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Latest ‘news’ on Minimum Contract Level policy
The Skills Funding Agency, sounding down but not beaten report that they are “still not in a position to confirm whether or not the policy will be applied to those providers who deliver 16-18 Apprenticeships and are below the Minimum Contract Level threshold. As soon as a definitive position has been agreed, the Agency will notify providers directly.”: http://tinyurl.com/5vea6vn

I suspect that BIS are refusing to take no for an answer from the DfE, as it could be argued that the whole MCL policy would collapse without including 16-18 Apprenticeship contracts.

How soon before fraud by a sub-contractor hits the headlines?
It has long been accepted that sub-contracting provision has a higher than average risk of fraud, and an SFA update in January went out of its way to point out that they “maintain a dedicated Investigations Unit to investigate allegations of fraudulent or irregular activity. If you suspect there may be fraudulent or irregular activity taking place at an Agency funded training organisation you should contact Bob Browell, Investigations Manager, by email or on 02476 823804.”: http://tinyurl.com/6gln3eh

As the MCL policy reduces the number of prime providers, and the Apprenticeship growth targets and Single Welfare Programme increase, it is inevitable there will be pressure on providers to sub-contract provision. Interesting, the YPLA told me they thought any administration savings that the SFA might make through MCL policy would be more than off-set by the costs of managing the increased risk profile of a sector full of sub-contractors.

In my opinion it is likely colleges will be pressured by the SFA into delivering increased Apprenticeship numbers, and wont take (or feel they have) the time to carry out rigours tending (often an EU regulatory requirement) or thorough due diligence for potential sub-contractors.

So, beware potential sub-contractors offering easy access to learners. No-one wants history to repeat itself and be reminded any more than is necessary of Bilston College (http://tinyurl.com/6fl3qys) or Bournville College (http://tinyurl.com/5wvsrre).

When does Train to Gain (TtG) dress-up as Work Place Learning (WPL)?
When it’s in the latest list of QCF qualifications confirmed for funding: http://tinyurl.com/6ka3dfy

It seems the SFA is so desperate not to use the term TtG, they have not even said that WPL is the new term replacing TtG. Of course, this only creates confusion as it is still called TtG on the Learning Aim Database (until LARA appears for 2011/12 of course). Oh, and the QCF qualifications confirmed for funding spreadsheet remains full of sentences like “replacement competancy qualification approved for Train to Gain” ~ oops x 2 as they also can’t spell ‘competency’ (not a word you really want to misspell)!

On a serious note, I suspect as soon as the term WPL starts to be remembered as replacing the term TtG (and the term WBL before that), it will be replaced by another new name which references the fact that it is a programme specifically for Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) of less than 250 staff.

2011/12 ILR Specification and Returns Timetable
The information authority have now committed to publishing the specification for the single ILR and XML Schema and version 2 of the flat file ILR specification (to include late ILR changes) on 28 February 2011. They will also publish the Data Collections timetable in March, following approval at the board meeting on 02 March: http://tinyurl.com/666d5n9

Adult Funding Summit ~ places going fast
Demand for places at the Adult Funding Summit is particularly high, so book your place soon to avoid missing out on this one-off event. Find out more: http://tinyurl.com/6987cn7

The Spring College Data Conference ~ fully booked
The Spring College Data Conference in London on the 3rd March 2011 is now fully booked with 160 delegates. It will be the biggest and most significant College Data Conference so far, with contributions from all the main agencies, and at a time of significant change to college data. If cancelations mean that places become available you will here it first within a future Lsect update.

College media and PR training ~ 8th March
Places are still available at this one-off College Media and PR Conference on the 8th March 2011 in London: http://tinyurl.com/5wtv86h . This will also be of benefit to other organisations in the Learning and Skills Sector (such as awarding bodies) so please pass on the link to your Marketing and PR Manager.

A 1st from People 1st
The first SASE compliant Apprenticeship Framework has been published, and it is a Level 2 in ‘Drinks Dispense Systems’ from the SSC People 1st. http://tinyurl.com/67ujb3o

This was quickly followed by two from Skills for Justice (Courts, Tribunal and Prosecution Administration at Level 2 and Policing at Level 3) ~ to help with the increased risk of sub-contracting fraud (see above)?

The National Apprenticeship Service is updating another colourful spreadsheet with the new frameworks ~so find out more via the link above and on the speadsheet here: http://tinyurl.com/6anvwwu

SASE and ‘a minimum of 438 GLH off-the-job’
Now that the new SASE compliant frameworks are coming on stream, it is worth seeing how the SSCs are responding to the new minimum glh requirements. In the case of the first SASE compliant Framework from People 1st: “As there is a significant amount of knowledge required for this apprenticeship and pathway an apprentice will need to complete a minimum of 438 GLH off-the-job over 15 months for this framework of which a minimum of 100GLH must take place in the first 12 months.” See page 16: http://tinyurl.com/64xeyet

This includes some very finely measured calculations, such as “299 GLH for the BIIAB Level 2 Certificate in Cellar Service Installation and Maintenance”

Bizarrely (given they are ‘minimums’) People 1st want these hours recorded, but does not want to see the proof: “We would expect the training to be recorded in the companies training records and logs however we would not require to see these.”

And as if in competition, Skills for Justice have said Level 3 Police "apprentices must receive a total of 636 GLH whilst completing this framework". See page 15: http://tinyurl.com/6jknp7x

Apprenticeship software ~ find out more
As these minimum guided learning hour requirements come into force from the 6th April 2011 it will be more important than ever to have a good tracking system for Apprenticeship learners (see reference to ‘logs’ above). To register your interest in finding out about the web-based Sunesis system (which includes a modelue that logs and tracks learner progress) simply complete this online form: http://tinyurl.com/45htddv