Adult Education In Gloucestershire Accountability Agreement 2024/25
Statement of Purpose
To provide learning opportunities that improve people’s lives and outcomes, enabling people to participate in their communities and support growth and prosperity in Gloucestershire.
Service Vision
To become the provider of choice in Gloucestershire, delivering outstanding learning, inspiring individuals and transforming the lives of local communities to support growth and prosperity.
Strategic Aims and Objectives
- Building strong inclusive communities
- Supporting the climate change strategy and ensuring growth is sustainable
- Increasing individual skills within local communities to meet labour market needs
- Meeting the needs of local employers
- Engaging with local communities to promote healthy living and wellbeing, enabling people to live independently
Adult Education in Gloucestershire is situated within the County of Gloucestershire in the Southwest Of England which is predominantly rural with six local authority Districts and two urban centres, Cheltenham and Gloucester.
We serve the county of Gloucestershire, reaching over 3,000 adult residents (6,400 enrolments) in each academic year.
Adult Education Context
Gloucestershire has a 70% higher rural population than average. With 28.6% of the population living in rural areas compared to 17% nationally. This has led to a varying performance and skills imbalance around the county.
Gloucestershire, like most of the UK, has an ageing population. However, the proportion of Gloucestershire’s population of working-age is 60.8%. This is slightly higher than in the Southwest (60.7%). There is a smaller proportion of 20-39-year-olds in Gloucestershire than in England as a whole. Gloucestershire also has a slightly smaller proportion of people aged 19 and under compared to England (18.5%). However, the proportion of 0-19 years olds in Gloucestershire (17.5%) is higher than in the Southwest (16.9%).
Of a working age population of 393,100, 82.7% are economically active and 17.3% economically inactive.
19,415 people in Gloucestershire live in areas which have been classified as being among the 10% most deprived in England. People living in the Cheltenham wards of St Paul's, St Peter's and St Mark's and the Forest of Dean's Cinderford West struggle far more than others within the County.
Gloucestershire's SME sector is large. Community; 89% of Gloucestershire’s businesses employ less than 9 people, compared to approximately 110 businesses employing 250 or more people.
Gloucestershire’s economy is very diverse with a variety of industries well represented, and not relying too heavily on any one sector for employment. The Health and Social Care sector employs the most people in Gloucestershire and accounting for 13% of total employment. The Manufacturing sector is the next largest sector, accounting for 12% of employment, followed by Retail, Accommodation & Food Services and the Professional, Scientific & Technical Sector.
There are 23 areas of Gloucestershire that are among the most deprived nationally for Education, Skills and Training Deprivation. These areas account for 36,118 (5.8%) of Gloucestershire residents.
There are 11 areas of Gloucestershire in the most deprived 10% nationally for Employment Deprivation, an increase from 9 areas in 2015. These 11 areas account for 17,525 people (2.8% of the county population).
Skills challenges
Against a backdrop in 2021 of Gloucestershire having 29,735 businesses, employing 310,600 people in 345,000 jobs, 33% of the 16-64 population in Gloucestershire had a highest qualification of only level 2 or below.
Gloucestershire has a higher incidence of firms reporting vacancies than nationally and regionally – with 28% of firms reporting at least one vacancy and 43% of these classed as ‘hard to fill’. The main reasons for hard-to-fill vacancies are low numbers of applicants with required skills, as well as a lack of qualifications or work experience required by the employer. Sectors with the highest forecast growth (2017-2027) are: 1) Health and social work 2) Arts and entertainment 3) Information technology 4) Professional services 5) Other services.
Source: https://www.gfirstlep.com/downloads/2022/local-skills-report-annex-a-2020_21.pdf
The Planning Process
Our Planning aligns with economic opportunities and future skills through representation and adherence to the Local Skills Improvement Plans, Local Employer Partnerships, National, Regional and Local Priorities, as well as the County's aims from the Council’s 2050 Vision.
Council Objectives
An annual service plan is prepared and this feeds into the Directorate and Council wide delivery plans and commissioning intentions
Benchmarking
A yearly review against our peer group authorities is completed and analysed to ensure value for money (Lincolnshire County Council Benchmarking Club).
Learner progression, achievement rates and learner feedback are also monitored, reviewed and actioned.
Targets and Performance
The Adult Education management team review previous overall performance, past KPIs, and emerging/increasing skills needs that align with Council priorities, when planning new targets for the year
Learner Demographics
In-depth analysis from wide range of sources Including LMI job posting and skills data, LEP skills and career reports and wider council education data reports (Inform Gloucestershire) provides us with demographic data of Gloucestershire to ensure we are meeting the wants and needs of the local communities
Curriculum Planning
Leaders plan the curriculum The service's annual plan is reviewed by the service management team and the Governance and Advisory Board (GAB) to ensure that courses and learning programmes meet local community and employer needs and take account of emerging/increasing demand (e.g. ESOL provision for Ukrainian refugees, cost of living support for residents)
Collaboration Equals Success
Through strong relationships with other departments within the council and excellent collaboration with stakeholders, we are able to develop a curriculum plan that works for the residents of Gloucestershire by providing an excellent learner experience, with us as the provider of choice.
Partnership Working
Cross Team Working
We collaborate with other departments within Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) to ensure that the provisions the service delivers are responsive to Local and National priorities
GFirst LEP
Adult Education in Gloucestershire has an ongoing relationship with the Local Enterprise Partnership. Through regular contact, the service works closely with the District Councils, to implement the skills policy and to support economic growth. We do this by boosting skills levels which benefit both residents and businesses
Sub-Contractors
Adult Education in Gloucestershire currently has a framework agreement with five subcontractors located across Gloucestershire to deliver a diverse range of courses aimed at engaging and supporting learners who benefit from specialist provision that is beyond the scope of the 'in house’ delivery team
Strong Links
Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Organisations
Adult Education in Gloucestershire works in partnership with a variety of organisations to support with community projects
Local Employers
We use a combination of local labour market information (LMI) and direct contact with local employers to inform the development of our courses and programmes. Sectorally, we focus on provision for Education and Early Years, Health & Social Care and cross-sector digital and functional skills. This is to respond to local needs, gaps in provision by other providers and to play to our delivery strengths
Careers Advice
We use our close relationships with a wide range of agencies to provide our learners with careers and job-hunting support, as well as help with other challenges they face in their lives e.g. managing personal budgets.
These agencies/partners include Department for Work and Pensions and Jobcentre Plus, the Employment & Skills Hub, the National Careers Service, and the Citizens Advice Bureau.
Our contribution to national, regional and local priorities
| Adult Education in Gloucestershire Strategic Aims and Objectives | Impact and/or Contribution towards National, Regional and Local Priorities for Learning and Skills | Priorities and reasons for the objective |
| Building strong inclusive communities |
We work to improve digital inclusion in Gloucestershire, increasing the digital skills and confidence of adult learners in disadvantaged cohorts by offering tailor-made digital courses. We strive to challenge and overcome diversity and inclusion barriers for our learners and our local communities by supporting the integration of ethnic minority communities (including those from Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Syria and the Ukraine), through the delivery of a comprehensive and targeted programme of skills to 265 accredited learners, this is an increase of 12% from the previous year and 18% from 2020-21. 440 non-accredited learners are currently studying English as a second language, employability and life skills. This is an increase of 39% from the previous year and 54% from 2020-21. Manage and deliver the Gloucestershire Multiply numeracy programme for people ages 19 plus, who do not already hold a Level 2 or above qualification Maths. We will deliver a combination of courses through direct delivery and working alongside partner organisations around the county to engage with over 1000 learners through 10 different specific interventions. Our community learning courses have helped highlight many of the excellent examples of innovative work taking place in and around the county. |
This supports the National Digital strategy, it contributes to the growing Digital, Creative & ICT sector and aligns with the 2018-2023 Gloucestershire Digital Strategy. Gloucestershire’s Trailblazer Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) and the full LSIP, which includes a focus on digital skills. Continue to expand ESOL provision to support refugees/ asylum seekers and other residents who are new to living in the UK. We are meeting the national, regional and local priorities. Enabling people from ethnic minority communities to secure employment and integrate into their local community. New government initiative supports the levelling up agenda to help adults improve their numeracy skills and build their overall confidence using numeracy within their daily lives and to help them progress within their careers To deliver tailored made county wide programmes to promote health and wellbeing and other various subjects to help, build and nurture active and supportive communities with current / arising national issues . |
| Supporting the climate change strategy and ensuring growth is sustainable |
Our community learning programmes provide skills, knowledge, training and education to support the current climate change. We will work with the local libraries to help support with the “Green Zone” initiative and other partners to deliver sustainable courses around the county. Working in partnership across Gloucestershire to promote less waste and more recycling. Delivering sustainable courses that encourage wildlife and sustainable living. |
Support the National, Regional and Local Climate Change Strategies. Also, the Department of Education’s Sustainability and Climate Change strategy. |
| Increasing Individual skills within local communities to meet labour market needs |
Work in partnership to create more training to fill skills gaps and raise job prospects across the county by increasing our Skills and Apprenticeship provision. Continue to grow our ‘free courses for jobs’ provision, enabling adults to gain skills that employers value, improve job prospects or earn a higher wage. Support refugees with training and language skills to help them integrate into society and gain employment. |
Supports the local Gloucestershire Skills Strategy 2021-2025 and Gloucestershire’s Local Skills Improvement Plan. Working in conjunction with the Local Employment and Skills Hub to offer information around skills and employment. Continue to expand ESOL provision to support refugees/ asylum seekers and other residents who are new to living in the UK. We are meeting the National, Regional and Local priorities, enabling people from ethnic minority communities to secure employment and integrate into their local community. |
| Meeting the needs of local employers |
Apprenticeships: At present they are approved within ROATP for Levy funded Apprenticeships, Non-Levy funded apprenticeships, Learner Loans, Adult Education Budget, and full cost recovery. Covering the following areas: Business Administrator Operations Manager Team Leader Teaching Assistant Early Years Educator and Practitioner & Lead Practitioner Customer Service Specialist and Practitioner Learning Mentor And we are developing apprenticeships in: Adult Care Worker – In development/recruitment Lead Adult Care Worker – In development/recruitment Digital Skills – Working alongside community learning to deliver non-regulated ICT courses to improve basic knowledge, progressing to Entry Level 3 to Level 3 Qualifications in Advanced ICT. Amounting to 175 Targeted starts in 2022/23, currently at 30%. Health & Social Care – Expand and deliver training for those working in and seeking jobs in Health & Social Care through Awards and Certificates in adult social care Level 1-Level 3 and specialisms (e.g. principles of care planning, falls prevention). Future plans to launch Level 2 & Level 3 apprenticeship in Adult Care and Peer Worker also. Early Years – Deliver Certificate in introducing caring for children and young people L2 and specialisms (e.g. bullying awareness, understanding autism, etc.) to those seeking to enter or upskill within local early years settings.- we offer a diploma in Childrens Learning and Development QCF Level 3 targets 3 starts and our Diploma in Specialist Support for Teaching and Learning in Schools QCF Level 2 targets 15 starts in 2022/23. Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools L2 targets 3 starts and a diploma in Children's Learning and Development (Early Years Educator) L3 targets 10 starts. Education & Training – Deliver the Award and Certificate in Education and Training L3 & L4 to Develop and offer courses in collaboration with the Employment and Skills Hub and DWP, to attract more recruits to local key sectors (e.g. health and social care). Our BTEC Certificate in Education and Training Level 4 targets 3 starts. Enhance delivery by offering a range of technical courses. |
Supports the National, Regional (LEP) and Local priorities. Apprenticeship programmes in priority subject areas enable employers to develop specialist skills needed to drive the performance of their business and for the county to retain young talent. Administration roles are consistently the second most posted roles in Gloucestershire (approx. 875 per month and over 2,000 for the first quarter of 2023, followed by customer service (approx. 660 per month, and 1,800 in Q1 of 2023). Digital skills are in demand cross-sector and have been highlighted within the Trailblazer Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) and in the wider Gloucestershire LSIP (May 2023). A strong skills base is key to attracting inward investment from productive organisations who can transfer technology and best practice through supply chains and this work will help build a local talent pool for employers. |
| Engaging with local communities to promote healthy living and well-being, enabling them to live independently | Adult Education in Gloucestershire has an important role in building confidence and connecting communities by improving health, wellbeing and reducing inequalities. | Supports the National NHS “Live well” campaign and Local Joint Health and Wellbeing strategy 2019 – 2030. |
Priority Area: Digital and Technology
Digital professional services are of significant importance to Gloucestershire and the UK, with UK’s annual revenue within the UK’s cyber security industry alone worth an estimated £10.1bn, up 14% on the previous year. The UK had approximately 1.7 million filled jobs in the digital sector in 2020, a 31.5% increase since 2011. The digital skills gap is estimated to cost the UK economy £63 billion per year in lost potential gross domestic product (GDP) and is expected to widen, resulting in a workforce inadequately equipped to meet the demands of the digital age. Employers say that only 48% of people leaving full-time education have the advanced digital skills required, and many companies cite lack of available talent as the single biggest constraining factor to their growth. Improving the availability of digital skills not only unlocks the full economic potential of businesses, it helps individuals and opens up careers in interesting, sustainable, and well-paid jobs across the economy1.
Gloucestershire has long been home to considerable professional services and IT service clusters, with over 1,000 cyber security professionals and more than 120 firms involved in cyber related activities as of June 2022. Home to GCHQ and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), Gloucestershire has the largest cluster of cyber businesses outside of London, with its own cyber cluster representative body, Cynam, which is active at promoting the region, cluster and opportunities on a national scale. Cheltenham has the highest density of cyber businesses in the country, with 620 businesses across the county and increasing.
For the Gloucestershire area between 2020 and 2035, the Digital sector (which we have taken to be represented by Information Technology and Professional Services industrial groupings) is expecting to show an increase of 5,000 FTE – or 12% of 2020’s estimated workforce of 41,200. Which compares well with the wider Gloucestershire economy which is expected to be largely flat (comprising 11.7% of the regional workforce in 2035, marginally up from 11.57% in 2020).
Programmers and software development professionals as of January 2023 were the fifth most posted job role in the region, at 2.6% of all posts (a total of 652). Other roles within this sector that are highly posted are IT Business Analysts (290), Architects and Systems Designers, IT User Support Technicians, IT Operations Technicians and IT and Telecommunications Professionals, all between 100 and 200 live postings2.
Adult Education in Gloucestershire offers free courses for anyone with little or no digital skills. Our accessible courses will support learners to develop their digital skills and gain an essential qualification.
163 Learners have attended Community Learning courses aimed at improving computer knowledge and skills in 2022/23.
These have helped learners to learn how to use different devices and applications to;
- manage online activities
- use online services and buy things securely online
- create and edit documents and digital media
- find, manage and store information
- protect privacy and data.
We also offer nationally recognised qualifications at award or certificate levels in Digital and IT Skills.
71 Learners have completed a digital skills course in 2022/23.
1 Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uks-digital-strategy/uk-digital-strategyGloucestershire
2 LSIP Digital Sector Priority Findings – Business West
Priority Area: Health and Social Care
Healthcare is one of the largest employment sectors in Gloucestershire and has seen a spike in employment over recent years and these trends are set to continue largely linked to an ageing demographic. Almost half of the sector workforce is made up of professional, associate professional occupations and care occupations. These are also the areas where the growth in employment is projected with some decline in administrative occupations likely. All of this suggests that the demand in healthcare is likely already exceeding supply, which may drive further innovation in delivery.
The Adult Social Care Workforce:
- The sector has a 7.8% vacancy rate
- Lowest number of Zero-hours contracts in South West
- 71.9% of the workforce is female
- Average age is 42, higher for regulated professionals at 48
- 64% of people starting new roles are recruited from within the sector (high churn within the sector) so the sector does retain experience and skills
- Estimated 17,500 jobs in Gloucestershire - split across -local authorities (6%); independent sector (88%) and direct payment recipients (5%)2.
As of 2022, 4,116 Jobs postings were listed as classified as being Health and Social Care Associated Professionals which is 3% below the National average, however, this is an increase of 0.5% from the previous year.3 Nationally new data has highlighted an increase in the number of vacant NHS posts which underlines the pressure on the NHS workforce as a result of growing workloads and staff shortages. This is affecting staff morale – one of the top two concerns reported by NHS finance directors in each of their last four quarterly monitoring reports. Other factors are also having an impact, the number of EU nationals registering as nurses has fallen by 96 per cent since the EU referendum.
The Institutes for Adult Learning state there is a strong link between Adult Education and improved health and well-being. A 2017 project commissioned by the Department of Education found 52% of learners with clinically significant anxiety and or depression no longer had symptoms at the end of their course.
- 124 learners have undertaken Community Learning Mindfulness courses in 2022/23
- 60 learners have undertaken Community Learning First Aid courses in 2022/23
- 51 learners have also undertaken a Full Cost Level 3 First Aid at Work course in 2023/23
- 10 Learners are targeted to start a Full Cost Level 3 award in Health and Safety in the Workplace
- In 2022/23 we have recently started to deliver a Health and Social Care qualification.
Priority Area: Science and Mathematics
Many jobs of the future will require STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects. Industries related to STEM subjects are important to Gloucestershire. However, skills shortage vacancies faced as STEM (Science, Technology Engineering and Maths) provision and apprenticeship delivery have expanded in recent years and Gloucestershire as a county does not produce sufficient STEM graduates to support the employment base and is relatively poor at graduate retention when compared to neighbouring areas. National research has shown that STEM skills shortages are particularly prevalent in certain occupation groups (e.g. Professional occupations) and can create pockets of high-frequency trading vacancies; for example, the 2015 ESS found that 43 per cent of vacancies for Professional occupations in so-called SRET sectors (Science, Research, Engineering, and Technology).
The recent Science and Innovation Audit (SIA) 4 (including Gloucestershire) found that just over a third (36%) of subjects being studied by undergraduates in Gloucestershire are STEM. This figure has increased by 1.8% since 2012. This is better than the consortia area5 (average 1.1% increase) but matches the overall picture for England and Wales – increase of 1.8%.
For post graduate students 46% of subjects are in STEM subjects. Biological science and Architecture, building and planning being the most popular subjects. The report shows that out of the consortium Gloucestershire is losing graduate skills the most. 60.7% remain in the LEP area 6 months after graduating which may sound high but not compared to Cornwall and Isles of Scilly at 74.9%. The reasons for this should be examined further. Out of 40 LEP regions Gloucestershire ranks 32nd for retaining graduates 6 months after graduation.
Nationally The Prime Minster has set out priorities on the UK's low numeracy rates. Around 8 million adults in England have the numeracy skills of primary school children. Maths anxiety remains into adulthood. Estimates of the general population suggest that 17% have high levels of maths anxiety. Researchers examining 84 studies have concluded that there is a mutually reinforcing relationship between maths anxiety and performance at school, negatively influencing labour market outcomes.
Adult Education in Gloucestershire's Multiply Programme aims to support Adult with Numeracy Skills through innovative programmes. Running until 2025 it aims to support 19+ with no GCSE in maths, improve their maths skills, ensuring they feel more confident progressing onto formal qualifications; into work or progress in their existing job role, thus, positively impacting Gloucestershire’s overall economy.
In 2022/23 Adult Education in Gloucestershire is targeting 117 starts to complete Functional Skills mathematics qualifications with a further 25 Non-regulated entry level starts and up to 245 Non-accredited English and Maths Community Learning learners.
Boosting English and Maths skills is also an option available to learners on our Steps to Work Supported Internship course, with additional one to one support offered to complete functional skills certificates in Level 1 and 2 Mathematical skills.
4) Source: http://gw4.ac.uk/sww-sia/
5) The consortia area is South-West of England (Cornwall & Isles of Scilly, Gloucestershire, Heart of the South-West, Swindon & Wiltshire, and West of England LEPs) and South East Wales
6) Source: Social Market Foundation
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