Skills for Growth

Background

Skills for Growth is a key SDS project under two Goals - Enable people to fulfil their potential and make skills work for employers

The project aims to deliver an improved service offering built around the skills development needs of the employer and employees.

It will not be limited to services provided by SDS and will be flexible in its delivery, allowing for local and sectoral needs to be reflected in the service offered.

There are 3 phases1. Customer insight and literature review (completed)2. Repurpose our existing web channel (by end Feb 2010)3. Development of the core offer (by end Oct 2010)

Definition

Skills for Growth will deliver a robust, multi-channel approach which sets out

clear information and guidance channels, value propositions and progression

routes which will deliver real and positive change to employers and people

within the workplace.

We help businesses get the best out of their people

We help businesses focus on their peoples strength to increase performance through better motivation, engagement and retention

We give businesses greater confidence to invest in people development and focus spend and effort where it matters most

We help businesses make better recruitment decisions

We help business engage with the implications of change on their employees

We work with businesses to build greater understanding about how learning and development build to business success

Phase 1 – Customer insight / literature review

A comprehensive review of legacy, current and partner intelligence

and policy relating to how services have been, and should be,

delivered to employers and people in work:

1. Customer Insight – a literature review which will provide a definitive customer needs statement based on extensive existing employer and stakeholder consultation and research.

2. Systems and Tools - Analysis of existing web-based services, support and diagnostic tools aimed at employers.

3. Funding and Frameworks - Analysis of current and historic good practice to formulate options for funding and other support to employers.

Phase 1 - Outputs

The review highlighted ten key service principles on which we must developour approach:

1. Simple, accessible information on available training;2. Focused, personalised training advice and support;3. Demonstration of the value of training and introduction of ROI measures;4. Development of peer to peer channels of advice;5. Recognition of the value of face to face intervention to sustain & measure progression.6. Provision of interactive channels (web and telephone);7. Funding assistance alongside focused advice and guidance;8. A modified Modern Apprenticeship programme;9. Unified, accessible qualification framework; and10.Plain language, streamlined processes and minimised bureaucracy.

The outputs from the literature review will provide a framework from whichwe will build product and service prototypes using a service design approach

Phase 2 - Interim employer website

The creation of a single employer-facing website to align with the

redesign of our corporate site. This will involve a refresh of existing

employer content, with key products and services mapped to our

brand proposition.

Repurposing of existing offers around compelling value propositions

Integration and alignment across all SDS services

Single ‘gateway’ for all SDS employer services

Incorporate outputs from phase 1 and build in systems/tools and funding/framework applications where appropriate

Incorporate links to partner offers

Interface with TalentMap (UK Commission for Employment and Skills)

AWARENESS Identify what my business needs

UNDERSTANDING What support is available?

EMPOWERMENTHelp me develop my people

MODERN APPRENTICESHIPShttp://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/what-we-do/

skills-and-training/modern-apprenticeships.aspx

TRAINING WORKBOOKShttp://www.lds4b.com/Resources/Training+Workbooks/

NLODhttp://www.lds4b.com/Search/advancedcoursesearch

EMPLOYER CASE STUDIES (lds4b)http://www.lds4b.com/WhyLearn/Case+studies/

(ARTICLE) WHY TRAIN? (need to develop copy around the link between training, people development and business

improvement)http://www.lds4b.com/WhyLearn/

INVEST IN AN APPRENTICE (To 31 Mar 10)http://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/what-we-do/skills-and-training/modern-apprenticeships/invest-in-an-

apprentice.aspx

SKILLSEEKERShttp://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/what-we-do/

skills-and-training/skillseekers.aspx

TRAINING FOR WORK (need employer targeted copy)http://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/what-we-do/

skills-and-training/training-for-work.aspx

PACEhttp://www.careers-scotland.org.uk/CareerDevelopment/

Redundancy/PACE/RedundancyWhatisPACE.asp

LEARNING BYTEShttp://learningbytes.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/

ADOPT AN APPRENTICE (TO 31 Mar 2010)http://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/media/23140/

adopt%20an%20apprentice%20guidelines%20v2.pdf

SAFEGUARD AN APPRENTICE (TO 31 Mar 2010)http://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/media/23188/

safeguard%20an%20apprentice%20guidelines.pdf

BRANDED LEARNING CENTREShttp://www.lds4b.com/centresearch

ILA SCOTLAND (employer copy to be produced)http://www.ilascotland.org.uk/ILA+Homepage.htm

BIG PLUS FOR BUSINESShttp://www.thebigplus.com/bigplus/147.102.html

GET READY FOR WORK (need employer targeted copy)http://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/what-we-do/

skills-and-training/get-ready-for-work.aspx

TALENTMAP (LINK)http://www.talentmap.ukces.org.uk/UKTalentMap/home.do

TRAINING WORKBOOKShttp://www.lds4b.com/Resources/Training+Workbooks/

SKILLS INVESTMENT ADVISERSNeed to identify capacity and develop copy (Ops)

TELEPHONE SUPPORTNeed to identify capacity and develop copy

(Customer Services/Ops)

We help businesses make better

recruitment decisions

We help businesses get the best out of their people

We help businesses focus on their peoples strength to

increase performance through better motivation, engagement

and retention

We give businesses greater confidence to invest in

people development and focus spend and effort where it matters most

We help business engage with the implications of

change on their employees

We work with businesses to build greater undertanding

about how learning and development build to

business success

THIRD PARTY BUSINESS SUPPORT / TOOLS (LINKS)Definitive list to be supplied – being scoped

PARTNER BUSINESS SUPPORT ORGS (LINKS)Definitive list to be supplied – being scoped

INVESTORS IN PEOPLE INTERACTIVE DIAGNOSTIC (LINK)

http://www.investorsinpeople.co.uk/interactive/Pages/default.aspx

ST

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SC

RE

DO

JOBCENTRE PLUShttp://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Employers/

index.html

CAREER MANAGEMENT / PRODUCTS / SERVICESNeed to define employer propositionC

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Phase 3 – Develop & deliver core offer

Co-creation: Development and trialling of prototypes with service users and partnersA web-based Skills for Growth service is available for individuals and businesses throughout Scotland (not just an information portal, but a dynamic ‘toolkit’ designed to identify real needs and offer relevant solutions)Build capacity - Support mechanisms through telephone and face-to-face channels (direct or indirect)improved opportunities for employed customers to progress within work new pathways to skills and qualifications through occupationally focused learning for customersnew relationships with our network of partners, including Scotland’s colleges, Scottish Training Federation, Scottish Training Action Group and Sector Skills Councilsrefreshed approach to funding work-based learningimproved skills utilisation within businesses

Skills for Growth and the GES sectorsObjective Sectoral ambitions SDS Deliverables

Provide information, advice and guidance for

businesses, including SMEs

Highlight the benefits of raising skill levels within the sector,

including quantifiable benefits to personal and company productivity

Improve the flow of information through the sector by gathering, collating and promoting high-quality training offers to employers

Develop effective value propositions and channels of engagement

through website, contact centre and Skills Investment Adviser team.

Customised and relevant portal to include: sector specific embedded searches (National Learning Database), sector view for “individual”

customers, utilisation of TalentMap Framework to provide consistent framework across sectors

Provide demand-led skills support for business

Linking employers to the range of support services available in

Scotland’s Universities, Colleges and other training organisations within the membership.

Better define skill needs and ensure unmet needs are addressed by

training providers

Promote the value of training within the workplace where it will contribute to business development and growth.

Develop diagnostic tools and approaches to assist businesses in

identifying solutions linked to business priorities.

The Skills for Growth service is integrated with Modern Apprenticeships, Get Ready for Work & Training for Work and other initiatives

Clearer articulation of the benefits of training, Skills Utilisation and return

on investment measurement

Understand skills demand

in a priority sector

Support wider business development efforts already

targeted at the sector

An Industry Skills forum in place with Sector Skills Councils and GES key

sector employers, including SMEs

Improving Skills provision for the sector

Working with trade associations to improve training provision in the

sector, ensuring that high quality provision is available to meet identified needs

Providing a forum for dialogue between leading employers and

leading training providers to address issues of skills and training in developing the sector’s future competitiveness.

Bring together the training provider base with companies to develop

high quality provision that meets companies’ development needs and is delivered in a form that meshes with company requirements

Robust systemic approach for engagement with Industry Advisory Board

and Stakeholders/partners

Review our approach to funding and co-create new solutions & demand-led trials to improve skills development & utilisation for those customers

joining / already in the workforce

Provision of consistent and meaningful Sector based Labour Market Intelligence to employers and stakeholders

SDS – next steps (Service Design and Innovation)

Key task Timeline

Phase 1 review and policy steer Jan 2010

Final project approval and project team allocated Jan 2010

Interim employer website launch Feb 2010

Employer and industry consultation (Development and Trials) Feb - Jul 2010

Employer and industry consultation (User testing) Jul – Oct 2010

Application development – product enhancement (web, NLOD, diagnostics etc.)

Feb – Aug 2010

Capacity building – web / telephone / face to face channels Feb – Sep 2010

Skills for Growth launch Oct 2010

Skills for Growth is not intended to be astatic solution to fix a definite problem or need.

Instead it will be our shop window, offering achanging set of tools and support services that

will evolve over time in line with market conditions and economic priorities.