Minutes - Regional Learning Partnership

Regional Strategic Planning; Local Delivery
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Regional Learning Partnership South West Wales (RLPSWW)
Steering Group
NOTES OF MEETING
Thursday 2 nd December, 10am
Sketty Hall, Swansea
Present:
Amanda Carr AC SCVS
Bridget Moseley BM NTFW
Caroline Townsend- CTJ Gower College Swansea
Jones
Chris Birch CB Pembrokeshire County Council
Clare Southard CS NIACE Dysgu Cymru
Danielle Hurley DH RLP Team
Elid Morris EM RLP Team
Fiona Jones FJ Neath Port Talbot College
Iwan Thomas IT RLP Team
Jan Britton JB JobCentre Plus
Karl Napieralla KAN Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council
Kim Phelps KP WAG – DCELLS
Mike Hughes MH City & County of Swansea
Paul Relf PaR City & County of Swansea
Peter Rees PeR Coleg Sir Gâr
Phil Southard PS Neath Port Talbot Learning Partnership
Philip Drakeford PD Careers Wales West
Sharron Lusher SL Pembrokeshire College
Apologies:
Antonio Barriga Rubio ABR Aberystwyth University
Colin Trotman CT Swansea University
Eileen Bellamy EB SWAMWAC
Gareth Mills GM Pembrokeshire County Council
Gill Davies GD Gower College Swansea
Grace Hagen GH Aberystwyth University
Mandy Jones MJ CAVS
Mark Heydon
MaH Swansea Employment Training
Meri Huws
MeH Trinity St David
Michaela Renkes MR WAG – DCELLS
Sara Harvey SH WLGA
Simon Jenkins SJ Gower College Swansea
Tony Potts TP NPTCVS
RLP Team: 01554 742430

Regional Strategic Planning; Local Delivery
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Ref Item Action By
Whom
1
1.1
Apologies, Welcome & Introductions
KAN welcomed the Group. DH advised of apologies.
2
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
2.8
3
3.1
3.2
Notes from the last meeting and Matters Arising
3 JobCentre Plus Presentation, Jocelyn Llewhellin EM
reminded the Group that Jo had advised that there
would be an open day to meet bidders and subcontractors.
RLP Team to circulate details of this event
once received, along with Jo’s Presentation. There
would be a summary in the next meeting.
4 Basic Skills Employer Pledge PeR informed the Group
that those involved in the Basic Skills Employer Pledge –
WAG contract would be meeting following the Steering
Group and would feedback in the next meeting.
Those involved had also met with the WAG Project
Manager, Gary Jones who gave positive feedback and
offered to attend the meeting.
5 RLSO An update was on the agenda.
6 Remploy Presentation KAN informed the Group that he
would be attending an open day in Remploy.
8 RLP Team Relocation There would be an update in the
next meeting.
Colleagues were reminded that updates from
themselves would be welcomed at the Steering Group
and should contact the RLP Team for future agenda
items.
PD reminded the Group that the recent
recommendations from the WAG Publication of the
review of careers services in Wales: ‘Future Ambitions;
developing careers services in Wales’ had implications
for the RLP partnership in relation to regional working. It
was agreed that a presentation be given at the next
meeting to highlight these.
Partnership Brokerage & Development
Update of progress on the HEFCW Regional Strategy for
Higher Education
EM informed the Group that the Strategy had been
submitted on 30 th November, and that great support
had been received from partners. An executive
summary of document would be circulated.
The Employer Engagement Event had been a success
and was well attended. Feedback received from the
event would be an agenda item for the next meeting.
Colleagues would like to see a future event as it gives
RLP Team
PeR
RLP Team
All
PD
RLP Team
RLP Team
RLP Team: 01554 742430

3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
3.8
3.9
3.10
3.11
4
4.1
Regional Strategic Planning; Local Delivery
employers the opportunity to have one channel of
‘regional’ information and consultation.
The next stage of the Strategy is the submission of
funding proposals to HEFCW by 7 th January 2011. These
will be in the areas of:
Redistribution;
Regional Proposals for additional funded credits;
Regional Initiatives Fund;
Foundation Degree proposals.
There would be an update on the bids in the next
meeting.
IT added that Gower College Swansea was holding its
2 nd breakfast event since the merger, and that the RLP
were hoping for a slot on their agenda in the New Year.
KAN felt that someone from GCS should give the Group
an update on the Event and its purpose.
Regional Sector Advocate Award
EM informed the Group that Gower College Swansea’s
tender submission on behalf of the RLP had been
successful and that the way forward was being
discussed. An update would be given in the next
meeting.
Community Investment Fund
WCVA were looking for a Manager for their Social
Enterprise fund.
MH informed the Group that he had been working on
the development of an education & training social
enterprise in Swansea as there were no other models in
Wales.
MH to forward details on the WISE Group, an
educational social enterprise based in Scotland to the
RLP.
PaR to forward contact details of the Welsh Social
Enterprise Coalition.
PaR informed the Group that ‘Frame’, a social enterprise
based in Pembrokeshire use the income from their
training arm to support their activities. KAN felt that it
would be useful to have information on models of social
enterprises and to gain a greater understanding on the
regional position on this area. This would be an agenda
item for a future meeting.
Inspire/Tutor Awards
CS delivered a presentation on the Inspire Awards and
detailed the categories. The Group was informed that
application forms were available online -
http://www.niacedc.org.uk/campaigns/inspire-tutorawards/nominate-tutor
- and that the deadline for
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EM
RLP Team
& GCS
EM
MH
PaR
RLP Team
RLP Team: 01554 742430

Regional Strategic Planning; Local Delivery
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4.2
4.3
5
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6
5.7
5.8
5.9
5.10
5.11
5.12
5.13
nominations was 21 st January 2011.
CS would be happy to provide advice on completing
the application forms.
Case Studies are available on Youtube.
Regional Learning & Skills Observatory Update
KAN informed the Group that people had been
impressed with the RLSO since it went live and were keen
to have further information for their areas.
IT reported that the RLSO PMG had met in Coleg Sir Gâr
on 16 th November and had agreed to follow the ERP
Priorities, in addition to agriculture & tourism. Initially the
PMG would focus on the tourism sector.
IT had met with individuals to see what information and
data was available. Lisa Johnston from Gallu has been
involved and would attend the next meeting to look at
initial analysis of replies from the sector.
The Observatory is now live, so promotion and
engagement is key. There will be roadshows from
January 2011 onwards where anybody interested could
be shown the data relevant to them.
PD added that the RLSO PMG had considered how to
move beyond the promotion stage. There was a need to
show people how it would be relevant to them, ask what
they want and to look at what information is already
available.
KAN asked if there would be a section for the 14-19 Coordinators.
The RLSO PMG would be meeting with them.
PeR added that there was a facility to produce reports
which is useful for those who are unsure of what they’re
looking for.
CB stated that Brian Dickens would be the link for PCC. It
would be useful if advance notice was given, in order for
local partners to have the ability to ‘drop in’.
PS suggested utilising Adult Learners’ Week.
PD felt that there was a need to ensure that the positives
link with WAG.
KAN stated that there would be a meeting with Emyr
Roberts, new Director General – DCELLS and that the
Group would be looking at the Assembly’s response to
future ambitions in the next meeting.
It was felt that a presentation of the RLSO would be
useful for Linda Whittaker from NPT Homes.
KAN to raise the impact of the Olympics on SWW at the
next SCFW meeting. KAN also suggested that a letter on
behalf of the RLP Steering Group be sent to Visit Wales to
gauge their views on this.
RLP Team
IT
KAN
RLP Team
RLP Team: 01554 742430

6
6.1
6.2
6.3
7
7.1
7.2
8
8.1
9
9.1
9.2
Regional Strategic Planning; Local Delivery
Spectrum of Involvement in Voluntary Organisations
AC circulated a document which gave a background
on the spectrum of involvement in volunteering and
community based activity within the third sector. Key
areas included; informal / formal volunteering; contracts
/ placements within the sector; and those that centred
on such programmes as the Future Jobs Fund (FJF),
Flexible New Deal and the Work Programme. It was
highlighted that Wales would struggle without
volunteering, as 68% of adults in Wales do some
volunteering. There is therefore a need to protect
voluntary work and that the right services and support is
offered.
PeR queried why the different types of volunteering had
been separated. It was to ensure that the Third Sector
weren’t reliant on the labour if policies change. The end
of FJF, for example had had a substantial impact for the
sector.
It would be useful to have the structure of the regional
CVC meetings. AC to forward to RLP Team for
circulation.
Convergence Update
PaR’s update to be circulated with notes of meeting.
PaR’s update covered guidance on staffing costs, an
update from DCELLS, tender notices, match funding cuts
and the potential for a further round of funding.
PS queried how ‘Workways’ could run for another year. It
depended if the lead body and partners would be
prepared to pay the match funding.
Work Based Learning – Regional Strategic Direction
This would be on the agenda for the next meeting as
more time was required and the appropriate individuals
needed to be present.
Any Other Business
EM informed the Group that the second researcher post
was being advertised on the CWW website. An email
had been circulated to partners to post on their
respective websites. The closing date would be 10 th
December 2010.
The Information & Communications Officer, Senior Data
& IT Technician and Data & IT Technician posts would be
employed by CCC and would therefore be on the
authority’s redeployment register before being
advertised widely. The posts would be located with the
RLP Team in Llanelli.
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AC
RLP Team
RLP Team
RLP Team
RLP Team: 01554 742430

Regional Strategic Planning; Local Delivery
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9.3 The detail was being finalised on the advocate.
RLP Team: 01554 742430