Agenda item

Report of Allen Graham, Chief Executive of Rushcliffe Borough Council.

Allen Graham, Chief Executive of Rushcliffe Borough Council, presented the report on the N2 Collaborative Employment and Skills Hub, highlighting the following points:

(a)  the proposals contained within the report do not extend to pre, or post-employment;

(b)  the bid would be for £3million, and it would be utilised for an N2 employment and skills hub.  This skills hub would link businesses and individuals together.  There is an existing hub model within Nottingham City Council;

(c)  existing provision for skills is scattered throughout the N2 region, and is very different in respective Council areas;

(d)  N2 should work together, so that there is no competition between constituent authorities of the Economic Prosperity Committee;

(e)  the Employment and Skills Hub would be seen as a ‘hub and spoke’ model, which would reduce administration costs.  It would also have the effect of co-ordinating the business sector together;

(f)  it is not just Local Authorities applying for this money, but also private organisations and colleges;

(g)  the primary aim is for the constituent members of the Economic Prosperity Committee to work together.  The private sector could be involved at a later date;

(h)  the Department for Work and Pensions are working alongside this bid, and would back a joint bid;

(i)  there needs to be continued engagement with districts and Local Authority officers.  Officers from Bassetlaw have been unable to participate in some meetings;

(j)  online access to the hub for younger people in Nottingham City can be very complicated, and needs simplifying;

(k)  branding for any new hub that is set up needs to be very clear in saying that local councils are part of this, and are helping younger people find jobs;

RESOLVED to:

(1)  support in principle the creation of a bid which results in the development of a collaborative ‘Employment and Skills Hub’;

(2)  prepare and submit a bid for the ESIF ‘Employ Local’ project for resources to deliver relevant services to employers and job seekers;

(3)  approve that Futures Advice, Skills and Employment be the lead bidder on behalf of a combined N2 partnership approach;

(4)  agree to align current similar Employment and Skills activity under the Employ Local initiative, if successful with the Employ Local bid;

Reasons for Recommendations

The establishment of an N2 ‘Employment and Skills Hub’ aligns with the wider vision of devolving skills funding and responsibility to the Combined Authority;

The EPC has supported the Local Enterprise Partnership view that a more coherent offer for both employers and employees is required. The concept of an ‘Employment and Skills Hub’ builds upon the principles of the Nottingham City Employer Hub and is strategically aligned to creating a simplified process for Employers, Job Seekers and Public Sector Agencies;

Futures Advice, Skills and Employment (a not for profit company jointly owned by the City and County Councils) has experience and a track record of success in accessing and delivering Skills Funding Agency and European Funded projects;

The employer incentives built into ‘Employ Local’ could help to drive growth in the priority sectors as outlined in the D2N2 Strategic Economic Plan, however this will need to be integrated with additional localised delivery mechanisms which make sense for employers, citizens and Government Agencies;

The establishment of the ‘Employment and Skills Hub’ will utilise existing infrastructure from the partnership to reduce costs and avoid duplication, whilst building upon localised best practice;

This approach contributes to the integration of Economic Development services and closer working of the Districts, County and City Councils in accordance with the Combined Authority proposals.

Other Options Considered

One option is to do nothing; this would mean that the strategic opportunity to align N2 skills and employment activities within one hub model would be significantly delayed. It would also result in the potential loss of £3.2 million funding.

Another option is for the City or County Council to bid for Employ Local for the whole of the N2 area. However, this may result in competitive bids from other partners. A joint bid involving all Districts, City and County Councils should be led by Futures. A bid of this nature which is on behalf of N2 would more effectively demonstrate our collective commitment to the proposed Combined Authority.