Skip to main content

Trackers Apprenticeship Programme - Ministerial Response - 19 September 2014

The official version of this document can be found via the PDF button.

The below content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost, therefore it should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments.

STATES OF JERSEY

r

TRACKERS APPRENTICE PROGRAMME (S.R.8/2014): RESPONSE OF THE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION, SPORT AND CULTURE

Presented to the States on 19th September 2014 by the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture

STATES GREFFE

2014   Price code: A  S.R.8 Res.

TRACKERS APPRENTICE PROGRAMME (S.R.8/2014): RESPONSE OF THE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION, SPORT AND CULTURE


Ministerial Response to: Ministerial Response required by: Review title:

Scrutiny Panel:


S.R.8/2014

5th September 2014

Trackers Apprentice Programme Education and Home Affairs


INTRODUCTION

I welcome the interest of the Panel in Trackers: the Apprentice Programme, and would like to thank them for their review.

FINDINGS

 

 

Findings

Comments

1

Key Finding 1:

The  mentors  are  key  to  the success of this scheme. (9.8)

I am pleased that this has been recognised, as the mentors  are  fundamental  to  the  success  of  the programme.

2

Key Finding 2:

The Panel has found evidence to  suggest  that  Highlands College and University Campus may require additional funding to  provide  a  modern  training provider. (11.9)

I have asked my officers to work with Highlands College to identify capacity constraints, and to work with other partners, including employers, to assess the requirement for additional facilities which may include a Skills Centre.

3

Key Finding 3:

The  Trackers  Apprenticeship Programme  is  in  danger  of becoming a  victim of its own success  by  outrunning  the budget  previously  made available. This would be to the detriment  of  the  apprentices, local industry and the Island in general. (14.7)

I am delighted that Trackers has been so positively received.  My  officers  have  already  submitted proposed growth bids for Trackers in the Medium Term  Financial  Plan  for  2016  and  beyond. However,  these  bids  will  not  resolve  the  pent-up demand for new places in 2015 (including planned new  schemes  for  financial  services  and  digital industries).  My  officers  are  in  the  process  of discussing essential new 2015 funding amounting to £550,000 in order that we can avoid being forced to cap Trackers numbers at the 2014 level and continue to grow Trackers and satisfy demand next year.

Page - 2

S.R.8/2014 Res.

RECOMMENDATIONS

 

 

Recommendations

To

Accept/ Reject

Comments

Target date of action/ completion

1

The  Minister  for  Education, Sport and Culture must request further funding for the Trackers Apprenticeship  Programme within  the  next  Medium  Term Financial Plan (MTFP). (14.8)

HA

Accept

See  comments in  response  to Key Finding 3.

Growth bids have been submitted and we are now awaiting decisions at a strategic level.

CONCLUSION

I am grateful for the Panel's thorough review, which has highlighted the benefits the programme offers and its successes to date. The future funding of the programme is critical to achieving the objectives set out in the Skills Strategy. Education, Sport and Culture will be seeking support for funding from the Council of Ministers when the MTFP is debated.

Page - 3

S.R.8/2014 Res.