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Adult Education Budget Case Studies
Our vision is of a dynamic and more inclusive economy, one that brings together people and opportunities to create vibrant communities and a high quality of life, narrowing inequalities and ensuring that all residents have a stake in our region’s future.
Through the devolution of the Adult Education Budget (AEB) (£25million per year), and the other skills funding available to us— we have the ability to tailor adult education and skills provision in the region so that residents and local businesses can secure the skills they need to succeed.
Hear from some of the people who’ve benefited from the training funded through the AEB.
Action Foundation, a North of Tyne based charity, funded through NTCA’s procured AEB Innovation Lot, work in partnership with mainstream and community-based English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) providers, to deliver an ESOL Co-ordination, Enrolment, and Advice Service (CEA S). This service has been developed to tackle and resolve perceived obstacles to accessing ESOL tuition and have a clear focus on ‘hard to reach’ vulnerable groups and individuals who struggle to navigate and engage in the current learning offersavailable.
Back 2 Work Complete Training secured an NTCA AEB Contract for Service to deliver vocational skills for employment. The Vocational Skills are divided over four routeways:
• Care: Level 1 Award in Skills for Health and Social Care, providing the core understanding and skills for anyone wishing to work in the care sector.
• Construction: Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment, with Level 1 units Understanding the Construction Industry and Construction Practice. This qualifies learners to receive a CSCS card (funded by B2W) and ensures a base-level understanding of the industry required to gain entry-level employment.
• Supply Chain: Learning plans will include up to 2 units that reflect requirements of the available vacancies. Available units include: Pick Goods in Logistics Operations; Process Orders for Customers in Logistics Operations; Moving and/or Handling Goods in Logistics Operations; Principles of Food Safety in Logistics; Receive Goods in Logistics Operations; Operate Equipment to Perform Work Requirements in Logistics Operations.
• Retail: Level 1 Award in Retail Knowledge. The qualification covers occupations and customer service in the retail sector, sales, stock control, and health and safety. This short course provides foundation-level knowledge for anyone looking to secure employment in retail.
Quote from learner:
“Back 2 Work Complete Training absolutely puffed me out of a horrible place and opened so many doors for me. Massively appreciated!’
Did you find employment upon course completion? & how are you finding employment
“Yes, H-Vac installation all over the UK”
First secured an AEB contract in NTCA’s Innovation Lot and offer a selection of niche support and engagement programmes to equip learners with the knowledge, entrepreneurial skills and tool kitsthey need for self-employment or become employed by businesses.
As a result of attending the Understanding Enterprise course with FIRST, Alex has moved off sickness benefit and is now running her own business ALT Beauty. She has gone from strength to strength and the course gave her the confidence to get back into work after a long period of mental health challenges and she is now thriving as a self-employed entrepreneur. She has undertaken further sector specific training and is now able to offer a full range of beauty treatments.
Case Study Fabian Scott
Marine Safety Supplies factory floor supervisor Fabian Scott needed to develop his business skills to grow his role in the North Tyneside offshore safety equipment business by attending NBSL’s Get Better Business Skills. Better Business Skills has been devised and developed by NBSL in conjunction with the NTCA to help re-invigorate businesses to confidently develop their abilities and skillset in business.
Case Study David
Newcastle College have a Grant Funding Agreement with NTCA to deliver devolved AEB. They deliver a range of vocational qualifcations including: Diplomas in Health & Social Care, Diplomas in Engineering, Vehicle Repair, Electrical Installations. The College also deliver statutory entitlements in Maths/English/ESOL, Level 2 and Level 3 entitlements for young people and the Level 3 Adult Offer.
David joined the NHS Academy at Newcastle College in November last academic year 20-21. After suffering a brain injury during his GCSEs, David struggled at University and feltfrustrated with continuous knock backsin his employment search. David is a committed learner and wanted a vocation he could progress in and value. He took advantage of every available opportunity in terms of additional tutorials and practical advice. His personal tutor Danny helped him to see the value in his past experience in terms of the NHS role. Without the requisite Maths grade, David learnt how to map the statistical element of his previous studies to the person specification in order to demonstrate his suitability to the NHS, all employability strategies he had been unaware of previously. His dedication paid off and David was successful in achieving employment with the NHS as a Healthcare assistant upon successful completion of his course.
North Tyneside Council Employability & Skills Service
North Tyneside Council have a Grant Funding Agreement with NTCA to deliver devolved AEB. They deliver a range of provision including statutory entitlements in Maths/English/Digital and vocational programmes such as Supporting Teaching & Learning in Schools. North Tyneside Council successfully delivered Sector Based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) for the Care sector and Catering Sector during Acamdemic Year 2020-21.
North Tyneside Council supported over 170 residents into employment through their AEB delivery:
19yr old Leah attended a Catering sec/or-based work academy programme in September 2020 and the following month was employed on as an apprentice with Sizzler Inns.
After attending a Gel Into Healthcare programme, createdin November 2020 to support NHS Lighthouse recruitment, James was employed as a Laboratory Assistant.
Following 8 months of furlough, Lisa was made redundant as the North East moved back into lock down. In March 2021, she enrolled onto our Digital Skills for Work programme to support her IT skills and build confidence. During the course, she successfully secured a position with Greggs to start following programme completion.
Leanne signed up to our first Social Care SWAP completing the programme virtually due to the extended restrictions in Feb 2021 and following completion of her Level 2 Certificate she immediately secured full-time employment as a CareWorker.
Release Potential funded through NTCA’s AEB Innovation Lot provide a ‘return to work’ programme in Northumberland. Residents’ confidence and teamwork skills are built on the programme through the use of film. Learners produce a live thirty-minute magazine style television show. Supported by tutors and industry professionals, learners are introduced to studio practices and trained in using broadcast quality digital equipment. Each learner takes on a specific role including technical; research; reporting; presenting; set production; sound; lighting’ and photography. This places learners outside their comfort zones and builds confidence and resilience. Live recording of the show takes place at the end of the second day with an invited studio audience including employees from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and potential employers.
Release Potential have supported over 50 residents to gain employment during Academic Year 2020-21.
Quote from Simone Kelly, Support Worker for Exemplar Healthcare, a serviceproviding care and rehabilitation for adults with a diverse set of needs. “The course with Release Potential has not only helped me academically but also mentally as I now understand myself a lot more than Idid, and I think that is an important thing as I can’t work on helping otherpeople if I haven’t worked on myself first! Within 12 months I can apply to do a nursing associate aiming to work her way.”
Simone emphasises she is ‘thankful’ to Release Potential for ‘giving’ her the ‘chance she needed’ in a year stricken with chances seemingly far and few.
Case Study Danny
University Centre Quayside (UCQ) secured an NTCA AEB Contract for Service for Lot 2 which focusses on supporting employed residents. UCQ offer vocational programmes in health & careand manufacturing/engineering subjects (at Levels 1and 2), and maths, English and Digital skills (at levels Entry Level 3 to Level 2) to support employers and their employees. UCQ currently deliver workforce skills provision in the NCTA area and provide an effective employer journey that is designed to engage employers, assess their needs and to devise effective and efficient training solutions to provide a positive impact for both the organisation and their employees.]
Danny attended the Essential Skills for Manufacturing courseat UCQ whilst working part-time on a low wage on a temporary contract. He has subsequently gained full time employment in a highly paid job, working offshore, utilising the skills he gained on the course.
Find out more about the Adult Education Budget here.