Employer Newsletter Special edition: Ofsted result - Outstanding! EMPLOYER SERVICES Summer edition. In this issue... Dudley College of Technology rated Outstanding by Ofsted The latest on the Apprenticeship Levy Innovation, growth and skills - Dudley Advance II and the CAT centre MAT schools update Fully-funded training available to local businesses University Centre Dudley (UCD) MADE in the Midlands Chancellor s visit The awards just keep on coming! Chartered institute for FE Midlands Metro Alliance and Dudley College of Technology gets careers on the right track Do you need to professionalise your purchasing and supply activity? Dudley College of Technology rated Outstanding by Ofsted I am very pleased to be writing to you to provide you with the outcome of the inspection of Dudley College of Technology which took place in May this year. The college has achieved an overall effectiveness grade of outstanding alongside seven other outstanding grades including an outstanding rating for the college s apprenticeship provision. The Inspection findings confirm that Dudley College of Technology is the region s leading provider of technical education. Full and part-time student numbers are buoyant and the college is the largest provider of apprenticeships in the West Midlands, with programmes described by Ofsted as meeting the needs of employers and apprenticeships particularly well. Outcomes for learners are high, often exceptionally so, particularly for Apprenticeships. We are delighted that the report recognises the college s very close collaboration with a wide range of local stakeholders including employers. The report notes that through extensive partnerships leaders create excellent opportunities for learners to progress into further learning and jobs. Management of the apprenticeship provision is outstanding. The courses available meet the needs of employers and apprentices particularly well. College staff and employers work highly effectively and collaboratively to monitor apprentices progress. As a result, a high proportion of apprentices achieve their qualifications within the planned timescale. Yours faithfully Lowell Williams Principal WE COULD NOT HAVE ACHIEVED THIS OUTCOME WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF SO MANY OF OUR EMPLOYER PARTNERS, THANK YOU TO ALL INVOLVED. Lowell Williams- Outstanding 2017 DUDLEYCOL.AC.UK/ABOUT-US/OFSTED-2017
2 Two state-of-the-art centres for the construction sector opening soon! Dudley Advance II Advance II our new 12million Centre for Advanced Building and Environmental Technologies will be opening in September 2017. The following courses are available NOW! Building Information Modelling (BIM) Fabrication and welding engineering Facilities management supervisor Built environment and design Construction contracting operations Civil engineering for technicians Occupational work supervision Building control Geomatics data analysis Town planning technical support Electrical and electronic engineering Gas Apprenticeship Heating and ventilation Plumbing Refrigeration Machining utilising PEO units Welding utilising PEO units Electrical Installation and maintenance Mechanical manufacturing Engineering maintenance Fabrication and welding Materials processing and finishing Engineering technical support Engineering quality Vehicle maintenance and repair Carpentry and joinery Plastering Painting and decorating Wall and floor tiling Higher National Certificate / Diploma construction and the built environment Higher Apprenticeship construction and building services management. Higher Apprenticeship Construction Site Supervision Higher Apprenticeship Electrical Day release Higher Apprenticeship Electrical Electronic Higher Apprenticeship Mechanical Engineering Construction Apprenticeship Training Centre (CAT) The Construction Apprenticeship Training Centre (CAT) will be opening in October 2017. This brand new purpose built training centre will focus on traditional construction trades including: Carpentry Plastering Bricklaying Painting and decorating Heating and ventilation Plumbing Electrical Installation Roofing, tiling and cladding Fenestration LEARNING FACILITIES ARE OF AN EXCEPTIONAL STANDARD. Ofsted - Outstanding 2017 Sneak Peek Visits: Why not take a tour of these facilities and see for yourself! Contact: Georgina Barnard, Head of Employer Engagement email Georgina.barnard@dudleycol.ac.uk tel. 01384 363471 to book a visit.
3 The latest on The Apprenticeship Levy If you are an employer operating in the UK, with an annual payroll of over 3 million, you will be required to pay a levy of 0.5% of your total UK payroll. The amount entering your Digital Apprenticeship Service (DAS) Account will be how much you have available to spend on Apprenticeship training in England. The Government will apply a 10% top-up to funds monthly at the same time the funds enter your Digital Apprenticeship Service Account. So for every 100 that enters your account to spend in England on Apprenticeship training, you get 110. Levy paying employer example: Annual payroll with 7m (all England) Levy sum 0.5% x 7,000,000 Allowance Annual levy payment 20,000 35,000-15,000 allowance (levy not paid on first 3m) Monthly tax 20,000 / 12 months = 1,667 Monthly credit (10% top up to levy credit) 1,667 x 1 x 1.1 = 1,833 If you employ less than 50 people, did you know? APPRENTICESHIPS FUNDED IN FULL BY THE GOVERNMENT Employers with fewer than 50 staff who deliver apprenticeships to young people (16-18) will no longer receive the 1,500 AGE grant (expiring at the end of the 16/17 academic year) and will instead have their Apprenticeships funded in full by the Government. Annual levy credit 1,833 x 12 = 21,996 If DAS levy credit runs out the system switches to 10% cash contribution in return for 90% ESFA funding. Non-levy paying employer example: Employer of 50 employees, each with a gross salary of 20,000 Gross annual payroll 50 x 20,000 = 1,000,000 Levy payment entry point 3,000,000 Annual levy payment 0 Non-levy employers will be required to pay just 10% of the Apprenticeship training costs, the remaining 90% of the costs will be paid for by the government DID YOU KNOW? You can use your levy funds to upskill existing employees working towards an approved Apprenticeship framework or standard. 4,176 Young people and adult Apprentices on programme Safe pair of hands Dudley College offer: A full range of Apprenticeship programmes across all sectors Help to map your present internal training into funded Apprenticeship frameworks or standards to maximise the use of your levy bill Advice and support on navigating the new levy funding system and your Digital Apprenticeship Service account.
5 MAT schools update Fully-funded training available A new multi-academy trust for Dudley, the Dudley Academies Trust (the Trust), has been given the go ahead by the Schools Commissioner for the West Midlands and the Department for Education. The Trust will bring together Castle High School, Hillcrest School and Community College, Holly Hall Academy and High Arcal School under the sponsorship of Dudley College of Technology. Castle High School and Hillcrest School and Community College will convert to academy status on joining the Trust. The Trust will focus on achieving improved educational outcomes at Key Stage 3 and beyond. A significant emphasis will be placed on driving up GCSE attainment in mathematics and English. Support for learners with learning difficulties will also be strengthened. A new Trust Board will be established to oversee the development of the Trust. A number of leading figures, including Sir Mark Grundy, business leaders Martin Dudley of Thomas Dudley Ltd and Tom Westley of the Westley Group Ltd, former Chief Constable of Cheshire Constabulary David Whatton and DMBC s education outcomes lead Suzanne Edwards, have already agreed to join the new Board. The Trust Board itself will be chaired by Dudley College Principal, Lowell Williams. The Dudley Academies Trust will come into operation from 1st September 2017. If you would like to give your thoughts on this matter please email employerservices@dudleycol.ac.uk Dudley College is pleased to announce a new exciting partnership with Calderdale College to deliver training to meet the needs of local businesses. The Workforce Development initiative will target small and medium sized (SME) businesses based in the Black Country and offer fully-funded training to employers to allow them to upskill their staff. Individuals will be able to improve their existing skills and knowledge through work-based learning thereby leading to enhanced career opportunities. The programme is funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and co-financed by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). The range of activities will provide individuals with the opportunities to develop the skills that will enable University Centre Dudley (UCD) University Centre Dudley (UCD) is an exciting new 30m proposal to offer high level skills training in the technologies of the future from inspirational new facilities in Dudley. UCD will provide higher level progression pathways from Dudley College s sector leading skills training centres, Advance I Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Technology and Advance II Centre for Advanced Building Technologies. Dudley College and the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership have already invested in excess of 25m in highly specialist facilities for skills training in the advanced manufacturing, building technology/modern construction and transport technology sectors in Dudley. them to progress in employment as well as giving support to employers to take on and develop individuals to fill intermediate, technical and higher level skills gaps and shortages. Offering unitised bite sized training in areas such as engineering and construction as well as health and social care the programme is designed to drive up skills levels in priority sectors so that employers have a more highly skilled workforce to draw from. Employers are being offered a full business training needs analysis as part of the programme and a raft of fullfunded training to meet these. To check eligibility contact the Business Managers on 01384 363808 or email employerservices@dudleycol.ac.uk Commenting on the launch of the proposal Dudley College Principal Lowell Williams said: I m very excited by the opportunity UCD presents to the Black Country and the wider region. UCD is a logical development from the fantastic facilities we have already developed in Dudley. It will provide significant further investment in those all-important high level technical skills needed in our regional economy. If plans get the green light the development of the UCD could start as early as autumn this year.
6 MADE in the Midlands Dudley College Students presenting their ideas to the Young Inventor panel of judges Chancellor s visit Just hours after announcing the spring budget The Rt Hon Philip Hammond, Chancellor of the Exchequer visited Dudley College to launch the government s Midlands Engine Strategy and Midlands Transport policy. He also found time to hear about our plans for Advance II and discuss the ways in which, through our work with the Local Enterprise Partnership and local employers, we are making a significant difference to the skills deficit. He also took time to meet with some of our engineering students. A core component of The Midlands Engine Strategy is how to strengthen skills and close the gap between the Midlands and the rest of the country. The strategy pledges additional funding for a range of interventions to boost upskilling the existing workforce and increase lifelong learning. The Transport Policy will improve regional connectivity between the Midlands and the rest of the UK, to boost business and grow the regional economy. Every year, Made in the Midlands present the Young Inventors Award to celebrate the creative flare of the next generation of engineers across colleges in the Midlands. The Young Inventor is chosen through a serious of presentations in various colleges across the Midlands, where full time 16-19 year old learners from each college have the opportunity to present a project they have been working on. These presentations are judged by a panel of ten manufacturing directors. A finalist from each college will then go forward to the awards event in October and an overall Young Inventor of the year will be announced and presented with an award. On Tuesday 20th June a group of Dudley Advance students took part in this event. Following a meet and greet and tours of Advance, the students bravely went in front of the panel one by one to do their presentations and absolutely blew them away with their confidence, competence, maturity and technical knowledge. One director commented saying it was the best Young Inventor event he d been to and praised the staff and students for their full commitment and enthusiasm. Chelsey Davies was announced as the winner. This year she has been studying BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Mechanical Engineering. Chelsey designed and produced an electronic timing system using an Arduino Micro controller for use with a robotic assault course. She will go on to the finals in October. The competition was very close, so congratulations should also go to fellow students Arran Fairley, Joshua Evans, Nathan Bache and Owen Shelton. Rt. Hon Philip Hammond, Chancellor of the Exchequer talks to our engineering students
7 The awards just keep on coming! Last week was a fantastic week for Dudley College, with a total of five awards being picked up in just two days in major competitions. Firstly Peter Jones Enterprise Academy students: Alice Greenaway- Mintoft and Jack Brookes celebrated reaching the final of the Academy s National Entrepreneur of the Year competition, with Jack beating other finalists from around the country to secure the prestigious title of National Entrepreneur of the Year. Jack s business, Swiftshot Airborne Service, offers a bespoke services in aerial photography, videography, surveying, inspection and security using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). On Friday the Education Awards were held for the first time at Edgbaston Stadium when our Peter Jones Enterprise Academy was recognised once more, scooping the title of Entrepreneurial Educational Establishment of the Year. Lowell Williams also received the award of Principal of the Year for educational leadership. College staff receiving the award for our Peter Jones Enterprise Academy. Lowell Williams receiving the award for Principal of the Year for Educational Leadership. Chartered Institute for FE Dudley College has been accepted into the Chartered Institution for Further Education following a rigorous application process in which all aspects of its business operations were reviewed. As only the fourth college to join the Institution alongside Blackpool and Fylde, Bridgwater and Taunton and Furness Dudley College is hoping to shape the way the sector responds to the needs of employers. Lowell Williams, Principal of Dudley College of Technology, said: The CIFE showcases everything which is great about our sector. We are proud that the institution has recognised the pivotal role we play in developing vital technical and professional skills with the young people and adults we support. Lord Lingfield, chairman of the CIFE, said he was delighted to welcome Dudley College of Technology into Membership of the institution. The college has passed a rigorous process which has confirmed its position as a leading performer in the sector. As our newest member, I look forward to working with the college and our growing membership in order to drive forward professionalism within the FE sector and to celebrate what the sector does well. The CIFE is the new government body awarding Chartered status to organisations that clear the bar in terms of demonstrating financial stability, quality provision and the wider contribution to their community.
8 Midland Metro Alliance and Dudley College of Technology gets careers on the right track The first cohort of Dudley College of Technology graduates have successfully completed their six week sector based work academy in light rail. The programme saw over 20 unemployed individuals take their first steps back into work and gain accredited qualifications. The sector based work academy is a direct response to the shortage in skilled and semi-skilled labour identified by the Midland Metro Alliance who is looking to fill vacancies to build tram extensions across the West Midlands over a ten-year programme. The academy course, which was delivered through Dudley College of Technology s Construction and Employability Teams, covered a range of accredited training, including both practical and soft skills. The academy is linked to the development of HS2 and the ongoing expansion of Midland rail and is part funded by Black Country Impact. Other FE colleges have also contributed to the West Midlands wide delivery with City of Wolverhampton College and Birmingham Metropolitan College running similar schemes with Midland Metro Alliance. Congratulating the first cohort of graduates, Lowell Williams, Principal of Dudley College of Technology, said: It s great to see the way training can help boost an individual s confidence and move them in a different direction in terms of their work opportunities. As a college we are delighted to be part of this work based academy as it provides an excellent model to meet the skills needs of a particular industry. Do you need to professionalise your purchasing and supply activity? Starting September 2017 Dudley College Broadway site: Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) Level 3 Advanced Certificate in Purchasing and Supply - Wednesday 6-9pm Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply - Thursday 6-9pm. Improve your knowledge and understanding, workflow, operations, logistics and supply relationships. Gain a world recognized qualification and transform the way your business works. Apply online dudleycol.ac.uk or visit one of our enrolment sessions starting September 6 th (for full-time and dates visit dudleycol.ac.uk) Our first cohort of graduates from a sector-based work academy in light rail Call: 01384 363 808 Email: employerservices@dudleycol.ac.uk Visit: dudleycol.ac.uk