Issue - meetings

The Board received a report from the Strategic Director – Enterprise, Community and Resources which provided an update on the work of the Employment, Learning and Skills Division.

It was reported that since 20 March 2020 the staff within the Employment, Learning and Skills Division had been operating a remote system for customers and learners, with all learning centres currently closed.  The staff were now in the process of preparing for centres to reopen again and planning how delivery to customers and learners would be rolled out given social distancing measures. 

As well as guidance surrounding Covid-19 being core to the delivery going forward, the Board was advised that the work of the Division would focus on supporting those individuals that had been adversely affected economically by the Pandemic and had lost jobs and/or confidence.

The report provided Members with updates in the following areas:

·         ESF Ways to Work;

·         Liverpool City Region apprenticeship Hub;

·         LCR Apprenticeship Growth Plan;

·         DWP Work and Health Programme;

·         Merseylink Employment and Skills Performance; and

·         Adult Learning and Devolution.

In response to Members queries regarding the potential for an increased demand for apprenticeships once the furlough schemed ended, officers advised that this was anticipated so a request had been submitted to Government for the numbers of these to be increased. 

With regards to the Job Entry Targeted Support (JETS) Programme, Members were advised that this would support 1453 participants between October 2020 and March 2022 and would provide positions of not less than 3 months duration.  Members requested a progress report at a future meeting of the Board.

RESOLVED:  That the report and comments made be noted.