By Phil Tristram, Department for Education and Skills, at the 2014 European Structural Fund events in Llanelli, Llandudno and Cardiff.

1. DfES
Employment and Skills
2014 - 2020
Overview

2. What will we cover?
1. Explain the changes and rationale for new
approach to ESF delivery across DfES
2. Provide an overview of the DfES Footprint
Document and ESF programmes in
development

3. Context
• Lessons learnt from current ESF activity
• Duplication/competition across multiple funding sources
• Guilford review of European Structural Funds
• Introduction of new UK mainstream programmes – DWP Work
Programme – Welfare reform – Universal Credit etc.
• Drive to make best use of reducing public funds
• First Minister’s focus on Delivery
• Managed transition to post-2014 Structural Funds Programmes

4. 1. Skills Strategy
• What? – Policy Statement, Implementation Plan
• Why? – Economic & skills challenges, reducing
budgets, need for clear priorities
• When? – Policy Statement on 30th Jan,
Implementation Plan by end of July

5. 2. Employment Policy
• What? – Joint working with UK Government
• Why? – To ensure we support Welsh Job seekers
into employement
• When? – Access to Employment Group - ongoing

6. 3. Employment & Skills Programmes
• What? – New E&S programme offer to
businesses and individuals
• Why? – Delivery of Skills Policy Statement, less
duplication, greater integration and simplification
• When? – Throughout 2014-15

7. Policy Statement on
Skills

8. Four priority areas of Statement:
• Skills for jobs and growth: stimulating demand
for a more highly-skilled society
• Skills that respond to local needs: skills
system which reflects local needs, including
accessible employment and skills offer
• Skills that employers value: engaging
employers in the skills system in return for co-investment
needed alongside government if
Wales is to remain competitive.
• Skills for employment: providing employment
support necessary to assist individuals into
employment and to progress in work

9. Delivering our plans
• Implementation Plan - July 2014
• Consultation on co-investment – February 2014
• Input- particularly from employers- is vital
• Performance indicators published as part of plan- as
well as full financial assessment
• Plan will set out how we will deliver our key policy
actions – when and how?
• Close working across Division on translating policy
into delivery that helps employers to grow and
flourish.

10. 2014-2020 A New Approach
• Fit with wider Skills Strategy
• Consolidate current employability/workforce
development programmes and implement an
integrated adult employment and skills offer
• Simplify and strengthen DfES interface with
business
• Guilford Review

11. DfES Footprint Document
• Provision landscape
• Ensures sufficient coverage and avoids
duplication and competition
• Takes account of local and regional as well as
national requirements.
• DfES Discussions - July - December

12. DfES ESF Programmes 2014-2020
DfES ESF Projects 2014-2020
New Projects:
• Skills Gateway
• Flexible Skills Programme
• Skills Priorities Programme
• ReAct III
• Education Employer Enhancement Project
• Early Years Workforce Projects
• New Adult Employability Programme
(including Essential Skills)
• Technical Assistance
Continuing Projects:
• Apprenticeships
• Traineeships
• Jobs Growth Wales
Projects Not Continuing (in current form):
• Reach the Heights Routes to the Summit
• Reach the Heights First Footholds
• Pathways to Apprenticeships
• Minority Ethnic Learning and Achievement
• Genesis
• Skills Growth Wales
• Enhancing Leadership and Management Skills

13. New E&S Programmes
• Flexible Skills Programme
– Targeted fund aimed at delivering on the recruitment and skills
needs of strategically important companies
– Innovation Provision Strand – build on current SPF model
• Skills Priorities Programme
– FE Strand – ring – fenced activity within FEIs
– Procured call off contract from provider network
• ReAct III
– Deliver employment and skills support for those facing
redundancy
– Essential Skills Delivery

14. Continuation of Current Projects
• Based on current projects operating under 2007-2013 ESF
Programmes
• World Class Apprenticeships
– Foundation Apprenticeships and Apprenticeships: employment
based learning programmes for employed learners at QCF levels 2
and 3
– Higher Apprenticeships: employment based programme for
employed learners, at QCF level 4 - 6
• Traineeships
– Non-employed status training programme for 16-18 year old school
leavers not otherwise engaged in post-16 education or employment.
• Jobs Growth Wales
- Paid job opportunities for unemployed 16-24 year olds
- Six month job opportunity

15. Development of Other WG Projects
• Cross Government Employment and Skills
Group
– Maximise contribution to wider potential
outcomes through skills interventions
• Work with other Welsh Government
Departments
– Joined up approach to ESF delivery
– Maximise links to ERDF projects

16. Questions ?