Adult Skills Training Framework

Description

West Yorkshire Combined Authority (CA) is currently delivering a series of projects including the £3.14m ESF [re]boot project and DfE Digital Skills Bootcamps. Both projects offer individuals the chance to advance their skills, gaining employability and sector specific skills relating to key sectors. The priorities for the next phase of adult skills training will follow a similar methodology but with a greater emphasis on progression and clear lines of sight to employment. There will be a continuation of the work to support those marginalised in the workplace and look for expertise from providers in supporting BAME individuals, women into digital and technical roles, under-employed and underutilised graduates and those unemployed through the COVID-19 fall out. Depending on funding streams the courses can be accredited, endorsed by employers or a mixture of both.With a new wave of adult skills funding being announced the CA is looking to procure a framework of training providers that can respond to calls for specific skills training. A framework of providers with complementary specialisms and experience would enable the CA to respond quickly to the fast-changing skills needs of employers and support the West Yorkshire Economic Recovery Plan. The anticipated range of expenditure through these contracts, which is estimated and not guaranteed is approximated at £30 million over a four year period. Please note that this procurement activity is a majority funded programme and its progression is subject to external funding and internal governance approvals. In order to provide more information and answer questions relating to this opportunity we would like to invite potential participants to a supplier engagement session on February 2nd, 2021 11:30-12:30. via Microsoft Teams. Please contact: Procurement@westyorks-ca.gov.uk to confirm attendance and once the attendance list is finalised a meeting invite will be sent through a minimum of 48 hours before the meeting. Lot 1: Lot 1 Digital bootcamp (Yorkshire and Humber) This DfE funded programme requires a regional approach with cross border partnership working and may require a multiple supplier framework model which is yet to be finalised. Bootcamps should consist of short sharp interventions of around 8-16 weeks based upon employer input and skills demand. Courses can be accredited, employer endorsed or a mixture of both. Courses must be available to learners across Yorkshire & Humber and can be either face-to-face, virtual or a mix of both. Lot 2: Lot 2 Digital skills (West Yorkshire Only) The contractor would evidence expertise covering a wide range of digital skills required for diverse roles including coding / programming, software development, cyber security, data analytics, digital marketing, etc. Digital skills cut across other sectors including engineering / manufacturing, infrastructure / construction and health and life sciences. Depending on the funding stream courses may be accredited to Level 3 and above, employer endorsed or a mixture of both. Tenderers will need to identify processes to engage with individuals under-represented in this sector, particularly women and encourage career changers into digital roles from others in decline. Lot 3: Lot 3 Healthcare skills Social care (West Yorkshire Only) A Contractor will need to identify individuals with the values of care and deliver training to equip them with the skills and value-based competences of service requirements in this crucial sector. The tenderer will need to evidence imaginative programmes across West Yorkshire that encourage new entrants into the social care sector plus career changers from sectors currently experiencing a decline in demand.Training is likely to be accredited at Level 2 / 3 and as job vacancies / demand dictates. Programmes would include careers advice and guidance on entry and progression routes. Lot 4: Lot 4 Infrastructure / Construction, Engineering / Manufacturing and Green Technology skills (West Yorkshire Only) The contractor will need to evidence close links with regional employers and a track record of responsive delivery to meet job vacancy demand. Training could be a mixture of classroom / employer based and virtual learning as appropriate. Depending on the funding stream, training may be accredited, employer endorsed or a mix of both with employer input key to the design and delivery. The contractor will need to evidence programmes that encourage new and diverse entrants into these sectors plus career changers from sectors currently experiencing a decline in demand. Lot 5: Lot 5 In work training and redundancy prevention, including upskilling and retaining – including women (West Yorkshire Only) This is an imaginative lot that looks to address in work training, upskilling and retraining to reduce the risk of redundancy against a background of change across West Yorkshire. The adult training will meet demand to support individuals to respond effectively to the rescue phase of the West Yorkshire Economic Recovery Plan and meet the immediate need to enhance support for people who have been made redundant or at risk of being made redundant due to COVID-19. The Contractor will create programmes that focus on preparedness for work, including changing careers, and developing emotional intelligence, resilience, adapting to change and enhancing and transferring employability skills and technical / sector knowledge into new career opportunities. Lot 6: Lot 6 Graduate Programmes (West Yorkshire Only) West Yorkshire is home to five universities offering direct access to a talent pipeline of graduates. There is much evidence that we have a pool of graduates that are under-employed or underutilised, working in lower skilled roles or the gig economy. The contractor will work collaboratively across West Yorkshire to develop and deliver graduate training programmes to support transition from university to employment. The training programmes would look to increase the number of graduates moving into, and retaining, meaningful employment particularly within the key and growth sectors identified in the Employment & Skills Plan. The tenderer will need to evidence how the programmes would address the progression gap between BAME and non-BAME graduates. It is anticipated that these programmes would include industry partners, graduate recruiters, CIAG / LMI and potentially a mentoring / coaching element.