Decision details

The purpose of this report is to seek a decision from Cllr Mayes to approve awarding of the section 31 grant funding apportioned to Wiltshire Council to the recipients below for delivery of Skills Bootcamps provision.

The Programme was submitted and approved by the DFE in the for a bid for funding by the Swindon and Wiltshire LEP (SWLEP). The accountability for the funding moved to Wiltshire Council as part of the LEP transfer (cabinet meeting 19^th March 2024).

The report seeks approval to award the following amounts:

·         Wiltshire College and University Centre: up to £81,000

·         Whitehead Ross Education and Consulting Ltd: Up to £141,204.4

·         The Skills Network: up to £146,280

·         Skills Ladder: up to £202,615

·         Somerset Skills and Learning: up to £180,000

I award the grants as set out in the decision notice. 

This decision was published on 18 November 2024 and will come into effect on 26 November 2024

A range of stakeholders have been engaged; the interventions vary from online to classroom-based courses, and aim to up skill a diverse range of potential future employees. There is robust monitoring and outcomes focussed oversight from the Department of Education for the duration of the programme.

We have considered all the expressions of interest from providers and aimed to offer a broad and diverse delivery mechanism, involving a range of locations and delivery models. We have also continued to engage with stakeholders when making decisions to ensure the programme remains aligned with local market demand/ need.

The initial bid was submitted after extensive consultation with the SWLEP networks, as well as being informed by the local skills improvement plan.

Consultation with other Local Authorities as has also been undertaken to learn from best practice and develop processes.

The engagement of providers was sough through and expressions of interest process.

The DFE have also been consulted throughout, signing off the initial big as well as monthly grant management meetings.