Agenda item

To provide an update on the work of the Council’s apprenticeship service Career Track.

RESOLVED that the work of Career Track, as detailed in the report, be noted.

The Cabinet gave consideration to a report of the Corporate Finance and Governance Portfolio Holder (A.4) which provided it with an update on the work of the Council’s apprenticeship service Career Track.

Members were informed that Career Track had first been established within Tendring District Council in 1983. Since then it had continuously provided apprenticeship opportunities within the organisation and for other employers. Over the years the nature of the apprenticeships and indeed the very definition of ‘what is an apprentice’ had changed when central Government priorities and focus had been amended as part of both education and employment policy.

Cabinet was aware that the Council’s sustained commitment to the Career Track apprentice scheme had been a central plank of its work to develop a more skilled workforce and to “grow its own” employees of the future.

It was reported however that, following the Government’s simultaneous overhaul of apprenticeship delivery rules with the introduction of the national Register of Approved Training Providers alongside the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy May 2017, and the consequent loss of opportunity to support non levy paying employers with apprenticeships within Tendring there had been an impact on Career Track over the past twelve months. This has resulted in an estimated total loss of £60,000 revenue. Perhaps more importantly and sadly it had meant that many long standing working relationships with small local businesses had now been lost. Local employers who had approached Career Track based on its long established and successful track record had had to be turned away and referred to larger institutions.

Members were made aware that this has also resulted in a dip in apprentice numbers as Career Track had had to identify new levy paying employers who were prepared to choose Career Track as their apprenticeship provider. Tendring Council did not have a large number of levy paying employers within the District. It also took longer to secure a contract with a larger employer. Nonetheless, new employers had come on board and more were joining. As well as supporting Tendring District Council, Career Track now also supported Colchester Borough Council, Maldon District Council, Ellison’s Solicitors and Silverton Aggregates. Discussions were ongoing with a number of other employers.

Cabinet was informed that Career Track was currently supporting 24 apprentices within the organisation. 64% of all the apprentices in the Council were with Career Track. It was also supporting 12 apprentices in other organisations. A further eleven apprentices were expected to start soon as advertised apprentice vacancies were filled, with opportunities for 17 apprenticeships in three other organisations being discussed.

Members were advised that in November 2017 Career Track had had an audit visit from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), following which no improvement measures had been required. Recent inspection visits from Pearson (the awarding body for qualifications) had also given a 100% report with no improvements required. At the time of writing an Ofsted inspection had not taken place but a monitoring visit was expected at any time during 2019. An invitation to re-apply to continue to provide apprenticeships via the ESFA national Register of Approved Training Providers (RoATP) was imminently due.

Cabinet was informed that specific priorities going forward for Career Track included:-

(1)   increase the number of apprentices to a total of 70 by the end of 2019;

(2)   develop new marketing and promotion materials and strategy and increase digital presence by August 2019;

(3)   prepare for the Ofsted inspection with a target to gain a ‘Good’ grading by December 2019; and

(4)   Re-apply to ROAPT for continued ‘Main Provider’ status during June 2019.

Having considered the information provided in the report:-

It was moved by Councillor G V Guglielmi, seconded by Councillor Stock OBE and:-

RESOLVED that the work of Career Track, as detailed in the report, be noted.