Agenda item

The Panel is to receive a presentation on EDGE – Sharper Skills for Enterprise.

The Panel received a presentation from the Economic Development Manager on EDGE – Sharper Skills For Enterprise. It was explained to Members that Huntingdonshire Regional College (HRC) had merged with Cambridge Regional College on 1st November 2016 and as such the Principal (who had been expected to present at the meeting) and the Vice Principal of HRC have left their posts with immediate effect.

Members were informed that EDGE is a partnership initiative between the private and public sector led by the Alconbury Enterprise Campus Skills Group. The partnership has been designed to facilitate pathways for local people to the employment opportunities at Alconbury and to promote industry-led training and development to support the future economic growth of Huntingdonshire.

An estimated 8,000 new jobs will be created at the Alconbury Enterprise Zone and businesses have stated how they feel that there is a mismatch with what skills and qualifications schools and training agencies are providing and what they require and want.

The Panel were informed that EDGE aims to address the core skills gaps and improves employer engagement in the development of skills. Before the establishment of EDGE, different organisations were working on the skills gap individually however EDGE has given organisations an opportunity to coordinate their efforts on developing the right skills.

Members heard that EDGE assists job seekers as well as business. The partnership focuses on moving people who are disengaged or cut off from the job market into work. EDGE provides job seekers with an opportunity to improve and practice their job finding skills.

The partnership assists businesses with their recruitment and helps them to understand that they are key in addressing the skills gap and developing the workforce. EDGE has helped 56 people into work, 12 into learning, 10 into apprenticeships and 3 into self-employment.

Following a question on how does EDGE coordinate between apprenticeship offers and work experience, the Panel were informed that EDGE encourage companies to go into schools and inform students of what they can offer. There is also an EDGE Job Fair at Wood Green Animal Centre at which local companies exhibit career options within their organisation and children from all Huntingdonshire’s schools attend.

In response to a question on what is the cost of the initiative and how long is it likely to last, the Panel were informed that it costs the Council nothing beyond the resources are contributed by the partners. For example the County Council contribute an employee to assist with Curriculum Vitae writing however the employee was previously providing the service so no additional cost has been incurred. Members heard how the main benefit of EDGE is that it does not rely on a short term funding pot as is the case with many job and skills initiatives. EDGE is governed by a formal Memorandum of Understand which runs for three years before it is reviewed.

A Member asked does EDGE assist the whole of Huntingdonshire or just Alconbury Enterprise Zone and in response the Panel was told that EDGE has grown around the funding given for the enterprise zone however it works for the benefit of Huntingdonshire. As the workload increases then the focus will be assisting the enterprise zone however not to the exclusion of the rest of the District.

In response to a question relating to the funding of Groundwork projects by the Council, Members were informed that the budget for inclusion projects of £10k had been removed through the Zero Based Budgeting process however it was noted that Groundwork is a national charity organisation with which other parts of the Council still have some engagement.

Following a question regarding EDGE working with pupils who have a disability, the Panel was informed that at the last steering group meeting, partners agreed that they would work more closely with charities in order to provide opportunities for pupils with disabilities.

A Member asked about the materials schools work with and in response was told that composite companies can only work with their material for a limited time and once it has passed its shelf life they would be willing to donate it to schools.