an annual audit of workplace culture.

There is also a confidential staff survey as part of the process, asking employees whether they were comfortable disclosing their sexual orientation at work, if they saw visible LGBT role models in the organisation, felt supported by their managers and were confident in reporting homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying.

“We have invested a significant amount of time not only in terms of our support for students, but also in creating an environment where our staff feel comfortable being themselves and are role models to our student body,” Knott added.

“We have found that our clear focus on LGBT+ equality has moved our organisational culture on significantly, and in fact has helped with many of our other equality and diversity strands. Our work will continue and we hope to move up the Top 100 ranking even further next year.”

Jacub Sabo-Dutton, a trans activist, speaks at the college 2016

More than 430 employers from across the public, private and third sectors submitted their entries for consideration; the college was one of only two FE institutions that made it onto the list, with Newham college of Further Education in east London placing 72nd.

Duncan Bradshaw, Stonewall’s director of membership programmes, said “West Nottinghamshire college and all those who have made this year’s Top 100 Employers list have done a fantastic job, and really do put equality and inclusion at the forefront of their work. 

“With continued efforts and hard work, we will continue to work towards a world where all lesbian, gay, bi and trans staff are welcomed and accepted without exception in their workplaces.”

Stonewall was founded in 1989 by a group who campaigned against a piece of government legislation – Section 28 – preventing the ‘promotion’ of homosexuality in schools. It achieved charitable status in 2003 and has since helped in equalising the age of consent and allowing same-sex couples to adopt.

To be considered for Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index, click here.

 

Main image: (L-R) Louise Knott, Alex Belcher, chair of student LGBT network , and Jane Hawksford, chair of staff LGBT group

Derwen college plants tree avenue for 90th anniversary

Derwen college is marking its 90th anniversary year by planting trees every month throughout 2017.

The first tree of the year – an Acer davidii George Forrest, commonly known as Snakebark Maple due to its patterned trunk – was planted on January 19 by the land-based studies team, who came up with the quirky idea to mark the milestone.

The specialist college, based in Shropshire, was founded in 1927 by Dame Agnes Hunt, so the team dressed in traditional 1920s attire as they planted the tree as a nod to the era.

It is hoped that the trees will eventually form an avenue that future students can walk down, with a different group of students getting involved with the planting each month.

Peter Evans, programme manager for land based studies at the college said: “The idea is that we will plant a tree that represents that particular month, for example flowers, coloured leaves or bark – and the planting will form an avenue of trees. 

“The students thought this would be just one way to continue the legacy of Dame Hunt into the future.”

The college will be marking its 90th year with a series of events including a 1920s ball and a week of further celebrations in June – for its official birthday week. 

 

Main image: The first of the 90th birthday trees planted 1920s style

Students tackle crime in Blackpool with poster campaign

Four students from Blackpool and The Fylde college have produced a poster campaign to help tackle violent crime in the area.

Angel Page, 17, Jonathan Woodhead, 31, Mitchell Gibson, 16 and Daniel Fraser, 31, who are art and design students at the college, have produced the posters in partnership with Blackpool council and Lancashire Constabulary.

The series of posters aim to remind people to stay safe – particularly when drinking – and have been placed in various locations around Blackpool, including licensed premises, the local hospital and around the college itself.

Hard-hitting: Posters produced for the campaign

Cllr Gillian Campbell, deputy leader of Blackpool council, said: “Our research highlighted that 16- to 24-year-olds were more susceptible to being victims or perpetrators of violent crime so we wanted to engage with people in that age group to come up with ideas which would raise awareness of the consequences.”

Sue Crosbie, employability team manager at the college, said: “The students drove the project forward and came up with the designs themselves, which had to be hard-hitting to really drive the messages home.

“It was good for them to get the opportunity to get first-hand experience of a professional campaign, with an extremely important message attached to it.”

There are plans to roll out more of the posters across Blackpool throughout the year. 

AoC: Membership fees overhaul consultation to avoid £1 million overspend

A consultation on the future of the Association of Colleges has set out plans for an overhaul of membership fees, to help prevent a £1 million overspend on its 2017/18 budget.

The document was unveiled this morning as AoC chief executive David Hughes admitted to FE Week that it needs to reform to balance the books – in part because membership numbers are set to drop with widescale college mergers. It currently has 308 members.

But he still insisted there are no plans to scale back its operations.

Mr Hughes said: “I have actually been overwhelmed with responses from members. Lots and lots have said they think it’s really good value for money and want us to carry on.”

Speaking to FE Week he said: “We represent almost 100 per cent of the eligible colleges, who deal with three million learners and what they want is a professional organisation to represent their interests, and provide them with support.

“The membership side of the business, it feels about the right size. I think we are about the right size, but we need to look at them and see what we want them to do over the next three years.”

The consultation with members proposes reducing the rebate for largest colleges, “as mergers reduce college numbers”.

The proposal is for a new AoC membership fee structure “of a single fee per college set at 0.1 per cent of turnover with a reduced rebate for the largest colleges”.

The document conceded that the current organisation is “not affordable” on fee levels, and “rolling forward as we are” would lead to a £1 million overspend on £6 million budget in 2017/18.

A fee cap of £38,500 would achieve overall income of £5.53 million, the document explained.

However, 89 colleges would see an increase in fee of more than 10 per cent, whilst 68 colleges would have a reduction of more than 5 per cent.

The proposal therefore “is to limit increases and decreases to 5 per cent”, which would decrease overall income to £5.25m in 17/18 (see proposals from the consultation document below).

 

Mr Hughes explained any decision on future fees will be made by the board, having considered the consultation response.

“Most boards try to reach a compromise that everyone is happy with and that is what we’ll do,” he explained.

Mr Hughes added: “If we did nothing we would probably overspend by £1 million.

“It is down to a combination of things. The number of mergers that will happen will mean that our income will go down considerably over the next three years.

“The dividend we get from AoC Create has also gone down because there are fewer projects around.”

He said it would be “interesting” to see how people will respond to the consultation.

“We had to propose something for fees because members were saying very clearly ‘we don’t want to keep cutting AoC, we want it to be effective’. This proposal tries to strike a balance.

“The majority of members will see either a reduction or the same fee, most of the changes are within a few hundred quid.”

AoC is also looking at rationalising its regional structure, as previously discussed with FE Week.

It currently has nine regional offices, which Mr Hughes explained could go down to “five maybe six”, with a new person possibly in place nationally to lead regional team.

Three of the current regional arms are external, contracted partners (EMFEC, ACER, AoSEC).

When asked what might happen to them, Mr Hughes said:  “We are not trying to cut them loose or undermine them. We are trying to see how can we make this work.

“There might be some compromises to be made. One thing that members want us to do is to continue the networks regionally.”

Mr Hughes added his organisation will be “consulting but not quite as formally” on commercial arm AoC Create and other subsidiaries over the next year.

He said: “We are not reviewing Create, and AoC Sport and the charitable trust, as part of this review – simply because you can’t do everything immediately. We will be doing that over the next six month, but not quite as formally.”

Vince Cable talks education policy with students as part of NUS research programme

The former minister for business, innovation and skills, Sir Vince Cable, has paid a visit to Dudley College as part of a national research programme exploring how changes to the education system can impact upon learners.

Headed up by Dr Cable, the programme is being carried out on behalf of the National Union of Students (NUS) – for which Cable is an ambassador – and will look at how the introduction of the post-16 skills plan and other substantial changes to the curriculum affects students.

 

During his visit to the west Midlands-based college, he met with senior staff about how they’re working to meet the needs of employers, and spoke with over 40 students from across a range of course areas who shared their day-to-day experiences of further education.

Students shared their thoughts on what changes they wanted to see during a discussion with the former minister, proposing the idea of work experience A-level programmes, and more support for learners with mental health problems.

Commenting on Dr Cable’s involvement in the project NUS vice-principal Shakira Martin said: “Dr Cable and I come from very different backgrounds and we usually speak to two very different audiences. I’m delighted that through his support for this work we can create one voice speaking about the future of further education.”

 

Main image: The Cable guy: Sir Vince leads a discussion with students

Epping Forest College hires finance director despite £338k IT scandal

The deputy chief executive of a major London college who abruptly left his post last summer over financial irregularities was recently appointed the finance director of another college in the capital, which insists it had full knowledge of his situation when it hired him.

May ‘Dare (pictured) left his job at Hackney Community College in August after he allegedly spent £338,000 of its money on IT supplies from a company which he secretly owned.

Some of his ex-colleagues have even accused his former employer of attempting a cover-up, though the college said the irregularities were discovered during an audit a few days after its merger with Tower Hamlets College last summer, and one day after he had gone on annual leave.

Gerry McDonald, the current group principal and chief executive officer of New City College Corporation (which now incorporates Hackney Community College, Tower Hamlets College and Redbridge College) told FE Week he left after “routine desk-based checks” found that the huge sum had been spent on equipment from his company, Newton Rachel Limited.

Mr McDonald said he “used his own company to purchase IT equipment on behalf of the college”, but “did not declare this to the then principal or the board”.

Despite this, some of Mr ‘Dare’s former Hackney colleagues told FE Week that the new college had tried to suppress news of the scandal.

One complained to FE Week that it was “almost as if the people who have taken us over feel no compunction to respect the need to keep things in the public domain”, while another said that “if Mr ‘Dare has sidestepped procedures in the use of public funds, and been allowed to avoid answering allegations that he personally benefitted, it’s just wrong”.

Last month, he accepted a job as the director of finance and operations at Epping Forest College, though a spokesperson told FE Week that he had made staff there aware of the dispute with his former employer “at the point of interview and before appointment”.

Mr McDonald strenuously denied any cover up concerning Mr ‘Dare’s departure, which was first reported in Private Eye.

He told FE Week that Mr ‘Dare, who sometimes goes by the name Kunle Oluwadare, “went on pre-arranged leave on August 5, before we had the opportunity to put the allegations to him. He then resigned, while on leave during the following week”.

FE Week also asked Ian Ashman, Hackney Community College’s former principal, up to the merger in August 2016 and current president of the Association of Colleges, about the allegations. 

He said: “The college has properly reported the situation to the authorities and undertaken an investigation. It would therefore be inappropriate for me to make further comment.”

FE Week understands Newton Rachel Limited was set up in October 2013, with Mr ‘Dare and his wife as the sole directors and shareholders.

He was employed by Hackney Community College for almost 24 years from its inception in 1992, and was made deputy chief executive of corporate services in April 2016.

An employee told FE Week that staff at Hackney Community College had been informed of Mr ‘Dare’s abrupt resignation in August, and were told that “financial irregularities’” had occurred.

They were sent a subsequent email by Mr McDonald, seen by FE Week, which said that the college had concluded an investigation into the matter and found “financial regulations were breached in relation to the procurement of IT equipment between 2013 and 2016”. 

Mr McDonald said that the college had not sought to recover the £338,000, because the goods it was used for had been received.

He also stressed that “no settlement agreement was or is in place”, adding: “We have referred the matter to the police who are dealing with it as an alleged fraud and possible abuse of public office.”

FE Week asked the Skills Funding Agency on what action they had taken in response to the scandal, and the impact on Hackney Community College, but a spokesperson said the agency had not intervened.

She said: “An independent investigation commissioned by Hackney Community College was conducted last year.

“The SFA is satisfied that the college implemented the recommendations and that no further action is required from the college at this stage.”

FE Week contacted Mr ‘Dare’s new place of work, Epping Forest College, to find out if managers had been aware of his previous dealings when he was appointed director of finance and operations on January 3, 2017.

A spokesperson told FE Week that “at the time of the appointment” the interview panel had known he was involved in an ongoing employment tribunal case with Hackney Community College.

On January 6, FE Week reported that Epping Forest College had been rated ‘inadequate’ across the board, in an Ofsted report that warned of safeguarding failings.

Mr ‘Dare told FE Week that he did not wish to comment ahead of his tribunal.

A University and College Union spokesperson said: “The episode involving May ‘Dare and computer supply contracts exposes the need for rigorous checks in our colleges.

“Concentrating so much power in so few hands is not healthy and we are also unconvinced that outsourcing these types of roles is always necessary.”

FE Week also contacted the college’s auditors, TIAA, but was told: “We do not comment on work undertaken on behalf of our clients”.

The Metropolitan Police was unable to comment.

 

HACKNEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE COMMENTS

The email sent to Hackney Community College staff by principal and chief executive Gerry McDonald informed staff that the incident involved May ‘Dare working alone.

It said there was “no evidence or reason to suspect that any other staff member/s were involved in this breach”.

It also acknowledged faults on the part of the college, saying that “processes and procedures in relation to procurement had been applied inconsistently”, and “there were not sufficient checks in place to ensure that financial regulations were followed”.

Mr McDonald’s email concluded that financial regulations at Hackney Community College had subsequently “been reviewed, to include more specific separation of duties and tighter processes across purchasing and procurement”, which would be “supported by systematic audits, management and governance checks”.

 

EPPING FOREST COLLEGE COMMENTS

A spokesperson for Epping Forest College told FE Week that an incomplete employment tribunal called by May ‘Dare against Hackney Community College had influenced the decision about his employment at the college.

FE Week understands from Hackney Community College that this tribunal was called on the grounds of constructive dismissal, which is when an employee is forced to leave their job against their will due to their employer’s conduct.

“We felt the case between Hackney Community College and Mr ‘Dare had not yet been satisfactorily concluded, and not wishing to prejudge the outcome, the college agreed to appoint him on a temporary basis until his employment tribunal case was resolved,” he said.

He added that Epping Forest College also received a letter from Mr ‘Dare’s solicitor, which confirmed the tribunal is scheduled for March 2017.

CONEL first London college to offer basketball BTEC

The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London will become the first college in London to offer a course in basketball.

The London-based college will launch its BTEC level three diploma in basketball from September this year, developing it in partnership with the London School of Basketball.

The new course will offer a basketball curriculum aimed at those interested in the sport both practically and theoretically, with topics including sport-specific coaching, physical education theory, sports psychology and physical application.

CONEL already runs a basketball academy from its sports centre in Enfield with the LSB, and there are plans to integrate aspects of this with the new course. 

In order to raise the profile of the academy – which recently appointed former Team GB coach Jay Williams as head coach – the college has launched a tournament for year 10 and 11 pupils at schools across Enfield, hoping to scout new players for the start of the next academic year.

Nhamo Shire, director of the London School of Basketball, said: “The performance of the academy so far this year has been remarkable. All the players have improved dramatically in a very short space of time.”

 

Main image: Ballers: The college’s 2016/17 elite squad