Eight young positive people greeted guest employers and their trained volunteer mentors at the first BEEP celebration event on Friday 21 October. Without doubt employers, mentors and the Motiv8-SW team were ‘blown away’ by the young people who have so far struggled to make positive steps towards work. Their presentations to the audience and their confidence in answering some challenging questions was impressive. These young people have gained more than the Health & Safety and First Aid Certificates they have grown in confidence, become a team, thought about their own skills and aspirations, and planned a positive future. Chelsea said “BEEP is the best programme – I felt that the team genuinely cared for me and my future … Rob (the trainer) is the best”.
These eight young people will have their trained volunteer mentors to support them from now on as they transition towards employment.
Be part of BEEP. Beep is a charity without your support more young people like these, (who are potential mechanics, barbers, hairdressers, farm workers and graphic artists), will be left behind.
England’s working age population volume and rate compared with Devon’s rate.
Participants from thirteen local Public Sector employers met at the Met Office for an update on the Apprenticeship Levy and the introduction of mandatory employment targets which will come into effect in April 2017. Ben Neild’s first presentation set the scene for the morning, proposing that apprenticeships could help to grow and keep local talent of all levels as “getting talent is getting tough”. The agenda included four informative and inspiring presentations – links below:
A round table discussion followed around three questions which elicited a great deal of interaction and notes! Here is a brief summary:
Q1 How do you work together and share knowledge and information?
Local Public Sector employers do not work together although there are groups and networks to which they belong. In addition internal collaboration can be a problem.
Q2 What would a Gold Medal Standard look like?
A Gold Medal standard apprenticeship would meet the business need, reduce resistance to cultural change, maximise the levy payment, provide evidence to enable further development, enhance collaboration and provide the apprentice with a quality learning experience with opportunities for employment and progression, whilst receiving a decent wage.
Q3a What are your next steps?
The next steps are for organisations: to understand their business and training needs and what the levy and the targets mean for them; to communicate this to Senior Management and identify dedicated resource and/or apprenticeship champion; and to consider working with other organisations to aggregate demand in order to negotiate with Training Providers and to share apprentices.
Q3b How can the EHOD Employment and Skills Board (ESB) help?
The ESB can help by informing and influencing organisations and by linking organisations either through identifying existing networks or by providing a facility to do so or similar networking events.
More follow-up information about the event will be shared with participants. Please contact oenone.thomas@exeter.gov.uk or 01392 265344 if you would like more information.
The Government has recently announced significant changes to Apprenticeships from April 2017. The changes are quite complex and far-reaching including Apprenticeship funding and incentives, delivery and direction, content, infrastructure etc. The most prominent message is a commitment to “3 million quality apprenticeship starts in England over this parliament”. For large public sector employers engagement will be mandatory, targets will be set and a levy charged.
This event is for local public sector employers to help them plan for the implementation of the Apprenticeship Levy, targets and new processes. It is designed for employers who already employ apprentices and for those that will be new to it. The agenda includes:
Exeter & Heart of Devon Economic Update from Ben Neild, University of Exeter
The importance of the public sector to the local economy and an update on productivity.
Detailed briefing on Apprenticeships post 2017 from Richard Daulton, National Apprenticeship Service
The Employer Levy, the 2.3% Public Sector target, the Digital Apprenticeship Service, apprenticeship standards and funding.
‘Large organisations thinking on Apprenticeships post 2017’ from Ben Neild, University of Exeter
Moving to a systemic approach.
A private sector case study from Nigel Fenn from South West Water
Assessing your current situation, plotting skills gaps and future needs, new recruits and/or workforce development and establishing costs and targets.
Room for collaboration? A round table discussion chaired by Mark Shepherd (Chair of EHOD Employment & Skills Board)
Shared apprenticeships? Joint development of standards where they do not exist? Shared intelligence and information.
Lunch and networking
The Event Details:
It is essential to register for this event (see below). Due to The Met Office security requirements please note that non-British Nationals should have their passports with them. Please do not arrive unless you are representing a Public Sector employer and you have booked your place. Thank you.
Date and Time
25 May 2016 09.00 am for 09.30 am with lunch at 12.30 pm
Location
The Met Office, FitzRoy Road, Exeter, EX1 3PB
Cost
None. We are very grateful to the Met Office and to Exeter City Council for their support of this event.
This free event is an opportunity to hear about the latest round of calls, the realities of running European Funded programmes and it will provide an opportunity to meet with potential partners.
REEP is for any young person between 16-24 years who is struggling to take first steps on their career ladder. With the benefit of an intensive 10 day programme and on-going mentoring from trained volunteers REEP is currently making a positive difference to the lives of two groups of young people
REEP 1
REEP 1 individuals celebrated a successful end to their 10 day programme on Friday 13th February and since then 8 of the 9 young people have continued to make real progress. Their volunteer mentors maintain their support which can bring many challenges but which has undeniably had a very positive impact. This is what Charlie who is working for an IT company reported to his mentor:
“Anyway! Good to hear from you, everything is going pretty darn well with the job, still there and my probation period is up at the end of May so it’s all looking pretty good. They’ve already got me going up and around the country to do stuff at our other sites, including today where I’ve been up to Oxford to fix a bunch of stuff.
That REEP course though has really helped me out with my confidence and all as well, lost a bunch of weight already and buying a motorbike in the next couple weeks, so it’s all go!
Thanks for the job advert, really, I don’t think I’ll be applying for anywhere at the moment though, one of the first times I’ve really enjoyed my job; great people, good work, never bored and waiting for anything and it’s right up my alley, big smiles all round!”
An inspiring update on the young people on REEP 1:
Aaron
Doing voluntary work for Hospice Care, has applied for the Army, looking to do CSCS card and possibly finding work in construction
Amy
Working at Crealy Park
Charlie
Working at Co-op, completed CSCS card
Charlie
Working at an IT company and contributing to REEP 2
Hamish
Applied for Bricklayers apprenticeship at Exeter College
Jacob
(Jacob’s mentor is trying to make contact sadly without success at the moment.)
Jemima
Working at Coaches Cafe
Mike
Working at Devon Recycling
Ryan
Re-taking CSCS card, improving CV and has a part-time job at Yodel
REEP 2
Meanwhile young people on REEP 2 are just coming to the end of their 10 day programme. REEP 2 is a smaller group of young men who have overcome significant multiple challenges to make huge amounts of progress on the programme. Some young people have not received help from any of the usual agencies. Confidence, self-esteem and aspiration building have been fundamental stepping stones to their progress. They have met their new mentors. For one young man who was extremely nervous and who literally froze prior to the first meeting with his mentor Motiv8-SW’s coaching and mentoring techniques successfully persuaded him to meet his mentor. His satisfaction at finally overcoming his severe lack of self-confidence was immense.
We are looking forward to the REEP 2 presentation day Friday 22 May at St Loye’s. We are really proud of the REEP programme and cannot thank everyone enough for their help, time and involvement. REEP 1 has an 89% success rate of young people starting the REEP programme to progressing into work. But we are we are fortunate to be able to and feel compelled to focus on every individual as an individual. Where other programmes targeting unemployed young people may have cancelled a programme with a small number of individuals we have remembered that “every individual matters”.
Once again thank you to everyone who has supported REEP. Between us all we are making a positive difference to young people’s lives!
We are delighted to be able to offer 100 more free customer service courses to businesses in Exeter and the Heart of Devon in preparation for an autumn of international rugby. The original 160 places on customer service courses were booked in no time at all and the feedback was great. Fortunately, the Exeter and the Heart of Devon Employment and Skills Board has been successful in securing additional European Social Funding through the Skills Funding Agency for a further 100 people to participate in these courses delivered by Purple Cloud Consultancy. Previously only businesses with less than 250 employees have been eligible for free full funding so we are thrilled that we can now offer 32 places to larger organisations.
The courses help businesses:
Maximise the opportunities for rugby-related business
Understand how to manage super-happy or unhappy rugby supporters
Promote places to visit in the area
Gain a competitive edge
In addition to the training each delegate receives:
A mini-tour of Sandy Park
A special Visit Exeter guide, a Host City pin badge and a certificate
The option of taking a free City & Guilds Level 2 qualification at the end of the day. 97% of the first 160 delegates have taken this opportunity.
Delegate feedback from the first eight courses has been very positive:
‘Everyone should do it’
Hotel, Leisure & Golf complex
‘Very thought provoking and made me think how I handle situations and how I can improve’
Holiday Park
‘A very motivating course’
Paintball Venue
‘Really good day – very useful and thought provoking’
Self Catering businesses owner
‘Very helpful, very engaging, we had a most enjoyable and beneficial day!’
Hotel
‘Very good and well presented’
Cruise company
Visitors greeted with world class customer service leave with a positive image of Exeter and the South West and are more likely to return. To find out more please select the appropriate contact below or email helen@purplecloudconsultancy.co.uk .
Sandra (right) catching up with Amy during a working day at Crealy
REEP could be EEP! REEP gets its name from Rugby Empowering Employment Programme. The connection to rugby is due to generous funding from Rugby World Cup 2015 legacy funding. REEP uses some sporting values: preparation, commitment, hard work, skill and collaboration but in reality REEP is for any young person between 16-24 years who is struggling to take first steps on their career ladder regardless of their interest in sport or rugby.
Young people from the first REEP are still on track! They are demonstrating their determination, newly acquired skills and confidence, whilst continuing their valuable relationships with trained volunteer mentors.
We are delighted that a second REEP project will start on Monday 11 May 2015. We would like to hear from three groups of people:
Young people aged 16-24 years from East Devon, Exeter, Mid Devon and Teignbridge who would like to join the project. Charlie from the first REEP programme said: “The course leaders have been great. They know how to motivate and really got everyone to open up… the course has been good for me already.” Charlie is now working for an Exeter IT company.
Potential mentors who receive free training to help them with their vital role of helping young people transition from the REEP 10 day programme in to work or education. Sandra, Amy’s volunteer mentor from the first REEP programme said “Amy was devastated when she was initially unsuccessful at her first interview at Crealy (before REEP), this shows how empowering this 10 day programme is and how her renewed confidence and skills have resulted in such a positive outcome for Amy”.
Employers who would consider recruiting a local young person who has completed the REEP programme and who has the support of a mentor. Craig Clews, Assistant General Manager at Devon’s Crealy Great Adventure Park said: “It was a real pleasure to attend the REEP presentation day and I’m delighted that Amy got in contact with me. We’re thrilled that she’ll be joining the Crealy Crew. We’re always on the search for new talent, especially those with a ‘Can Do’ attitude and Amy showed just that. We are fortunate to be able to offer flexible working in a fun environment at Crealy. New members of the team will join us for our biggest and best year to date.”
“Every individual matters” (Karime Hassan, Exeter City Council Chief Executive and Growth Director ) so we encourage you to find out more about REEP by reading the blogs posted here or by contacting Motiv8-SW on 0844 848 9594.
REEP Young People are on track! They are demonstrating their determination, newly acquired skills and confidence, whilst continuing their valuable relationships with trained volunteer mentors. This is the latest update:
Aaron*
Is doing voluntary work at Hospice Care with a view to full time employment
Amy
Is working full time at Crealy
Charlie*
Has signed up for the Transplant course that is running this week, is doing his construction green card and forklift training
Charlie
Is working full time at IT company
Hamish*
Has been on work experience as a labourer and is currently in the process of trying to obtain his CSCS card
Jacob*
Is looking to sort his CSCS card
Jemima
Is working full time at Coach’s café, still trying to pursue further training for a Midwifery course
Mike*
Has applied for an apprenticeship in brick laying through Exeter College and hopes to hear this week
Ryan
Is sorting out an interview at the Job Centre today for Tool Hire
Importantly, for the local construction sector and for the young people themselves a large construction company are interested in meeting all the young people* who expressed an interest in a career in construction.
“Every individual matters” to the mentors, to the partners, to parents and carers, and now thanks to REEP to each one of the young people themselves.
Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership Labour & Skills Study January 2015 – Figure 3.6.1. Showing Labour Demand in Devon 2015-2019
Labour demand for construction workers in Devon is expected to increase from now until 2019, peaking at 17,000 workers in April 2016. At the moment there is a mismatch between labour supply and demand. So the challenge is to get the people with the right skills and knowledge in place to meet the workload. The dynamic is further complicated by planned re-development work in Plymouth and the construction of Hinkley Point C, the largest construction project in Europe.
Construction labour demand in the South West is expected to be 22,000 higher in 2019 than in 2014 representing an annual increase of 1.9%, higher than the UK average of 1.4%. Labour demand isn’t all about brick laying, it includes a huge spectrum of occupations:
Number of workers employed in a small sample of the 28 broad construction occupation groups (2014) for Heart of the South West (HoSW) (Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay)
Architects
830
Building envelope specialists
3,350
Electrical trades and installation
4,130
Non-construction professional, technical, IT, and other office-based staff.
9,500
Plumbing and HVAC Trades
6,200
Senior, executive, and business process managers
3,870
Wood trades and interior fit-out
9,140
The Exeter & Heart of Devon Employment and Skills Board (EHOD ESB) have been working with local councils and the Growth Point team to maximise the potential for recruitment of local skills development and labour. Council leaders from East Devon District Council, Exeter City Council and Teignbridge District Council have now signed a concordat to align their approach to construction skills development and employment opportunities. This will set the expectation that construction companies and their sub contractors, whether new build or for maintenance, will invest in local skills development in the same way across all three council areas.
Over the coming months we will be:
Supporting the newly formed South West Shared Apprenticeships, an organisation set-up to employ apprentices who are then allocated jobs within a number of construction companies and contractors. Over a number of projects and over a two-year period apprentices will accumulate enough experience to complete Level 1 and 2 NVQs. Thus, removing the barrier for some building companies, who do not have sufficient work to employ an apprentice full-time.
Working towards the implementation of the Construction Industry Training Board’s‘Client Based Approach’ which has clearly defined requirements in support of the development of a local skilled workforce through key performance indicators (KPI) for skills development and employment, commensurate with project type and scale.
Considering the benefits of a two stage procurement process through the Construction Framework South West for greater collaboration and localism.
Working with the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership and the Construction Industry Training Board to develop their construction employment and skills strategy.
The EHOD ESB has set out it’s mantra of ” Improving peoples’ lives through Employment and Skills whilst consciously reflecting that we are doing the right thing”. The size of the opportunity within the construction sector is significant. The proactive approach in tackling difficult challenges in an open forward-thinking collaborative approach, has begun to bear fruit, and it is vital that the momentum continues in order that the potential is realised.
Mark Shepherd, Chair of EHOD ESB said: “The success of this initiative so far, is a real credit to all those from Local Government, Employers, Funders and Facilitators whom without their contributions this would not have been achieved. For all partners this is a fantastic example of what proactive collaboration can achieve!”
Julie Hawker, Chief Executive, Cosmic, and Board member of the Exeter & Heart of Devon Employment & Skills Board writes –
We’re all very aware that most young people now in their teenage years come with a skill, experience and aptitude for IT and digital technologies ‘built in’. These millennials (born since 2000) have grown up in a world where digital has played a part in every stage of their lives so far – entertainment, healthcare, education, social interaction, communications and more.
At the very same time then consider how many businesses locally are desperately in need of new digital skills and the talent to harness its potential within the business. In fact, when asked most SMEs don’t yet know what digital technologies can offer to improve their businesses – they simply do not have the time, expertise and basic knowledge to start this type of review.
And then, there’s the dilemma which older teenagers are now facing: to go to university in order to develop their knowledge, skills and career opportunities (whilst at the same time racking up student debt of course), or have the courage to step straight into employment or work placement. Or, of course, get the best of both-worlds and find a great apprenticeship!
And so it was against this backdrop that Cosmic set out to develop our own digital apprenticeship programme – harnessing the potential which young people can offer for the growth of our business and partner businesses too. Our first step was to recruit the right individuals, and ideally to get the local schools working with us to provide the links to the recruitment process. Hugely disappointing reactions from these schools – unwilling to promote apprenticeships to students, too busy to share our flyers, or just not keen to interrupt other ‘priority’ school activities. And further disappointment in the balance of applicants when we finally did get enough response – why aren’t more girls interested in IT career paths at the moment?
Pie chart to show the lack of female applicants for digital apprenticeships at Cosmic
Once the recruitment was progressing, and during interviews, the inspiration and motivation levels for the project increased significantly, and we appointed six young guys with huge potential and commitment. During their 12 month programme we enjoyed watching them grow and develop new skills, become great team players, and more importantly take on income-generating roles in our business. We also provided them with major opportunities for work experience in partner organisations – Mole Valley Farmers, Yarlington Housing, Eloquent Technologies. And so the benefits to their development were very valuable.
And at the end of September 2014 Cosmic were able to offer three full-time, permanent roles on our staff – Jack, Alex, Jamie (one of whom already secured employment through the pilot project) are all now a part of the team and further developing their learning, skills and playing a part in business development too. Others who left us at this point have been supported to gain work in other businesses – web development and tech support. And so we look back at the programme with a great deal of pride and also a clear understanding about the value which this project gave us in return. For example –
Cosmic has now implemented a Living Wage policy – ensuring that the pathway from apprenticeship (lower paid) to permanent position also comes with a significant increase in wage levels to recognise the contribution made to the business
Travel costs to-and-from work are increasingly becoming a barrier for younger employees who seek to gain great jobs but at distance from home. Not just the cost of fuel if they are drivers, but the cost of insurance is massive! And then for those relying on public transport both the time it takes to journey across rural south west, and the costs involved are off-putting. (and so we put in place an additional travel subsidy based on the miles from home)
Harnessing young, enthusiastic talent in our business effectively is a challenge – we need structure, planning, quality management and customer focus. They need autonomy (freedom to choose), motivation, incentives, peer-support and (they need but may not want!) understanding how it fits in business – i.e. commercial awareness.
Customer service skills are not taught in our education system – and yet they are fundamental to every business! We invested a lot time with apprentices so that they learned and developed great customer service skills. Emails, phone calls, meetings, presentations all provide people with a link to our business and we must get that right every time.
Last month the House of Lords published a report about the significant need for digital skills to be embraced by British businesses – “Make or Break”
The report outlines numerous issues facing businesses and the need for digital skills, and plenty of recommendations for the incoming government in May to focus on –
“Including a digital element in all apprenticeship schemes, as well as offering more digital apprenticeships for specific technology occupations and sectors (taking into account the predicted changes to the labour market), could improve general digital skills”
But more locally, even the business community doesn’t recognise the major challenges ahead and we all need to inform and educate our colleagues and associates more fully. Digital skills will be needed by every business in the years ahead. There isn’t a ‘digital sector’ which will be the only employer of young talent, and we need to have schools, colleges, employers and careers support which understand this context for apprenticeships. And digital businesses and agencies, like Cosmic, are keen to sit at the heart of future developments and to support other employers.
Greater Exeter Skills Partnership is an independent body and voice for employers, aiming to improve employment across Devon and beyond.
Greater Exeter Skills Partnership 