Sector Compacts

LSC announced their intention to agree sector compacts
with each SSC in their Plan for Growth document
published in September 2007.   Sector Compacts
are a tripartite partnership agreements between
LSC, DIUS and each SSC.

Within the Sector Compact, each SSC commits to raising
the skills of its workforce through increasing employer
engagement and investment in Train to Gain in return for DIUS
and LSC agreeing specific delivery flexibilities for the sector.
The LSC will ring-fence funds to support an agreed profile of skills achievements within the sector.

We are hoping to agree our Compact with LSC / DIUS in the Autumn of 2008.  Within the Compact, we aim to engage with a minimum of 2000 employers and provide them with support to analyse their skills needs within their business context.  We will then facilitate access to Train to Gain brokers to link those skills needs to training provision, including Skills for Life, NVQ level 2 and 3 qualifications, apprenticeships and management and leadership training.

For EU Skills, we are looking at a potential ring-fenced investment of £40 - 50m over 2 years from the existing Train to Gain budget.  Our delivery model aims to raise skills levels within the sector but also to add significant value and build capability within the current system.  Our model will pump prime sustainable employer engagement with the existing skills system.

Current evidence illustrates that our sector’s awareness of and engagement with Train to Gain is low.  Our delivery model will enhance the current Train to Gain delivery system by building the capability (i.e., sector knowledge) of Train to Gain brokers.  Through the Compact, we aim to provide better quality, more relevant and tailored skills solutions to our sector resulting in sustainable engagement with Train to Gain as our field team of specialists work in partnership with brokers.

We have had major success in engaging employers into appropriate skills solutions (Ambition: Energy and the Construction Skills Action Plan project in Scotland demonstrate that dedicated specialist resource supports excellent employer engagement).  We aim to translate this experience into the delivery of the Compact.

The Compact will also complement the work currently underway for each industry such as the Water Industry Action Plan and Power Sector NSA, which could act as delivery vehicles for the Compact.