Third Sector Employability Form – Meeting of the Executive Group

Third Sector Employability Form – Meeting of the Executive Group
Monday 25 th February 2013
Attendees: Liz Catterson (Chair), Dughall Laing, John Reid, Tommy McDade, Elaine
Livingston, Finlay Laverty, Robin Turner, Blyth Deans, Sharon Hamilton (note-taking), Pauline
McNally, Donna Mackinnon, Margaret Wallace, David Cameron, Alastair Cameron, Alan
Boyle, Stephen Jones, Christine Mulligan, Gary Elliott, Theresa Haran, Alex McTier.
Apologies: Fraser Kelly, Stephen McConnachie.
1. Welcome and Introductions
Liz welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced new members Stephen Jones
(Scottish Government-Third Sector), Theresa Haran (SDS), and Elaine Livingston (DWP –
standing in for Stephen McConnachie). Brief introductions were made around the table.
2. TERU – Social Enterprise and Third Sector Challenge Fund Evaluation update
Alex McTier gave a presentation on behalf of TERU, and up-dated the group, on the progress
of the Social Enterprise and Third Sector Challenge Fund evaluation.
Some of the main points:
The evaluation is of the programme and not the projects
17 projects visited to-date, 7 remaining
Flexibility in approach is key to success
Positives to-date – changed perspective of young people for the better; new and
innovative approaches; enhanced relations with SDS and Third Sector
Downsides – restrictive timescale; challenging time to deliver limited placements
Projects which are doing well have focused on outcomes
Comments/ questions from the group:
No main source of referral – differs project by project
Longer time frame would have allowed sector to show what they can achieve
Targets may not be met due to time constraints; need to learn future lessons from
this
SDS role was to deliver; would be for SG to give consideration on future funding and
lessons learned
Duplication of service through CPP to be considered for future projects
Employability Fund (EF) has been developed at pace and first year will be a bedding
in year; no lining up of evaluations; parameters going forward will consider what is
working well at a local level
1

Learning from this project should be a consideration for EF development moving
forward
TS have responsibility for the wider sector and as EF is developed what will this mean
for the sector
SG Ministers have been made aware of issues surrounding the Challenge Fund
Group agreed it would be beneficial to know which TS orgs have involvement in EF
and those who have applied and are successful in their bids. Critical that TS orgs are
linked to their local partnerships when bidding
TERU Powerpoint presentation is available on the Employability in Scotland website and can
be accessed via the following link:
http://www.employabilityinscotland.com/sites/default/files/articles/6465/TERU%20TSEF%20Presen
tation%2025%20Feb%20-
%20Social%20Enterprise%20and%20Third%20Sector%20Challenge%20Fund%20from%20Alex%20M
cTier%20TERU%20-%2023%20Feb%202013.pdf
Actions:
‣ Re-look at Challenge Fund at next meeting when TERU evaluation further forward.
3. SDS - Social Enterprise and Third Sector Challenge Fund update
Gary Elliot provided an overview of the Social Enterprise and Third Sector Challenge Fund
from Skills Development Scotland. He gave details of outcomes to-date. However, noted
that at the present time the data is not robust and should only be taken as indicative. The
figures show that both contracted starts and spend are behind target. We are now in the
peak activity period with an increase in reporting through February. SDS have also noted
fluctuation in information from providers. SDS should be in a better position to provide
update on contracted starts and spending following month end statistic have been input by
providers, at the end of February.
It was asked if end year flexibility will be considered
End year flexibility could be considered. However, this would only be discussed when ability
to reach the contracted target by 31 March is clearer and would be on a case to case basis.
Emphasis at this stage is on pushing to reach targets by 31 March; flexibility on reaching
outcome target will not be open-ended; no further new starts to be taken on after
contracted end date. Providers were given the opportunity to re-profile in November.
While some reduced their forecast starts, 11 providers took up the opportunity to deliver
addition starts.
Actions:
‣ SDS will attend the next TSEF Executive Group meeting and provide an update on
outcomes.
2

4. ESF Sub Group update
Alan provided the group with an update on ESF. The discussion covered:
An up-date on the extension funding position to the common end date of June 2014,
and members reported varying messages from CPP's depending on when they first
engaged with the priority 5 strategic skills pipeline.
Actions:
The need to raise this with structural funds and also attempt to ascertain if the
extension offer is reaching the broader membership.
The Third Sector technical assistance bid was discussed, and although submitted by
SCVO has to represent the whole of the sectors interest, and is most likely to be
approved with this as a condition, a meeting has been set up next week between
SCVO and Forum members to establish the steering group to drive this forward.
A general update was given on the MEG groups, but there was no significant
progress to report. Finlay raised the issue of retaining institutional Capacity and core
funding and members agreed the need to raise this issue further. In this context Liz
suggested the need to start articulating these issues and engage the wider forum in
them, and asked if those on the ESF group could start to look at this.
It was agreed that a one-page key issues TS / ESF position statement would be
beneficial.
‣ Liz to put together a one-page position statement for the group to consider. This
will then be used for future engagement by TSEF Executive Group members.
5. SEF update
Pauline advised that the re-constituted SEF met for the first time on 31 st January.
She advised that Professor Alan McGregor was asked by the SEF to convene a NDG subgroup
to consider priority areas for discussion at future SEF meetings. This will inform the
development of a corporate position and action plan to be agreed by all SEF members. Prof.
McGregor is to prepare his findings by 28 th February.
Finlay Laverty detailed four points for consideration:
Provide a mechanic for more accurate skills investment decisions.
Understanding current and future supply and demand at a local level and establish
to what extend if any skills policy can stimulate job growth.
Create a Dashboard of KPI’s for an all Scotland approach to skills and impacts on
labour market and economy
Review policy positions on key groups and themes within current labour market. In
particular to what extent has pendulum swung too far toward Youth Employment
3

Welfare Reform: review what works for the employability agenda and what sits less
well taking account of differing values and culture of Scotland’s approach. Should
and How does Scotland mitigate from some of the extremes of the universal credit
system.
It was noted that this was an opportunity for the TSEF Executive group members to feed
into the SEF in a more strategic way and should link their own action plan, for the coming
year with the SEF priorities highlighted in Prof McGregor’s paper.
Stephen Jones advised that one of his new areas of work will be to look at the impact of
Welfare Reform on the Third Sector.
The minute of the SEF meeting is available on the Employability In Scotland website and can
be accessed via the following link:
http://www.employabilityinscotland.com/sites/default/files/articles/5673/Note%20of%20S
cottish%20Employability%20Forum%20-%2031st%20January%202013.pdf
Actions:
‣ Prof McGregor’s paper to be considered by the TSEF Executive Group, if available
at the next meeting. TSEF Action Plan to be developed to link with SEF priorities.
6. Follow up from TSEF 16 th November & Exec Group 28 th January
Pauline up-dated the group on the actions progressed by the Employability Delivery team
from the meeting on 28 th January.
Main points noted:
DWP / SDS / SG Third Sector all now have representation on the Executive Group.
Request issued to local partnerships to update mapping of TS representatives in their
local area. Nine replies received to date, through SG. It was agreed that SCVO
(Margaret Wallace) would follow this up to completion, as mapping held on SCVO
website.
SG Third Sector have responsibility for TS interfaces. TS Interface contact
information now featured within the Employability in Scotland website. Robin
advised that he was happy to help with interface linkages.
Pauline and Stephen will arrange to meet to take forward SG Third Sector and
Employability Delivery links.
Reminder was asked of members to forward their bios to Gerald Wilson for inclusion
on the TSEF page of the Employability In Scotland website.
Gerald.Wilson@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
SLAED – a meeting has been arranged with Liz Catterson, Pamela Smith and Alan
McGregor to strengthen discussion.
4

Review of Supported Business – the final report will be made available for the Group
to see with possible endorsement and feedback being sought before it is published.
Supported Employment PDA (Stow & Motherwell College pilot) – Liz will meet with
the project manager to discuss how TSEF can be involved.
Actions:
‣ Members to forward bios to SG Employability team.
7. Best Practice Guide
Liz commented that previous discussion on Best Practice had not made progress. There was
a need to consider if this was a priority for TSEF. It was agreed this would be considered at a
future meeting, but would wait until after the business case for the TSEF 2013-14 has been
developed.
8. TSEF - 2013-14
Liz noted that going forward there is a need for the group to consider their position. To this
end it would be useful to have a business case which should include plans for 2013-14 and
details of the funding required, to present to SG.
Main points noted / questions asked:
Business case to be developed for funding from SG for TSEF development, which
could include Chair, Facilitator for TSEF larger group meetings. Host to be identified
within TSEF Executive Group.
The importance of the third sector in the delivery of employability in Scotland,
alongside local employability partnerships, is recognised, along with TS involvement
in the delivery of DWP and SDS contracts. However the scale and level of this
investment across Scotland is unknown. Mapping exercise of TS involvement in
employability needed
If six primary funding sources were identified this should be enough to capture 90%
Has there ever been any academic work done on this Important to promote what
TS can bring to employability.
TS should input more to the NDG and SEF.
Pipelines important and TS placement in the Employability pipeline would be useful,
as there are fewer TS organisations now than this time last year.
Keep focus narrow.
Actions:
‣ Liz to put together a business case for the group to consider prior to next meeting.
5

9. Agenda for the next Executive meeting
The next meeting will take place on 23 rd April.
Current agenda items: feedback from the Challenge Fund; TSEF business case
10. AOB
There was no AOB to consider.
Future meeting dates:
Tuesday 23 rd April 2013, 10.30 - 13.00, Scottish Government, Atlantic Quay, Glasgow
Tuesday 25 th June 2013, 10.30 – 13.00, Scottish Government, Atlantic Quay, Glasgow
Tuesday 22 nd October 2013, 10.30 – 13.00, Scottish Government, Atlantic Quay, Glasgow
Tuesday 21 st January 2014, 10.30 – 13.00, Scottish Government, Atlantic Quay, Glasgow
6