FE Specialisation and Innovation Fund

1. FE Specialisation and Innovation Fund

2. 1st September 2008 Richard Marsh LSC Jonathan Mackey DIUS

3. Agenda • Background & purpose of the day • An ‘Innovation nation’ • What is the fund for and not for • Eligibility & requirements • Discussion • Q&A session

4. Background and Purpose 01

5. Purpose • Of today • Explain purpose, timing and eligibility of the funding • Answer questions, discuss options • Of the fund • To explore the potential of the Further Education sector* • * FE sector used in its widest interpretation

6. [this is where we will switch to the DIUS slides] An Innovation nation

7. What is the fund for? 02

8. What the funding is for First Year Capacity building Establishing the case for further investment Creating the space for you to review what you do and share your learning Helping policy makers understand the environment Longer term Re-positioning the FE sector as more than just the purveyor of qualifications

9. What the funding is for? The Further Education sector delivered training to over 250,000 organisations in 2007/8 and this number is rising,,, FE tutors and trainers discussed work related issues with over 2 million employees in 2007/8 what did we learn? The Further Education sector contains a huge bank of expert knowledge that we are not utilising to anywhere near the maximum We want employers to see Further Education providers as centres of learning for them as well as for their staff

10. What the funding is for? In the majority of FE colleges that have participated in this study, the knowledge exchange activities were found to be eclectic and not well coordinated or enough in order to serve the needs of local and regional businesses. New Engineering Foundation research 2005-6

11. What the funding is for? Some of the things we are hoping to uncover How can you keep up to date with latest industry practise? How do you ensure that your staff and materials are credible? How can you help small businesses advance through collaboration? How do you capture and share the learning?

12. Eligibility 03

13. Eligibility • Who can apply? • Applications are welcomed from: • ‘Specialist’ networks already engaging in Innovation and Knowledge Transfer activity as a priority • Networks must contain at least one organisation currently receiving LSC funding – only one organisation will receive and be accountable for the funding

14. Eligibility • Why prioritise existing, specialist networks? • This is about sharing knowledge and working in partnership for mutual benefit • We want to learn about current good practise • There isn’t enough resource to fund and sustain new networks • We believe that specialist providers can add most value

15. Eligibility Who might a network comprise of ? FE colleges & private training providers SSCs and NSAs RDAs, other government agencies Trade bodies HE institutions Employers / businesses What might they specialise in ? An industry, trade or sub-sector

16. Not eligible Funding is not for capital or training delivery Not looking to buy ‘products’ Should not replace existing funding streams that may be ending Increase capacity of the sector not just individual organisations

17. Funding The fund must be spent in the 12 months Oct 2008 - Oct 2009 Although we expect benefits to occur in a longer timescale which is why evaluation will be up to 2 years Funding can be ‘matched’ Payment will be made to invoice against a contract with specific deliverables We will fund up to £800,000 total per pathfinder

18. Support for projects 05

19. Support for projects • Dedicated LSC manager and regional support • Website and knowledge exchange platform • DIUS and ministerial interest and support • LSIS (QIA) best practise review and support • Peer review and support

20. support for projects • Project plans will be drawn up with the LSC and quarterly reviews held • LSIS (QIA) will help to facilitate the work of the projects helping to create an action plan of areas to investigate and develop. • This activity will be monitored through reports and shared with other projects and the wider FE sector.

21. Project requirements • The sharing of findings and best practice between projects through 3 national events. • The first will launch the pathfinder projects and the research & development plan • The second will provide feedback on emerging findings • The third will summarise the final outcomes and actions to take forward and embed in practice across the FE sector.

22. Selection criteria All bids will be multi-scored by DIUS, LSC, DBERR, UKCES, and LSIS officials The scoring criteria are as published in the application form; Vision Focus Sustainability Commitment & capability Quality of plan

23. Timeline 06

24. What next? • Deadline for bids: 17th September • Applications scored between 18th September - 7th October • Panel meets October 8th to moderate • Successful bidders informed by end October • Successful bids announced in inaugural DIUS Annual Innovation Report • Meetings to convert proposals into action plans October / November 2008 • Work begins November 2008

25. Questions? On your tables please discuss and record; Any barriers that we have created that may prevent good potential bids How can we best involve a wider audience in the Pathfinder project? How much potential do believe that FE has for Innovation? What support would be most valuable to you?