Page 5 - GMLPN Annual Report - 1920 Final_Neat

Introduction

“Thank you to all the members of the network! For your collaboration - sharing good
practice and experiences - getting involved to make the network as successful as it is.
We should all celebrate and take pride in the fact that the post 16 system has proved
to be so flexible and resilient in sustaining delivery during the pandemic. Because you
have been so responsive we have been able to inform policy and evidence the need
to allow flexibilities that would best serve learners and employers.
Special thanks from Andy and I, and the team to the Board and Advisory Board – for
your time and expert steer throughout the year. The GMLPN team look forward to
working with you in the future!”
Anne Gornall | Executive Director

Current Challenges and Opportunities

It is increasingly clear that whilst an effective response to Covid 19 is emerging with the advent of
effective vaccines, it is clear that the economic and social impact of the pandemic will be with us for
some considerable time to come. Recognising this our priority will be to work alongside providers to keep
them informed and supporting them to adapt. We will also work with Government both nationally and
within GM to help influence policy and shape commissioning. As such we are working to meet the
following challenges and opportunities:

At a national level we will:
Urge DfE and ESFA to sustain the current programme flexibilities in order to meet the needs of
individuals including Apprentices and encourage Government to extend the lifetime of the current
incentives for employers.

Encourage Government to accelerate the commissioning of additional 16-18 Traineeships and
encourage them to use the existing provider base of Apprenticeship training providers either as
new providers or to enable the greater use of sub-contracting.
Work alongside colleagues in the awarding bodies including Pearson, NCFE and TQUK to help to
bring about changes to the delivery and testing of Apprenticeships Standards, employability
qualifications and Functional Skills so that delivery can be adapted to work more effectively in the
current environment.

Within Greater Manchester we will:

Encourage the GMCA to make far greater use of the skills intelligence gathered by training
providers in their conversations with over twenty thousand business across GM and importantly to
accelerate the process of sharing skills and employment intelligence with the provider base to
inform curriculum planning and investment.
Respond to the inevitable and rapid rise in unemployment especially amongst young people by
sustaining our relationship with colleagues in DWP/JCP encouraging greater links between
training providers and employment advisers and those supporting the unemployed.
Work alongside GMCA and other stakeholders through the Employment and Skills Advisory
Panel and other forums to maximise the impact of existing programmes including AEB & the ESF
Skills for Growth programme, as well as new programmes such as Kickstart so that they remain
relevant, achieve maximum added value and avoid unnecessary duplication.

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