Sector Priorities Fund Pilot Advocate Procurement

Descriptions

The UK has progressed a sector based policy approach over the last decade with a view to improving its’ skills position. The Sector Priorities Fund Pilot Programme (herein referred to as the SPFP Programme) is designed to take forward strategic sector project activity led by Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) in order to realise the sector related policy recommendations outlined in “Skills that Work for Wales: A Skills and Employment Strategy and Action Plan. This policy promotes a sector based response to identifying and addressing skills and employment needs within sectors of the Welsh economy. Skills That Work for Wales outlined the need for a Sector Priorities Fund from 2011 in Wales to align provision to the needs of key sectors of the economy. SPFP is aimed at piloting sector based solutions activity which has been identified by SSCs and evidenced as a need through their employer engagement strategies and backed by robust labour market intelligence. There is also an underlying aim to build the capacity in the skills system by brokering relationships between SSCs, FE and HE Institutions. This will enable sector solutions to be delivered with strong partnership arrangements with providers and strategic sector bodies (SSCs) who act as the voice of employers in identifying skills gaps and shortages, as well as reforming qualifications to ensure they meet the needs of industry.The overarching aim of the SPFP Programme is to provide the evidence base on which to inform and influence policy and delivery systems in Wales to enable mainstream training programmes supported by the Welsh Assembly Government to become more demand-responsive. That is, policy and delivery systems are more reflective of the training and skills needs articulated by employers across sectors of the Welsh economy.Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) will be at the core to directing and managing project activity and submit project proposals to be supported via the SPFP Programme funding. SSC strategic projects will be underpinned by evidence of employer-demand gained primarily through their Sector Skills Agreements (SSAs) and Sector Qualifications Strategies (SQSs), and will pilot activity aimed at feeding intelligence to inform the 2011 Sector Priorities Fund identified in “Skills that Work for Wales”.The main objectives of the SPFP Programme are to:•Feed labour market intelligence to support the development of the 2011 Sector Priorities Fund described in “Skills that Work for Wales”, identifying skills gaps and shortages in sector footprints. The intelligence will be employer led and at a sub national level, focused on regions of Wales or where there are particular clusters of companies within common skills needs •Facilitate the development of strategic and sustainable partnerships between SSCs and the training provider network in Wales, particular those operating as part of the Further Education (FE) and Higher Education (HE) sectors. This capacity building role will serve to develop robust partnerships to provide a bed rock for the Sector Priorities Fund from 2011 onwards•Support SSC partnership and collaboration. The underlying aim is to foster and encourage collaboration within SSC clusters which have been formed e.g. Built Environment and Manufacturing •Test demand for innovative training solutions targeted at employers and the application of a fee contribution to training.•Raise skills levels of individual participants to support their onward career progression.•Raise awareness with employers of their requirements under equal opportunities and support the development of skills training for environmental sustainability, in line with ESF Cross-Cutting Themes.•Provide strategic linkages and mutual alignment of other ESF supported projects and programmes targeted at a specific sector (or sectors) of the Welsh economy, in order to maximise the investments being made.It is critical to attract Advocates who have the right skills and experience to deliver within this project. The Advocate Team sits as a key resource to supporting the delivery of the above objectives by ensuring the outcomes of the SPFP Programme are circulated as widely as possible, and that the right partnerships are developed with key stakeholders in order to facilitate a change to becoming more demand-responsive and employer led. A key element to the Advocate Team is to ensure appropriate communication and dialogue occurs when other ESF supported projects are developed by training providers in Wales (particularly those being taken forward by the FE and HE sectors).The SPFP Advocate Team consists of 11 full-time positions made up of 7 Sector Advocates and 4 Regional Provider Network Advocates and is a critical resource to ensuring the SPFP Programme is capable of meeting its desired aim and objectives. The Sector Advocates must be able to demonstrate a clear understanding of the role and remit of SSCs and have experience of developing sector based skills solutions in partnership with FE/HE Institutions. For those interested in the 4 Regional Provider Network Advocate roles, experience of working in FE/HE Institutions and having a strategic approach to developing relationships with stakeholders is essential, together with a thorough understanding of how engaging with the role of SSCs on skills related issues will result in benefits and delivery impact within sectors. This procurement exercise represents the best method for sourcing the Advocate Team positions and ensures all stakeholders with an interest in the education and training sector in Wales have the opportunity to be involved in this innovative programme of work.What is essentially being requested is for organisations to fill the proposed Advocate Team positions until the 31st January 2012. In return, organisations will receive a reimbursement to cover existing salary commitments and other overhead costs, subject to specific terms and conditions and compliance with European funding rules. In total it is estimated that the Contract to provide just one of the 11 Advocate positions could be up to £52,500 per annum, based on an individual working full-time (where full-time is defined as 37 hours a week for 221 days a year, excluding annual leave and public holidays). For the proposed Contract period of the 1st November 2010 to the 31st January 2012, this represents a possible reimbursement to successful organisations of up to £65,625 per Advocate Team position, again based on full-time working. It is recognised that not all organisations will be able to commit resources for the full 221 days per year. In recognition of this, organisations will be able to offer support between a range of 128 to 221 working days per annum. The Advocate Team itself, consists of 7 Sector Advocates and 4 Regional Provider Network Advocates (11 positions in total) which will operate as part of the SPFP Programme to provide support in the delivery of its strategic aim and objectives. Successful organisations for both Sector Advocates and Regional Provider Network Advocates will be able to demonstrate the following:a) A proven track record of leading the development of sector skills based solutions aligned to “Skills That Work for Wales” based upon a sound understanding of the skills infrastructure in Wales by fostering strong partnership arrangements and collaborative working. b) Experience of supporting projects targeted at post 16 skills and training needs or experience of working directly with employers in supporting their skills and training needs.c) Awareness of the role Sector Skills Councils play in terms of articulating the skills need of employers.The Sector Advocates and Regional Provider Network Advocates will have distinct roles:Sector Advocates (x7)Will be positioned at a more operational level, taking an internally facing role to support SSCs in achieving the delivery of the SPFP programme.Advocates will allow intelligence emerging through outcomes of the SPFP programme to get to grass roots level and bridge the gap between policy and strategy at an SSC level. It is anticipated that Sector Advocates will also inform of the sectoral dimension to other WAG or ESF funded programmes, therefore strengthening partnerships between SSCs and training providers in Wales.Sector Advocates will have no spatial dimension to their roles as SSCs operate on a national basis. It is envisaged that Sector Advocates will be based on the 7 DCELLS SSC Cluster Groups, although there may be some variations in operational areas i.e. one sector advocate may work with two smaller cluster groups whilst two sector advocates could work with a large cluster group.The 7 Sector Advocates will be appointed though one lot.Regional Provider Network Advocates (x4)Will be aligned at a strategic level and will be predominantly externally focussed, working with delivery partners to achieve the partnerships required to facilitate the long term aim and objectives of the SPFP programme.Advocates will allow intelligence emerging through outcomes of the SPFP programme to inform delivery and partnership development at training provider level.Regional Provider Network Advocates will be split across the four regions of Wales and will work across these regions to develop and formalise partnerships between the SPFP programme and training providers and will link with SSC Advocates to communicate key outcomes from the SPFP programme.The Provider Network Advocates will cover four regions split as below:- South East Wales (Monmouthshire, Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen, Newport & Cardiff).- South Wales (Bridgend, Vale of Glamorgan, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Merthyr Tydfil & Caerphilly).- South West & Mid Wales (Neath Port Talbot, Swansea, Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion & Powys).- North Wales (Isle of Anglesey, Gwynedd, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire & Wrexham).The Regional Provider Network Advocates will be appointed through 4 lots, one lot for each of the above regions.Where an organisation wishes to support more than one Advocate Team position, they will be required to indicate which lot they are applying for within the ITT.The awarding Authority reserves the right to request parent company and/or other guarantees of performance and financial liability.Payment terms will be indicated in the contract documents. Tenders to be priced in sterling. Payment made in sterling only.No special legal form required but joint and several liability assumed by all group bidders before acceptance.The Authority reserves the right to consider variant bids.The Authority reserves the right to split the requirement into lots.The contract will have an option to extend the duration up to a period of a further 3 months.