On 1 August 2020 delivery of the Adult Education Budget (AEB) was devolved to the North of Tyne Combined Authority (NTCA). Additional skills funding has been delegated to NTCA from the Department of Education (DfE), it comprises of ‘Free Courses for Jobs’ and ‘Technical Bootcamp’ funding.
The Combined Authority also receives funding to deliver the governments adult numeracy maths focussed programme, ‘Multiply’, funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). In two years’ time NTCA will start commissioning the ‘People and Skills’ element of UKSPF. The NTCA Investment Fund also support Skills programmes and learning activities to support our wider projects and investments.
On 7 November 2022, NTCA held a market engagement event at at Newcastle Helix’s The Core to promote the Post 16 Flexible Procurement Framework for Skills provision. The procurement commenceed on 11 November, with the opportunity open to 16 December 2022.
The Flexible Procurement Framework will be utilised to procure providers for devolved funding and other funding streams that NTCA has access to for Skills. The new Procurement Framework provides an opportunity to join up the region’s skills and training offer, reduce duplication and make sure it will reach those communities most disadvantaged.
The Flexible Procurement Framework will be utilised to procure providers for devolved funding and other funding streams that NTCA has access to for Skills. We aim to secure packages of provision that will include but not be limited to:
- getting residents into employment
- up skilling and re skilling residents to respond to the regional economy
- creating a good basic education offer up to level 2, including adult numeracy provision, capable of progressing residents to a vocational level 2 (or above) and increase numeracy skills
- support our communities by having a community based training offer that engages
- disadvantaged communities
- provide any other adult skills packages required for the benefit of the North of Tyne region
Organisations and providers of skills including FE Colleges, independent training organisations, VCSE organisations and other stakeholders including employer providers were invited to tender for a place on the Framework.
More information about AEB and NTCA Stragetic Skills Plan is available from the NTCA website or by emailing aeb@northoftyne-ca.gov.uk. The event was held on Monday 7 November 2022 from 9.00am – 12:00pm, The Core, Bath Lane, Newcastle Helix, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5TF. The open call to tender for a place on the framework closed on Friday 16 December 2022.
Page updated 19 December 2022