• Strategy and Analysis
• National Expectations and Government Requirements
• Policy
• Gap Analysis and Priorities

Policy

The skills agenda is complete; it has a language of its own, with acronyms in abundance and is set against a very broad policy backdrop that has been changing rapidly.
Some of the key policy documents are included on the page. Other information can be found through: -

DIUS

DCSF

HEFCE

UKCES

Regional Funding Advice for Skills in the South West

RSPs have been invited by Government, led by Treasury and including DIUS, to contribute to the Regional Funding Advice.  A guidance note on Regional Funding Advice is attached and it includes the following:

“The Regional Funding Advice exercise offers the opportunity for regions to provide advice to the Government on their long-term investment priorities for elements of transport, housing and regeneration, and economic development to support sustainable economic growth…

RSPs ..to provide an agreed view on the skills and training priorities that will best support delivery of regional and local economic development within the overall framework of the national skills strategy and PSA targets.”

Specifically RSPs are to:

• Ensure that skills advice identifies the key strategic investments for promoting growth to support the regions’ economic development trajectory;
• Use existing processes for aligning skills funds around regional priorities and with the Regional Economic Strategy, and the new Regional Strategy;
• Ensure that advice is drawn up alongside plans for housing, transport and economic development more widely, and reflects the demand for skills at every level from both employers and individuals; and
• Consult with the Learning and Skills Council, Jobcentre Plus, Sector Skills Councils and sub-regional bodies in the region working on employment and skills.  Where regional partners consider that value would be added by a new employer-led, sub-regional Employment and Skills Board, this could be included in the RFA advice.

A SW RDA Regional RFA Steering Group will oversee the work of developing the advice for transport, housing, economic development and skills and the whole exercise is to be concluded February 2009. Given the need to integrate all of the elements this means that the Skills advice needs to be completed by December.

This is a challenge but it offers the Partnership a unique opportunity to demonstrate it has the capability to provide advice and add value by reflecting regional priorities.

It has already been agreed that the SW RSP will lead on the development of a Single Skills Strategy for the region, and the requirement to provide Regional Funding Advice will clearly need to dovetail with that strategy development process.

Given the timescales involved it will be necessary to start work quickly and SLIM will provide core support and help to co-ordinate the exercise.   A working group will be established as soon as practicable and following discussions with the SW RDA, the LSC and SLIM an outline project timeline has been developed – this is set out below: 

19 September RDA, RESP, LSC and SLIM meeting to discuss next steps

26 September Chris Evans is presenting to SW Councils Executive

17 October South West RDA Consultation Event (Sandy Park, Exeter)

21 October RSP Board Meeting with agenda item on the RFA

18 November RSP RFA Learning Theme Event

27 November RSP Board Away Day
 
This timeline provides some basic information about the way the Board, the Alliance and the Local Employment and Skills Boards can contribute. Further details and information about the process, the working group and making contributions to the exercise will be made available as soon as possible, and further information and documentation will be posted on the SW RESP website.

General Note

The Regional Funding Advice exercise offers the opportunity for regions to provide advice to the Government on their long-term investment priorities for elements of transport, housing and regeneration, and economic development to support sustainable economic growth. This RFA exercise is part of a long-term Government commitment to build a strong dialogue with regional partners in different parts of the UK to drive sustainable economic growth. It also contributes to a wider conversation between the Government, businesses, local authorities, the third sector and individuals in every region to understand how the economy is changing in their area. This is being launched alongside 'The Yorkshire and Humber economy: A joint response to changing economic circumstances', the first of a series of papers setting out how Government will be working with agencies across the different regions to support the local economy and help business and families through the tougher times ahead.

'Regional Funding Advice: Guidance on preparing advice' sets out:

• Indicative long-term regional funding allocations for the interconnected areas of transport, housing, regeneration and economic development
• Guidance for regions on how advice should be prepared, including how regions should incorporate skills priorities, and submitted to the Government.
It is hoped that this will help regions coordinate strategies and enhance their input into Government policy and public spending decisions that will promote sustainable economic development. It will also help build the Government’s understanding of the challenges that each region faces and help ensure that investments are focused on the right developments, at the right time.

The full guidance note can be found at:

http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/B/1/regional_funding_advice300708.pdf

Extracts

“The Government would welcome advice on regions’ skills priorities as part of the overall package of regional funding advice, although the adult skills budget is not included in the RFA funding envelope.”

“Although we cannot identify an overall budgetary allocation for each region in advance, the Regional Skills Partnership provides a mechanism, within the RFA framework, for the LSC, RDAs, local authorities and other partners to provide an agreed view on the skills and training priorities that will best support delivery of regional and local economic development within the overall framework of the national skills strategy and PSA targets. Where appropriate, that can include advice on how different funding streams can be aligned to ensure that skills priorities can support economic development.”

For further information on the overall Regional Funding Advice requirements and process please go to the South West RDA website page by clicking here.