The SFA, acting as an Opt-In Organisation for ESF, is procuring education and training services to meet priorities identified by Tees Valley Combined Authority. As an Opt-In Organisation the SFA will provide match funding and is looking to procure an organisation to deliver education and training that best support the needs of local employers and employees in the Tees Valley to undertake the following programmes:
SFA-Opt-In Priority Axis 2 (Investment Priority 2.1)
Skills Support for the Workforce - £2,160,000
The aim of this programme is to provide individuals with the opportunities to develop the skills that will enable them to progress in employment. The programme will provide support to employers to take on and develop individuals to fill intermediate, technical and higher level skills gaps and shortages.
The programme should allow individuals to:
Re-train/enhance/top-up their skills to become more successful/sustainable in the labour market.
Better place themselves to progress and develop their career into jobs requiring alternative/higher level skills and experience in Tees Valley LEP priority sectors.
Employee Support in Skills – Skills for Redundancy - £540,000
This programme must support businesses which are undergoing industrial restructuring by providing skills and employability support for their employees at risk of redundancy. Businesses eligible for assistance must have an operational base in the Tees Valley post code area. Large businesses may have their Head Office and other offices elsewhere in the country and/or abroad.
Projects can start in September 2016 and must end March 2018.
Specification and Specific Questionnaire can be found here
The call is open until 11 July 2016. Only approved providers who have expressed an interest on the SFA procurement (BRAVO) system can apply.
SFA-Opt-In Priority Axis 1 (Investment Priority 1.1)
Skills Support for the Unemployed - £2,250,000
The aim of the programme is to provide additional skills to unemployed individuals (aged 25+) to increase their chance of employment/self-employment. To include specific training/re-training for key sectors and additional activities to address specific needs, e.g. literacy, language or numeracy.
Routes to Enterprise – ‘Create your own job’ - £750,000
The programme is to provide additional skills and support entrepreneurship, enterprise and self-employment for the unemployed (aged 25+) by providing tailored support and training to help people to start and grow a business including social enterprises and self-employment routes. The training must encompass the principles of business start-up and focus on leadership and management training, coaching and mentoring provision. The programme will provide personal ongoing support and guidance to navigate current business support service available, provide help with the development and testing of business ideas, guidance on applying for financial support and help with business launch.
English Speaking for Other Languages (ESOL) - £750,000
The purpose of this programme is to ensure that capacity is in place to provide ESOL and employment support to workless migrant adults (aged 16+), with the aim of improving their English and employability skills to move them closer to paid employment.
Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) - £749,950
This programme is aimed at unemployed individuals aged 25 or above and must not duplicate the services delivered under the National Careers Service contract but must add value to those services. The programme must provide continuing development and further dissemination of independent high quality information, advice and guidance regarding career pathways in the Tees Valley’s economic growth sectors.
Sector Led Apprenticeship Routeways - £900,000
The aim of the programme is to increase the number of individuals (aged 18+) entering high quality apprenticeships at any levels in the Tees Valley priority sector areas, thereby increasing employer participation in apprenticeships.
The programme must raise awareness of apprenticeships opportunities and promote these opportunities with priority sector employers. The programme will support recruitment, including finding the right apprentice to meet the employers’ needs.
Projects can start in September 2016 and must end March 2018.
Specification and Specific Questionnaire can be found here
The call is open until 26 July 2016. Only approved providers who have expressed an interest on the SFA procurement (BRAVO) system can apply.
Launch Event - 6th July 2016
A launch event for the SFA Opt-In will take place on WEDNESDAY 6th JULY 2016 from 10.30 am until 12:30 pm at the Billingham Forum, The Causeway, Town Centre, Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees, TS23 2LJ.
To register for the event please email Lesley Short at lesley.short@teesvalley-ca.gov.uk