Agenda item

Skills Development Support in County Durham - Progress on review recommendations:

Report of the Director of Transformation and Partnerships.

Minutes:

The Committee considered a joint report of the Director of Transformation and Partnerships, which provided Members with an update on the progress made in relation to recommendations contained within the OSC review group report of support provided for skills development in County Durham (for copy see file of minutes). 

 

Cllr Batey referred to the figure of 222 Durham County Council apprenticeships in December 2018 and queried the target for local authorities and the total apprentice figure for the Council.  The Business Lead, Organisational Design and Development and Workforce Development commented that the required percentage was 2.3% of total staff which would require DCC to have 378 apprentices. 

 

Councillor Atkinson referred to the importance of keeping young people interested in apprenticeships, as they were a direct route into good quality employment.  The HR Business Lead OD/WFD confirmed that apprenticeships were promoted through ex Council apprentice employee case studies, via social media and in schools. 

 

Cllr Batey informed the committee that a recent AAP survey had shown that employment and skills had slipped out of the top three priorities for AAPs.  It was confirmed that the top three priority themes across AAPs was now crime and community safety, town centres and supporting older people/social isolation.

 

Councillor Clare commented on the results of the AAP survey which had confirmed that employment and training was no longer a priority for the public and he was concerned that people no longer felt it was a priority, as they considered it was being dealt with.  He advised that National Apprentice Week was being held from 4-8 March however this had only been conveyed to Members via a recent press release and he suggested information was circulated to Members in advance as they had a community platform to relay information.

 

Councillor Maddison queried whether the Council were able to monitor statistics with regards to non-Council organisations, who employed apprentices and their rates of retention.  The Strategic Manager Progression & Learning confirmed that although frustrating, data was not obtainable following the completion of an apprenticeship.  Data within the Council confirmed that 80% of apprentices secured full time employment following completion of their study.

 

The Economic Development Manager confirmed that there was an overall 75% retention rate after 15 months, however part of the issue was that upon achieving the qualification, employees were able to secure alternative roles.  This was a national issue and he also commented that people moving on to better roles was positive.

 

Councillor Adam referred to the government requirement to publish destination data and with regards to engineering apprenticeships and asked if data could be broken down and provided with regards to the level framework and areas of study.  The Strategic Manager Progression & Learning confirmed that the data published was not broken down into particular areas of study.  The Economic Development Manager confirmed that Great Aycliffe and Middridge AAP had supported funding directed at Engineering, however it was noted (by Councillor Adam?) that they had pulled out as they were not receiving the quality of programmes and having difficulty finding information on the programmes offered.

 

In response to Councillor Batey the Principal AAP Coordinator confirmed that there had been an increase in crime and therefore crime and safety was moving back up the agenda.  There was concern about the decline of town centres and a need to support older people suffering from social isolation.

 

Mrs Morris commented that some young people were unaware that they would receive payment whilst undertaking an apprenticeship, although some apprenticeships offered a substantial income.  Some however were of a low income and this could be a primary reason for not completing the programme.

 

Resolved:

 

That the report and update be noted.

Supporting documents: