Apprentice Workforce Development

Tender description

The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) is an executive agency sponsored by the Department for Education. The ESFA is running three market engagement events to explore commercial options to design and deliver a new Apprenticeships Workforce Development (AWD) package. This package, announced in the January 2021 White paper, ‘Skills for Jobs: Lifelong Learning for Opportunity and Growth’ will support the professional development of training providers and employers delivering apprenticeships. The current AWD package (see: https://pdp.etfoundation.co.uk) is managed by one national supplier who sub-contracts certain elements. The ESFA is also keen to ensure that providers and employers are well-equipped to meet the needs of apprentices with learning difficulties and disabled apprentices from application to end point assessment and is inviting organisations with expertise in this area to join the events. The events will take place via Microsoft Teams and through these events we hope to gauge interest and to gather feedback to assist our procurement approach: Event 1: 11am-12pm on Tuesday 10 August 2021 Event 2: 12-1pm on Wednesday 18 August 2021 If you wish to attend, please email eve.oakley@education.gov.uk with your preferred event date, the name of your organisation, and the names and email addresses of your proposed attendees. Please title the email 'AWD Market Engagement Event'. We will then send you a calendar invitation with joining instructions for the event. Lot 1: Outline Requirement Our ambition for a world-leading standard of technical education relies on excellent teachers. Apprenticeships in England have undergone significant reforms in recent years and many training providers and employers tell us they could benefit from additional support. The aim of AWD is to ensure providers and employers have the skills and knowledge they need to deliver high quality teaching and training, both on the job and off the job, in order to deliver great outcomes for apprentices. The AWD programme should cover all levels of apprenticeships and should effectively develop the understanding of what a high-quality apprenticeship is and how to go from delivering good apprenticeships to delivering great apprenticeships. Required services We hope that suppliers in the market will use their expertise and knowledge to shape and develop their offers based on an outline specification that will be provided with the tender documents. We are open to sub-contracting arrangements and providers forming consortia. As an indication, we anticipate the AWD package could include the following features: 1) A flexible training offer with a range of delivery methods depending on the topic: online modules available on-demand (and associated hosting services), an interactive element, facilitated learning, networking opportunities, webinars, F2F. 2) Provision for up-skilling providers and employers in making reasonable adjustments for apprentices with disabilities and learning difficulties. 3) Development of a diagnostic self-assessment tool enabling those involved in delivering apprenticeships to understand where they require additional support and to enable a holistic approach to CPD for each centre. 4) Development of guidance materials for use alongside training to exemplify high quality. More information The Department is considering the future commercial and contractual model for AWD. Information gathered from these events may be used to support future commercial activity. This PIN does not constitute a commitment by the Department to begin any procurement activity or award a contract in relation to the PIN's subject matter.