The main goal of this project was to produce a standard approach across colleges in Sussex to the due diligence process of checking the suitability of WBL sub-contractors for a partner college. The project aimed to generate savings of £56,000 as well as achieving legal compliance and satisfying the requirements of Ofsted.
This resource relates to one of a series of collaborative development projects on the themes of Getting people into work and Apprenticeships. Each project was coordinated by a lead provider, who recruited partner providers to work together to achieve the project objectives. The West Yorkshire Learning Providers (WYLP) partnership is made up of 13 partners, nine of whom were sub-contractors to WYLP.
The decision was made to re-evaluate the project and focus on the development of an effective Contract Management strategy. The contract management strategy is a holistic framework mapping the ‘partner journey’ from expression of interest through to performance management, inclusive within the framework are arrangements for testing the effectiveness of providers financial, quality, self assessment, training and development health and safety, safeguarding and compliance arrangements. This framework goes beyond what is required for standard subcontracting arrangements.
The project demonstrated some key findings which have been used to improve course attendance and participation, and overall increase the number of contractors who are able to install renewable energy systems.
Summary
Faced with Skills Funding Agency changes to minimum contract levels and a climate where employer and learner focus was essential to success, two work based learning providers combined their operations and range of skills and products to emerge financially sound and stronger together. This case study examines how they managed the transition with support from the LSIS Improvement and Development Service.
The case study presents the dilemmas faced by two niche providers affected by Minimum Contract Levels (MCL) and their decisions. It will be of interest to providers considering how best to evaluate lead contractor proposals, small providers who may have extensions and to partnerships of small providers who are looking to expand. A sample "Template for initial conversations with potential lead providers" is available as a separate resource.
This is an example of a template that can be used to record initial conversations with potential lead providers in MCL consortia. it relates to the separate case study "Small providers: identifying the best route to partnership Children’s Links, Slack & Parr and TS2000 Ltd"
This presentation reviews the various partnership delivery models being used within the sector including Managing Agent, Managing Provider, Joint Venture Companies and Acquisition and mergers.
This presentation offers a process to audit partner responsibilities in strategic partnerships and explores what the elements of the audit mean. It goes on to share key findings from AELP research and other evidence in this area.
This presentation presents a simple model of Collaborative Quality Assurance (CQA) and improvement as well as the key principles of CQA and Collaborative Quality Improvement (CQI). It goes on to highlight common considerations and challenges in CQI.
