Letter - MELL to CEHA - Budget Hearing Written Questions - 30 October 2024

19-21 Broad Street | St Helier Jersey | JE2 3RR

Deputy Catherine Curtis

Chair – Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel

Sent by email only 30 October 2024

Dear Chair,

Scrutiny Review: Proposed Budget 2025 -2028

Thank you for your letter of 22nd October with some further questions on the proposed budget 2025 – 2028. Please see the answers below and do not hesitate to contact me if you require any further information.

Highlands College

The Panel notes that in Major Refurbishments and Upgrades' the Government proposes to spend £1.04 million on Highlands College in 2026, with further sums of £180,000 in 2027 and £205,000 in 2028. Please could you provide further details about what that funding would be used for?

The Major Refurbishments and Upgrades budget in the Government Plan for Highlands College and University College Jersey, as set out above, will be complimented with additional funding from the general JPH Major Refurbishments and Upgrades budget. This will increase the total planned spend for 2025-2028 to £2.2m, covering the following works;

The Panel has visited Highlands College and is aware that there are leaks and water

damage in the property. Please can you confirm what the replacement value would be for

the machinery or computer equipment in the affected rooms if it was to be water damaged?

The replacement cost for machinery and computer equipment is estimated at £1k.

a. Would damage to equipment caused by property deficiencies be covered by insurance? An answer to this question will be provided in a follow up letter later this week.

Can you confirm whether any areas of Highlands College have been identified as high risk with regards to health and safety compliance, or fire safety?

An answer to this question will be provided in a follow up letter later this week.

Please can you confirm why the major refurbishment work at Highlands College has been scheduled for 2026 and not earlier in this Budget period?

Major refurbishment work at Highlands College Works is being planned for the period 2025-2028, as set out in the response to question 1.

Support for Apprenticeships

Please can you confirm how much total annual funding is currently provided by Government to support apprenticeships schemes and provide a breakdown of this spend, including specific details about the support and services where possible.

Funding for Higher Level Apprenticeships (Degree Level) is via Student Finance, Personal Finance and the College's CYPES core budget. Level 2 and 3 apprenticeships are funded from the College's CYPES core budget, Personal and Businesses.

UCJ Higher level Apprenticeships are not differentiated from the rest of the UCJ budget – they are part of the planned departmental spend for that area and also part of the targeted income set to cover costs.

These students can access Skills Mentors, and welfare and support programmes via the Student Life service in the same way as all other students but it is not possible to provide separate costs.

You advised the Panel on 11th October 2024 that £500,000 of the additional £1.158 million additional revenue expenditure would go towards apprenticeships. Please could you provide specific details about how the additional £500,000 will be utilised in 2025?

The additional £500,000 in funding will be dedicated to modernising the current apprenticeship pathways to align with recent changes to industry standards and remain compliant with awarding body regulations. This investment will support the continued development of bespoke assessment and training areas, establish individualised assessment criteria, and provide additional workplace assessors as required by individual awarding bodies. A key focus will be on embedding sustainable practices, ensuring that Jersey meets modern standards in construction design and development.

The changes above will also be instrumental in supporting Jersey's Carbon Neutral Roadmap, facilitating training in Electric and Hybrid Vehicle systems, and enhancing skills in modern construction techniques, including energy-efficient solutions like air source heat pumps, solar power installations, and future renewable energy developments. Without this investment, the island would face significant constraints in delivering essential training for these evolving sectors.

It's important to note that this investment does not alter the existing delivery model for apprenticeships or the balance of funding between the government, students, and employers.

Please can you describe the support currently given to businesses to take on apprentices? Currently, businesses that take on apprentices' benefit from several forms of support. All apprentices have access to Jersey Skills Mentors, providing guidance and development throughout their apprenticeship. There is ongoing engagement with representative bodies and employer groups to ensure that apprenticeship programs meet industry needs.

Highlands College offers a comprehensive work experience provision, helping to connect apprentices with practical opportunities in their field. Skills Jersey also hosts various employer and employee engagement events, which are further supported by Highlands College and University College Jersey through open evenings and employment fairs, creating valuable networking opportunities. Employers can also access and input into information and data on the potential future skills needs for their industry – including likely developments in future apprenticeships.

In addition, apprentices' course fees are fully covered while they are studying within Jersey, if they are of entitled or entitled to work status, easing the financial burden on both employers and apprentices, and further encouraging businesses to participate in the apprenticeship program. The budget is finite and can in some years be exhausted prior to all applicants receiving support.

Please can you confirm whether the Government plans to extend the support provided for apprenticeship schemes in future and, if so, describe how this will be achieved?

The Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning is committed to modernising training schemes with a strong focus on sustainable and long-term goals.

This vision includes enhancing lifelong learning opportunities and expanding support for apprenticeships to ensure they continue to meet the evolving demands of industries, particularly in areas such as green technologies and sustainable practices.

While there is a clear ambition to strengthen and extend apprenticeship provision, no detailed plan is currently set for implementation within this term of Government. However, ongoing evaluations and collaboration with stakeholders are laying the foundation for future improvements and advancements in apprenticeship programmes.

School meals

Please can you provide a breakdown of the £1.169 million additional funding for School Meals in 2025 (and each year of this Budget thereafter) including: costs that are attributable to capital spend, staffing costs, and costs of food provision itself.

The table above outlines the additional funding for school meals in 2025. There will be a reduction in capital spend as serveries have been completed during 2024, increased staffing costs now that schools are live and costs of food provision (inflation not included).

This forms part of the £3.7 million budget that is the same as subsequent years.

Yours sincerely,

Deputy Rob Ward

Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning