Monthly Bulletin

April 2016

Inside this issue...

Page 2 - National Apprenticeship Week National Apprenticeship Week

Page 5 Accrington & Rossendale College - Apprenticeships General Accrington and Rossendale College celebrated National Apprenticeships week in style, with a busy week of activities, awards and master classes all taking place to showcase the talents apprentices possess. Page 7 - Skills Funding Agency Throughout the week, members of the College’s Senior Leadership Team swapped the comforts of their offices to become apprentices for the day, with Principal Sue Taylor becoming a Construction Page 9 apprentice for the day! - BIS - GOV.UK The College also celebrated the success of its apprentices - AELP and their employers with its very own Apprenticeships - The Education & Training Awards Evening, held in the College’s Heartwood Centre Foundation and Roots Restaurant. Other activities included:

Page 10 • Visiting partners to offer apprenticeship guidance - Fair Train • BATJIC Awards Ceremony - Lancs Forum Updates • Apprenticeships Awards Evening Sue Taylor Principal • School drop ins becomes an • Workshops with external partners apprentice Page 11 • Masterclasses - Dates for your Diary Training 2000 CEO and Engineering Apprentices in Job Swap

Two engineering apprentices have taken part in a job swap with Training 2000’s CEO, as the training provider celebrates National Apprenticeship Week. William and Matthew, both first year apprentices who split their time between the Blackburn engineering centre and their employers, first had the opportunity to attend a management team meeting, where Steve Gray, Training 2000’s CEO, explained to them how the business runs and the role that both he and each company director holds.

Following from this, the apprentices had the opportunity to showcase the work they are doing as part of their apprenticeship, demonstrating how to operate a Universal Milling Machine and demonstrating how to make a steel dice model, something they have learnt during their time at Training 2000.

1 www.lancsforum.co.uk William Said: “The job swap has been a great experience, we’ve been able to learn more about how the rest of Training 2000 operates and also share the skills we have developed during our apprenticeships with the CEO which was really good.” Matthew added: “This has been a really good experience and something which will be really useful as we carry on with our careers in engineering.”

Steve Gray, Training 2000 CEO said: “It was good to spend some time with William and Matthew, learning about them, the businesses they work for and how they have developed during their apprenticeships with us so far. It was also interesting to hear what they would like to achieve through the course of their careers, and hopefully this job swap has given them an insight into how a business like Training 2000 runs, which will be really useful for them going forward, and it was great for me being instructed by William and Matthew in operating a Universal Milling machine after my first instruction 36 years ago when I started on my Engineering apprenticeship.”

Preston’s College ‘Your Future Career’ event

During National Apprenticeship week a whopping 453 young people gained information about life in the workplace as part of a national drive to help them with future employment.

The 14 to 24-year-olds attended the latest ‘Your Future Career’ event held by the Young Chamber of Commerce at Preston’s College, one of the North & Western Chamber of Commerce’s patron members.

More than 40 companies exhibited at the event, including Chamber centenary patron, RBS, as well as Ultimaker, another of the Chamber’s patron members. Also Virgin Trains, Blackburn Rovers, Hays, Premier Inn, Cuadrilla, OBAS UK and Lancashire County Council.

As well as hearing from those companies, those in attendance could also visit workshops on CV writing, interview techniques and the local area’s growing industries. Region’s top Apprentices honoured at for the work we do with Blackburn College to develop our apprentices.” Blackburn College’s annual awards A total of 12 apprentices and 23 employers were presented A number of Lancashire’s top apprentices and Employers with certificates in apprentice-related subject areas including: have been honoured at an annual awards ceremony. sport; health and social care; childcare; hairdressing and beauty therapy; catering and hospitality; construction and Students and businesses from across the region engineering; business, law and accounting; computing from Blackburn through to Manchester, attended the and IT; textile and apparel; motor vehicle and business and Apprenticeship Awards held at Blackburn College to supporting teaching and learning. celebrate the achievements of the past year. The annual Apprenticeship Awards, which were held during A Blackburn student who progressed from a Traineeship National Apprenticeship Week, took place on campus at the to an Apprenticeship has been honoured for outstanding Beacon Centre and were hosted by Richard Slater Publishing achievements, taking home the accolade of Apprentice of Editor of Lancashire Business View. the Year.

Lee Boyle, 17, a Level 2 Business Administration Apprentice at Blackburn College said he was delighted to win the award.

Congratulations also went to award-winning Northcote Group, owned by celebrity chef Nigel Haworth, which was named Apprentice Employer of the Year.

Tom Geraghty HR adviser for Northcote, said: “We are really pleased to win the award. It is great to have recognition

2 www.lancsforum.co.uk Nelson and College RWP Brainwave!! celebrates National As the young people we are trying to engage Apprenticeship Week! were in school on National Apprenticeship Week, RWP had a brainwave and decided to Two students becoming MPs for the go to them instead. day and a College Principal going “back to the floor” to see what life is like as an We ran a Schools Roadshow and travelled apprentice were just two of Nelson and throughout Cumbria and Lancashire in our Colne College’s National Apprenticeship RWP Smart Cars visiting local secondary schools to provide IAG to year 11’s and Week highlights. sixth formers. We tracked our route on Facebook via a live feed and uploaded pictures along the way. One of this year’s key themes was “rise to the top”, and to celebrate NCC’s Principal Amanda Melton paid a visit to bike part manufacturer Hope Tech, Runshaw Business Centre Hospitality and Catering in Barnoldswick, to see apprentice Apprentices wow with a lunch to celebrate National Cameron Monk on his journey to his dream job. Apprenticeship Week. Every year the Runshaw Business Centre hosts its own week-long celebrations, with various events helping to raise awareness of the benefits of Apprenticeships.

The week culminated with the annual employers lunch which was held at Runshaws training facility ‘The Bistro’ at the Langdale Road Campus in Leyland. The event saw Runshaw Hospitality Apprentices cook up and serve a delicious three- course meal to local employers. Other activities taking place for National Apprenticeship Week included students Kirsty Browit receives special award giving an insight into a typical day as from Rathbone Training an NCC apprentice on social media, and two students shadowing Pendle An 18-year-old fulfilling her ambitions of working with children has MP Andrew Stephenson for the day to been presented with a special award by Rathbone Training as become apprentice MPs. part of National Apprenticeship Week.

Syed Jawad Ali, 17, from Nelson, and Kirsty Browit, from Wigan, who is working as a childcare Aaron Hamilton, 22, from , apprentice at Parsons Walk Nursery was given a learner award because of her got to speak to Mr Stephenson about dedication to her qualification and the great relationship she has developed with the role of MP, and accompany him her colleagues as well as the parents and children. on a range of visits, including to Barnoldswick’s Silentnight to talk about apprenticeships, Library to speak to In Situ and Super Slow Way and for Below is just one of the many activities the Rotary BAE Systems Technical that took place at Myerscough College Tournament. during National Apprenticeship week.

AOC Regional Director Richard is Apprentice for a Day As National Apprenticeship Week continues, we took the Regional Director of the Association of Colleges, Richard Caulfield, out on a day out to experience a day in the life of a Myerscough College apprentice.

Our first stop was at Avro Golf Club, near Stockport in Cheshire, to meet apprentice greenkeeper, Wayne Atkinson, and Course Manager, Eddie Ainsworth.

3 www.lancsforum.co.uk Local Pupils bring Richard was shown the full range of duties Wayne has to carry out as part of his daily workload and got to experience first-hand what it’s like ‘on the job’. This Careers to Life included operating and driving a ride-on mower and sidewinder, tee renovation and turf management, equipment maintenance and the important part ecology To celebrate National Careers Week and natural habitat plays in the daily operations of the club. and National Apprenticeship Week, West opened their Skelmersdale Campus to over 1500 Themis hit the road with Have-A-Go activities in local school pupils and the student local schools population of . The aim to educate and inspire pupils Themis at took to the road for National Apprenticeship and college students on their future Week throughout Pennine Lancashire all week to host interactive hands-on careers. Apprenticeship activities.

Students and pupils from the local Year 10 students from Our Lady and St. John Catholic College in Blackburn area and beyond had the opportunity took part on Thursday 17 March following the success of activities at Hameldon to engage in activities with more than Community College in Burnley and Colne Primet on Tuesday 15 March. 60 employers from a wide range of The events include a wide variety of hands-on activities in a range of industry- industries. Young people had the specific areas such as Health and Social Care, Advanced Engineering, Sport opportunity to find out about new where students will be able to test their reaction skills and fitness, Business, careers, talk about their future options creating plaster creations from moulds with Construction and creating stop-motion and view a range of Apprenticeships animations with Creative Industries and Computing. and job vacancies on offer. As well as providing a fun carousel of workshops to get students motivated, the Employers from across the North West events at each school give participants unique experiences related to specific attended the day to provide a range industries, offering insights into the skills needed to pursue each career path. of interactive activities for pupils to get involved in. Employers included Themis hosted other activities throughout the week including: Hotter, United Utilities, Safe & Warm, Trelleborg, Stocks Hall, Home Instead, • An Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering promotional event at Charter St Richard’s RC , West Walk Shopping Centre, Burnley. Lancashire Borough Council, Walkers/ • This event offered information and advice about the various Advanced PepsiCo, Southport & Ormskirk NHS Manufacturing and Engineering Apprenticeship opportunities available with Trust, The Imagery, Army, Police, STEM Themis, as well as giving visitors the chance to take part in on-the-spot First, , UCLan and activities. Royal Bank of Scotland. • Apprentices of the Future” Competition was held at Simonstone C of E Primary School Universities from across the North West • School pupils spent the morning taking part in exciting hands-on activities also attended to further raise student where produced products and sold them in order to make a profit. Winners and pupils aspirations. were announced at the end of the day and prizes were awarded based on the quality of their products and the ingenuity and creativity of their ideas. • “Apprentice for the Day” In a series of events throughout the week, Themis Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Apprentices taught leading engineers to become Apprentices for the day. • Leading Advanced Engineering and Construction employers become Themis Apprentices for the day for National Apprentice Week 2016. Employers from WEC Group, Weir Minerals, Safran Aircelle, The Senator Group, Burnley College and Paradigm Precision got up bright and early for an action-packed morning of Apprenticeship training.

A Hameldon Community College Employers become Themis student works on a Construction project Apprentices for the day

4 www.lancsforum.co.uk NLTG - National Apprenticeship Week 2016

NLTG had a series of Apprenticeship Open Days held in Accrington and Fleetwood during National Apprenticeship Week. Tuesday through to Thursday, the ‘Have a Go’ days were open to the public as well as schools to come in, talk about Apprenticeships and their options as well as taking part in occupational related activities.

On Thursday at Accrington, the day was booked out to students of Preston Muslim Girls High School. Around 80 students from the school came in and enjoyed their time trying out the various activities on offer and also 5 of them being selected to win a prize.

On Friday in Accrington we had an employer’s breakfast meeting to help employers learn more about Apprenticeships, the benefits to them and an Apprentice and also information about the new Apprenticeship Levy and how it will affect them.

Apprenticeships General How do I enter? Apply online at apprenticeawards.co.uk National Apprenticeship Awards 2016 Only entries submitted through the online system will be accepted. The National Apprenticeship Awards 2016 cycle was launched as part of National Apprenticeship Week 2016. What support is available? Attached below is information on the Information Seminars Employer and apprentice guidance documents are available being held in April. to download from the awards application site. Information Webinar ‘Helping to start your winning entry’ Rachel Sandby-Thomas The National Apprenticeship Awards recognise both excellence in businesses that grow their own talent through appointed as shadow apprenticeships, and the apprentices who have made a significant contribution to their workplaces. CEO of the Institute for Information Webinars will help you to start your winning entry. Apprenticeships

Led by the Awards Quality Assurance Manager, delegates Rachel brings her wide experience, most recently as the will find out about the entry process, understand what Director General (DG) for Skills, Deregulation and Local evidence and metrics to include and have an opportunity to Growth, to the new role. Prior to that Rachel has held a start creating their own winning entry. Free to attend - book number of roles in BIS and its predecessors, becoming a your place now! Director General in 2008.

What should you expect from the Webinar? She joined the Government Legal Service in 1993 from the • Background to the National Apprenticeship Awards City, where she worked as a solicitor with Linklaters. She • The application submission process has advised a range of organisations including HM Treasury, • Guidance on what the judges are looking for Cabinet Office, the Attorney General’s Office, and Medicines • Interactive support and guidance available and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

When are the Information Webinars taking place? The Institute for Apprenticeships (IfA) will be operational • Tuesday 12 April - 10:00 – 11:00 from April 2017. It will support the delivery of a world-class • Thursday 14 April - 14:00 – 15:00 apprenticeship programme for , giving employers • Tuesday 19 April - 10:00 – 11:00 control and decision-making over content and quality of • Thursday 21 April - 14:00 – 15:00 apprenticeship standards. When can I enter? The IfA will be employer-led; an independent chair will lead You can enter now, the National Apprenticeship Awards, the work of a small board made up primarily of employers, close for entries on Friday 20 May 2015. business leaders and their representatives, to ensure

5 www.lancsforum.co.uk employers continue to drive apprenticeship quality to the SFA Director to lead levy team at BIS highest level. A shadow Chair will be appointed later this spring, and the board members will be appointed through a Skills Funding Agency (SFA) director Keith Smith has moved public appointments process by the end of 2016. to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to take a lead role in levy implementation. Apprenticeships and Traineeships: Mr Smith will be on secondment to BIS for the next year, from his SFA post overseeing funding and programmes, Employer Guide while working as director of levy implementation until it goes live next April. The SFA have revised the employer guide to apprenticeships and traineeships. The guide gives information about the Apprenticeship Levy: How It Will Work benefits of apprenticeships and traineeships to employers. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) You can also download a copy of the guide from the published guidance about how the apprenticeship levy will campaign resources website; you will need to register your work. The apprenticeship levy will apply to all UK employers details to access the site. in both the private and public sectors that pay annual bills of more than £3 million. BIS will publish more detail on the National Minimum Wage for recent Budget announcement that employers will receive a 10% top-up to their monthly levy contributions in April 2016. Apprentices The national minimum wage rate for apprentices will increase Trailblazer’s from £3.30 to £3.40 from October 1. Guidance for trailblazer groups: new apprenticeship The announcement was made by Sajid Javid, Secretary standards approvals process of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, in a written statement to parliament on the first day of National Some changes to the way in which assessment and Apprenticeship Week 2016. approval of bids from employer groups to develop new apprenticeships (Expressions of Interest), draft apprenticeship He explained that the Low Pay Commission’s 2016 report standards and draft apprenticeship assessment plans have made the recommendation for the apprenticeship increase. been made.

The government plans to fulfil along with all other There is now a monthly deadline for submission of all these recommendations on the National Minimum Wage, which documents (the last Thursday of every month), excluding include that the adult hourly national minimum wage rate for major holiday periods. Employer groups who are preparing to 21 to 24-year-olds should increase from £6.70 to £6.95. submit any of these documents should see the Guidance for Trailblazers for more information.

Businesses, training organisations and members of the Apprenticeship Reform public can also comment on all Expressions of Interest, draft apprenticeship standards and draft assessment plans Withdrawal of Frameworks submitted that month through a short online survey.

As part of the apprenticeship reform programme, the SFA Each survey will be open for 2 weeks from the deadline date. have published a list of seven apprenticeship frameworks All comments received will be considered as part of our that they will withdraw. These frameworks will close to new assessment, to increase transparency and scrutiny of the apprenticeship starts from 1 June 2016. These frameworks process. had no apprenticeship starts reported in the 2014 to 2015 funding year or in the 2015 to 2016 funding year to date. This will not affect those apprentices currently completing their apprenticeship on these frameworks.

6 www.lancsforum.co.uk FE Choices Employer Satisfaction Survey 2014 to 2015: Results

You can now access your organisation’s results from the FE Choices Employer Satisfaction Survey 2014 to 2015 on GOV.UK.

In addition, performance indicators are available on the Course Directory pages of the National Careers Service website: enter the course name or subject in the ‘Finding the right course for you section’ and select the relevant course. The information returned includes FE Choices performance indicators on the left of the page.

The national summary of last year’s Employer Satisfaction Survey indicates that 78% of employers were positive about the professionalism of their training provider’s staff.

FE Choices Employer Satisfaction Survey

The FE Choices Employer Satisfaction survey ‘provider-led’ phase starts from 29 March to 29 April. During this phase, colleges and other training organisations can encourage their employers to participate in the survey.

The SFA have published guidance on the key steps you need to take during March to achieve a valid score. To link the Employer Satisfaction survey with your own survey, you need to log your request on the Provider Extranet by Monday, 14 March.

FE Choices: Learner Satisfaction Survey Indicative Results

All in-scope colleges and other training organisations can now view their Learner Satisfaction survey 2015 to 2016 indicative results on the Provider Extranet. The report includes the results from the start of the survey on 1 November 2015 to 15 February 2016.

Please encourage all your eligible learners to complete the survey before the Easter holiday period. The survey will close at midnight on Friday, 1 April.

What will the Adult Education Budget (AEB) bring?

This month saw the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) set out its qualification eligibility principles for the new Adult Education Budget (AEB), set to replace the Adult Skills Budget (ASB) from August 2016.

This year, in line with the previously published Simplified Funding Rules for 2016-2017, the SFA is changing the way in which it creates an approved, publicly funded qualifications offer for learners. For 2016-2017 it’s introducing a new process that reflects both their policy to simplify the funding system and to place more of the decision making into the hands of learners, employers and localities.

The diagram below (taken from this SFA document) sets out how the SFA envisages this system working, with approximately 10% of the overall £1.5billion AEB being allocated for the Legal Entitlement.

7 www.lancsforum.co.uk Legal Entitlement

Alongside this update the SFA has published an initial list of qualifications that will be funded under what is called the Legal Entitlement. We’re currently working with the SFA to identify qualifications we want included in the Legal Entitlement. There will be an updated final list of qualifications eligible for the Legal Entitlements in 2016-2017 released by the SFA w/c 21 March.

On a bit of a sidebar, personally, it was frustrating that this process was rolled out over the half term break, as a key part of getting a qualification approved by the SFA is getting support from colleges and training providers, the majority of whom, as you’re well aware, would be closed over the half term.

Local Flexibilities

The other aspect of the AEB is the Local Flexibility component. As you can see from the diagram above, this could include qualifications, bespoke provision or locally designed and tailored training provision. The SFA’s intention is that the around 90% (approx. £1.35bn) of the AEB will be set aside to respond to these Local Flexibilities.

According to the SFA, “This recognises that localities, colleges and other training organisations are best placed to decide on the most appropriate type of provision to respond to local needs”, and that if qualification are used “the only requirement is that the qualification is eligible for local delivery.”

The SFA will use its Learning Aims Hub to list qualifications confirmed as eligible for local delivery – the guidance provided to Awarding Organisations states that this will start to take place from April 2016.

Of course, all this depends on a local skills ecosystem that is informed by colleges, training providers, Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and city regions – all of which will be impacted upon by the ongoing area review programme that is currently underway.

…and let’s not forget that we’ve the Apprenticeship Levy to be introduced from April 2017, by which time we’ll have a funding landscape that may look different to what we’re used to.

By:Andrew Gladstone-Heighton ncfe

2016 to 2017 funding allocations – positive news for the sector

The SFA has now issued provider allocations for the 2016 to 2017 funding year.

The Skills Funding letter for 2016 to 2017 sets out the budget and priorities for the forthcoming spending review period. This year’s letter confirmed that the spending review settlement for the FE sector was positive. It also focused on apprenticeship growth, localisation of funding, simplification and stability.

The SFA have now issued provider allocations for the 2016 to 2017 funding year, which includes: • maintaining contract values at 2015 to 2016 (as at January 2016) for the newly formed adult education budget • 19% increase on delivery over the 12 months from December 2014 to November 2015 for 19+ apprenticeships allocations • 3% increase on delivery over the 12 months from December 2014 to November 2015 for 16 to 18 apprenticeship allocations • 24% increase on delivery over the 12 months from December 2014 to November 2015 for SFA-funded 16 to 18 traineeship allocations • 29% increase on advanced learner loan facilities, from current commitments

Follow the link to take you to how the SFA have worked out you allocation

Legal Entitlements: Eligible Qualifications

The SFA have published updated guidance on how they identify qualifications that are eligible for funding as part of Legal Entitlements for 2016 to 2017. They have also published: a. An updated list of the qualifications at Levels 2 and 3 that are eligible as part of thelegal entitlement. b. The final list of English and maths qualifications that are eligible as part of the legal entitlement.

8 www.lancsforum.co.uk Subcontracting Data: Second Collection

Organisations with a direct SFA funding agreement that are required to declare their subcontracting arrangements will receive an email shortly from their Central Delivery Service adviser.

The email will include instructions on how to submit an updated subcontractor declaration form. All in-scope funding agreement-holders must complete a form, even if it is a nil return.

The deadline for returning forms is Friday, 15 April; as set out in the Funding Rules the SFA will suspend the May payment to any college or other training organisation that misses the deadline. As soon as they receive a valid form they will lift the suspension and release the payment at the next payment run. The SFA will not consider any extensions to the deadline.

! Updated Guidance on New Chief Executive of Area Reviews AELP Follow this link to access the Education The Department for Business, Funding Agency e-bulletins Innovation and Skills (BIS) has published Updated Guidance on Area UKCES Employer Skills Reviews. Survey 2015 This reflects the learning emerging from the reviews as they progress. BIS UKCES have updated the information announced area reviews of post-16 from their latest Employer Skills education and training institutions in Survey to include a drill down to Local July 2015. Each area review aims to Authority and LEP level. establish a set of institutions that offer high-quality education and training We plan to work with the LEPs Skills & based on the needs of learners and Employment Hub to share some of the Former chief executive of awarding employers locally. LEP highlights for Lancashire and how organisation OCR Mark Dawe has this links with the Sector research and been appointed as the new boss of action plans. the Association of Employment and Area reviews and Learning Providers (AELP). reshaping the college The survey will be an agenda item on the next Forum Employer & Skills sub He will take over from the outgoing sector: FE Commissioner group meeting on the 18th May 16. chief executive Stewart Segal, who is letter (March) joining independent learning provider UKCES Employer Skills Survey 2015 Aspire, Achieve, Advance as director The Further Education Commissioner of strategy, policy and funding. writes to chairs and principals of corporations and FE institutions about Mr Dawe, who left OCR in September the area review process. last year after leading the company for five years, will start with AELP on Monday (March 14) and shadow Study Programme Project Mr Segal until after the Easter bank Dissemination holiday, when he will take full control. Access the link below to take you to Follow the link below to take you to the key findings from the AELP Annual Report for 2014-15 a project that the Education and Training Foundation commissioned AELP and the 157 Group and UCL Institute of Education to deliver called Study Programmes: Modelling and Operation.

The project aims to support strategic leaders and those involved in governance in developing good quality, personalised study programmes that offer all learners the opportunity to successfully progress. Further details are available here.

Presentation Attached: SP project dissemination

9 www.lancsforum.co.uk #WEWeek2016 - dates announced!

This year’s Work Experience Week will take place from 10th- 14thOctober.

Co-ordinated by national charity Fair Train, developers of the The final version of theLancashire Skills national Work Experience Quality Standard accreditation, Work and Employment Strategic Framework Experience Week is dedicated to raising awareness of the life changing benefits of has now been published on the LEP all types of high quality work experience. website

The week is a fantastic opportunity for organisations across the country to host activities showcasing their work experience provision, and to demonstrate the difference a high quality placement can make to an individual’s employment prospects and life.

Full details can be found here.

New Lancashire Forum Website... now live!

The new Forum website is now live, take a look www.lancsforum.co.uk and let Raeleen know what you think. All suggestions for improvement welcome.

Those of you who requested a password for the members’ pages on the old website will have received an email alerting you that this has now been set up on the new website.

You will see that the SORTED leaflet is now on there in digitised format and is accessible from both a pc and mobile device. We have nominated contacts in each of your organisations to update your content on the SORTED.

Although we have a small stock of SORTED leaflets in printed format we do not plan to distribute into schools as we have in the past. We will bring a small stock to the Forum meeting on the 6th April 16 for your staff who visit schools. Plans are being put together to market the website and digitised SORTED.

We have also taken the opportunity to rebrand the Forum with a new look logo.

10 www.lancsforum.co.uk Lancashire Forum meeting dates for 2016

Over the last few weeks we have had a number of emails asking when meetings are taking place. The table below details the dates of meetings through to December 16. Venues and room numbers will be sent out with the agendas.

Lancashire Forum Meeting Dates for the 2016 Board Forum Quality Improvement Employer & Skills (Lisa Bloomfield) (Lisa Bloomfield) (Simon Clarke) (Claire Shore) Start time 9.30 for 10am 10-12noon 2-4pm Apr-16 April 1st April 6th April 27th Jun-16 June 10th June 15th June 22nd Jul-16 July 1st July 6th July 13th Sep-16 September 2nd September 7th September 21st Oct-16 October 7th October 12th Oct 19th Nov-16 November 7th November 9th November 23rd Nov 30th Dec-16 December 2nd December 7th

Lancashire Young Apprentice Ambassador Network (LYAAN)

As mentioned at previous Forum meetings we are now developing in partnership with the LEP Skills and Employment Hub a Lancashire Young Apprentice Ambassador Network.

At the North West launch event in February, we had 16 nominations of which 5 signed up there and then to becoming ambassadors.

We want to grow this number and ask that Lancashire Forum members send out the attached nomination form to your employers and encourage them to nominate an apprentice to become an ambassador. Also attached is the role of an ambassador and why become an ambassador. Please feel free to nominate an apprentice from your own organisation.

We are currently planning a launch of the network with a provisional date of Wednesday 20th April from 3.30 – 5.30 in Preston. Prospective ambassadors and their employers if they wish are invited to attend to find out more about being an Ambassador and the Lancashire Network.

Attached: LYAAN Information & Nomination form The Role of an Ambassador Why be an Ambassador

Dates for your diary... Next Forum meeting When: 6th April 16 Where: Preston’s College Time: 9.30 for a 10am start Chair: Lisa Bloomfield Speakers: Ian Ryan – Skills Funding Agency Cheryl Knaggs - AELP

Raeleen Duthoit T: 01254 230756 M: 07890 169586 E: [email protected]

11 www.lancsforum.co.uk