New Anglia Skills Advisory Panel Meeting

21^st November 2019

At East Coast College (Lowestoft campus)

MINUTES OF MEETING

In attendance:

Chris Gribble, Writers’ Centre Norwich

Christine Futter, Norfolk and Suffolk Care

(CG)

Support (CF)

Clarke Willis, Swallow Barns (CW)

Corrienne Peasgood, City College Norwich

Cllr Mary Evans, Suffolk County Council

(CP)

(ME)

David Gartland (DG)

Cllr Stuart Clancy, Norfolk County Council

Guy Hazelhurst, EDF (GH)

(SC)

Jan Feeney, Norfolk County Council (JF)

David Pomfret, College of West Anglia

Jason Parnell, Steadfast Training (JP)

(DP)

Karen Gibson, Norfolk County Council (KG)

Dayle Bayliss, Dayle Bayliss Associates

Michael Gray, Suffolk County Council (MG)

Julia Nix, DWP (JN)

Natasha Waller, New Anglia LEP (NW)

Glen Todd, New Anglia LEP (GT)

Peter Basford, BDO Group (PB)

Jane Townsend, Easton & Otley College

Richard Bridgman, Warren Services (RB)

(JT)

Stuart Smith, People with Energy (SS)

Judith Mobbs, Suffolk County Council (JM)

Tom Brown, Green Light Trust (TB)

Lucy Walker, ESFA (LW)

Tom Humphries, Norfolk County Council

Lynsey Sweales, representing Norfolk

(TH)

Chamber of Commerce (LS)

Nikos Savvas, West Suffolk College (NS)

Visitors:

Peter Funnell, Oakmere Solutions (PF)

Claire Cullens, New Anglia LEP Board (CC)

Richard Self, agricultural representative

Emma Taylor, New Anglia LEP

(RS)

Rachel Bunn, East Coast College (RB)

Vince Muspratt, Norfolk County Council

Simon Papworth, New Anglia LEP (SP)

(VP)

Viv Gillespie, Suffolk New College (VG)

Apologies:

Yvonne Mason, The Mason Trust (YM)

Ben Miller, Konica Minolta (BM)

Item 1: Welcome, Introductions & Apologies - Approval of Minutes

Stuart Rimmer announced that he was going to Chair the meeting as Paul resigned at the last

meeting. He welcomed everyone to East Coast College.

Members introduced themselves as we had some new members and visitors.

The minutes of the meeting in September 2019 were approved. Actions arising:

- A diagram showing other linked groups to the SAP was circulated. There had been some

access issues reported so this will be recirculated.

- The terms of reference were adjusted following the September meeting and approved by

the LEP Board in October. They have subsequently been circulated and are on the LEP

website.

- Declaration of interest and expectation forms - NW reminded everyone to complete and

return their forms ASAP. An audit is being undertaken.

- Private sector member roles had been circulated.

- Update on Suffolk Skills and Careers Festival - 84 exhibitors representing 12 sectors were in

attendance. 46 schools sent 4048 pupils. Feedback has been positive and the organisers and

LEP are meeting at the end of November to share information and plan for 2020.

- The appointment of a new Chair has been discussed by the LEP Board and nominations

were being sought by the private sector LEP Board members. A discussion around the

attributes took place with key points being:

Someone to listen, respond and collate the voices around the table.

Commitment, passion and action focussed.

Support with raising profile to the LEP Board and onto Government as necessary.

Keep a focus on main outputs, targets, and such like through the development of a

clear forward plan and agenda points.

ACTIONS:

NW to recirculate the information regarding linked groups.

All to complete declaration of interest and expectation forms and return to NW ASAP

Item 2: Targets for SAP - what do we need to monitor to achieve our vision

Michael Gray and Simon Papworth gave a presentation on the objectives of the SAP and potential

data that we can monitor. Simon had met with staff within NCC/SCC who review skills data so that a

partnership approach to collating data can be established. Both stressed that we need to have a high

level approach to recording of data as there is a vast array and pinpointing activity to changes in data

is really challenging.

SP was asked to reflect on the following:

- Producing a glossary to enhance understanding of evidence sources

- Whether mental health rates can be monitored

- Update timescales

- Setting of KPIs

- If Progress8 data is good, is there evidence that certain curriculum is being neglected

- Graduate destinations

- Monitoring productivity

- Regional v national skills levels - particularly shortages of skills sets

- Provider data

- Value for money on LEP skills investments

ACTION:

SP to meet with County Council colleagues and reflect on feedback and report back to the SAP in the

January 2020.

Item 3: ESF - how can the SAP assist/shape current and future projects

Emma Taylor (ET), Funding Manager at the LEP gave an update on key ESF information

including:

- Delays in appraisals will mean that there will be a lot of activity towards the end of the

funding window.

- The National Reserve window is now open so ET is looking for projects to take forward.

- It is advised that employability programmes work with the Building Better Opportunities

(BBO) projects to learn lessons and reduce confusion/increase impact across Norfolk and

Suffolk.

- Two calls are live currently - sector skills and career hub. They are likely to be

oversubscribed but Emma is happy to build projects for the national reserve.

There was discussion around having a staged approach to taking those furthest from the

workplace into employment and spending money where we can get the biggest impact.

Item 4 Forward Plan

NW presented a proposal on the forward plan. Although not exclusively, we would look to

focus meetings around an objective and include a sector update.

The forward plan will be reviewed in meetings moving forward but from panel discussions a

focus of the January meeting was determined:

ACTION:

NW to develop an agenda point for January around the apprenticeship landscape - who is

responsible for apprenticeships in the LEP and county councils plus an introduction to levy

sharing.

MG to provide an update on the Pye Tait report and how it can build on the sector skills

plans.

Item 5: Apprenticeship Levy Sharing Update

Alison Ward has been appointed to New Anglia LEP as our Apprenticeship Levy Transfer

Coordinator and will start on December 2^nd.

Our ambition is to have 50 transfers taking place in Norfolk and Suffolk over the next year

and 100 in the following. NW stressed that we didn’t have to be involved in these transfers if

existing arrangements were in place but we would broker additional relationships.

A date for a steering group meeting has been determined and also with providers but NW is

keen for Alison to be in post to confirm plans before these are formalised.

ACTION:

Interested parties to contact NW for further information.

Item 6: Skills Deal

MG gave an update on the Skills Deal underspend and that they were seeking applications

for the underspend from the current successful projects (Deadline 22/11/2019).

There was discussion about the appraisal process and potential conflicts of interest if panel

members took part in this process.

ACTION:

MG to speak to NW about the appraisal process.

Item 7: Energy Update

SR gave a brief update on the Energy Centre (further info was given on the subsequent tour)

and SS set the context in terms of governance changes in some of the energy groups. These

should support progress with the sector skills plan recommendations.

RB gave impressive data on the number of companies who have visited the centre to date

(126) and that many of these are offering support with delivery of courses. Specialist training

at different levels and focus was being revamped to ensure that it is up to date for the

sectors.

ECC are keen to support from primary schools upwards and are planning to run Big Bang

events in 2020.

The intensive transition programme supported by the Skills Deal had been really successful

with nearly all students progressing to employment or further study.

Many Offshore Wind Week events were taking place in the Centre this week.