A decision was made to Submit 2 bids in response to a call issued by West Yorkshire Combined Authority seeking bids from either a lead provider and/or delivery partners who are looking to work in partnership to deliver support for people and skills across West Yorkshire.
The UKSPF People and Skills Pillar is designed to boost core skills and support adults to progress in work, by targeting adults with no or low-level qualifications and skills in maths, and upskilling the working population, supporting disadvantaged people to access the skills they need to progress in life and into work, supporting local areas to fund local skills needs and supplement local adult skills provision and reducing levels of economic inactivity and moving those furthest from the labour market closer to employment.
The West Yorkshire Combined Authority, following stakeholder consultation, allocated over £16m of UKSPF of its funding to this priority. Funding will be allocated via a open call where organisations are invited to submit bids for the funding . This is a competitive call.
The priorities of the fund align with the priorities detailed in the Kirklees Employment and Skills plan 2022 to 2025 Aspire , Achieve and include .
It was decided to approve 2 bids for submission to this fund :
1. Response to Call area 1 : Work and Health Kirklees will act as lead provider and delivery partner
2. Response to Call area 3 : Youth Unemployment : Lead by Leeds City Council , Kirklees working with Calderdale and Kirklees Careers Ltd Council will act as delivery partner under this call.
Alternative was to not submit bids and risk UKSPF funds from Pillar 3 not being available in Kirklees to support our ambitions.
Submission of the bid does not mean success in obtaining funding - this is a competitive call with a response expected end of Feb 2024.
Bids were due to be submitted 12th January 2024 however a deadline was issued until 19th January 2024
Decision type: Non-key
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Notice of proposed decision first published: 23/01/2024
Decision due: 12 Jan 2024 by Strategic Director for Growth and Regeneration
Lead member: Portfolio Holder for Education and Communities
Lead director: Edward Highfield
Department: Finance and Regeneration
Contact: Gillian Wallace, Head of Employment & Skills 01484 221000 Email: gillian.wallace@kirklees.gov.uk.
Consultees
Cllr Elizabeth Reynolds : Cabinet member for Learning and Aspiration
Members/Officers Involved: Edward Highfield ; Service Director Skills and Regeneration Jill Greenfield ; Service Director Communities Gillian Wallace , Head of Employment and skills Mags Rogerson , Head of Head of Service - Local Integrated Partnerships • Communities and Access Services Stacey Gilman – Strategic Category Manager Marc Ellis – Principal Lawyer