Decision details

This report seeks to amend decision CES-01-24 which was published on 3 April 2024 and came into effect on 11 April 2024.

The reason for the amendment is a proposed increase in the amount of Multiply funds to be granted to Skills Ladder.

Skills ladder was initially planned to be allocated £59,980. This amount has been amended to £75,000 based on the following rational:

• Better than predicted performance for year to meaning this could be expanded for year three (current financial year)
• Opportunity to offer progression to further levels of study
• Other providers not taking on as much funds as expected, leading to a surplus of budget which could be allocated to other providers.

Following consultation with officers I give notice that I intend to make the decision set out in the attached report to amend the initial Year 3 Grant Awards for the Multiple. If you wouldlike tomake anyrepresentations tome onthis issueplease doso by5 July 2024.

A range of stakeholders have been engaged, the interventions vary from out-reach to classroom-based courses, and acknowledge the links between digital literacy, numeracy and literacy. There is robust monitoring and outcomes focussed oversight from the Department of Education for the duration of the programme.

For the third year of the programme there is more focus from the DfE to move towards more substantive provision. The providers listed will provide this types of provision.

Consultation with stakeholders also identified gaps in the provision of small start up business support at a lower level. Rebel business school provision will help us fil this gap, in conjunction with other provision being offered.

The options considered provide a broad and balanced approach to delivering outreach and accredited interventions from the menu on offer. They include a range of delivery mechanisms and seek to engage as many residents as possible to progress their numeracy confidence and engage in further learning, progress in their job roles, support family members, improve budgeting skills to adjust to costs of living, and improve numeracy skills in general.

In May 2022, Employment and Skills officers engaged with stakeholders and invited expressions of interest to deliver Multiply interventions. Subsequent engagement took place via the Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Swindon Training Provider Partnership, and the Education, Employment and Skills Action Group. Other communications were also share such as through press release and internal communications. The Department for Education were closely consulted on the development of the intervention plan for year 3 and it has received their approval. The voluntary and community sector were also consulted via the Wiltshire Money steering group.