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Government Requirements

Specific government requirements of RSPs have been set out in the DfES update of the summary of ‘Added Value’ Roles and Responsibilities for RSPs, issued in April 2006. This is presented below:

Skills Strategy AreaSummary ‘Added Value’ RSP Role and Responsibilities
*Funding/Planning
  • Ensure alignment of partner planning to maximise the impact of funding, remove duplication and simplify the service for employers
  • Align, where possible, partner funding to ensure delivery of regional priorities. Add value by removing duplication and filling gaps
  • Make best use of regional observatories to collect and share data
  • Generate additional income to support the RSP objectives
Sector Skills Agreements
  • Agree, beyond that of core partners, any 'additional' regional response to SSAs
  • Use SSAs to help align regional planning and funding
*Skills Brokerage and **Business Support
  • Ensure skills brokerage and business support is integrated and has capacity to operate effectively across region
  • Ensure a high quality integrated service is delivered
* Employer and Individual Offer
  • Enhance the core Train to Gain model to the maximise impact of the offers within the region
  • Ensure, across the partners, that the individual offer meets the needs of regional priority clients/sectors
*Level 3
  • Agree regional level 3 priorities
  • Identify additional/alternative resources to increase participation and progression at level 3
14-19 Reform
  • Provide a strategic steer to support achievement of 14-19 reforms
Higher Education
  • Ensure higher level opportunities are available
Local Authorities
  • Ensure alignment of partner planning to maximise impact of local regeneration activity on regional priorities
Communications
  • On behalf of partners join up skills communication and marketing activity to aid the employer journey

* LSC Lead ** RDA Lead

In addition to the above collective RSP responsibilities the roles of RSP core partners in respect of supporting RSP responsibilities is also clearly specified.

Partner Core Partner Role and Responsibilities
Higher Education
  • Identification of higher skills needs
  • Increase responsiveness of HEIs to business need
Jobcentre Plus
  • Fund demand led skills development for the unemployed
  • Through QA and consultation support SSCs to develop SSAs and supporting products (e.g. starter passports)
  • Work with SSC colleagues at regional level to provide linkages to delivery mechanisms (e.g. skills coaching service)
Learning and Skills Council
  • Plan and fund demand led learning
  • Increase responsiveness of FE to business need
  • Lead ongoing development and implementation of Train to Gain
Regional Development Agency
  • Set Regional Economic Strategy
  • Fund regional economic development programmes
  • Ensure Business Support provision meets employer/sector needs
Small Business Service
  • Represent the needs of small businesses
Skills for Business Network
  • Provide, via SSCs, a voice for employers
  • Provide labour market intelligence for sectors
  • Develop employer led solutions to support regional needs
  • Identification of employer skills needs
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