What we do
Skills Accounts
The Leitch Review of Skills and ‘In work, better off: next steps to employment’ (DWP, July 2007) set out the Government’s proposals to develop an integrated employment and skills service that will help move more people into sustainable employment and to progress in their working lives. ‘Opportunity, Employment and Progression: making skills work’ (DIUS/DWP November 2007) provided further detail on how DIUS and the LSC would work with DWP and JCP to deliver the integrated service including proposals to trial aspects of the service in 2008.
This was further supported in November 2007 when Priorities for Success 3 published an indicative timescale for the roll-out of demand-led funding through Skills Accounts, showing an incremental expansion to 2015. The LSC’s ambition is that by 2010/11, learners with a Skills Account will have access to £500m of public funding, rising to £1.5bn by 2015.
A Skills Accounts will be a personal account for individuals, held online but also accessible offline and will contains:
- A virtual voucher of state funding towards learning for adults that provides access initially to all adult learner responsive funded provision through the demand led route
- A portal that brings together information on all relevant products and services in one place, signposting the learner to the choices and support available, including triggering ongoing targeted advice, supported by and providing a route into the Careers Information Advice Service / Adult Careers Service (AACS)
- A record of a learner’s achievements and future goals. It will enable learners to have a learning statement showing them the full value of their learning; detailing all contributions made to their learning from all stakeholders e.g. LSC, learning provider, employer and the individual themselves.
- A universal product that is available and motivational for all adults, but with appropriate targeting of the offer towards the workless, offenders and the low/no skilled.
East Midlands Strategy
The East Midlands and South East Regions will be trialling ‘Strand A’ of Skills Accounts in 08/09. All local areas will trial a universal, mandatory IAG offer through the Careers Information Advice Service (leading to the AACS in 2010/11) or Learndirect and with a number of Strategic Partners.
It is envisaged the following aspects will be tested:
- Client-based IAG service through a ‘virtual voucher’ linked to Adult Learner Responsive provision at all levels and supported by the Regional Careers Information Advise Service (CIAs) and the Learndirect advice service.
- Online services available via a Skills Accounts portal (also accessible offline). Currently this offer is set to include the voucher of state funding, induction pack and Unique Learner Number (ULN).
- There is the potential for Account holders to also access a Skills Health Check and record career achievements, future aspirations and information achievements.
A Skills Accounts offer for Jobcentre Plus clients (Strand B) within trials of an Integrated Employment and Skills Service. These will take place within specific areas in the West Midlands, East of England, London and the North West.
How the Strategy is Being Delivered
Working with Strategic FE Partners and the prime contractor for IAG services in 08/09, (AACS from 2010/11) is key to the implementation of Skills Accounts. Learners will get information via a Learndirect national help line and through nextstep by telephone or face-to-face basis and will have access to the Skills Accounts.
The trial will learn from the Adult Learner Accounts pilot and focus on testing the core products and supporting systems to inform national roll out in 2010/11 and further roll out of the full range of services in 2015.
Contact Details
Jane Peacock – Skills Development Director
T: 0116 228 1918 E: Jane.peacock@lsc.gov.uk
Gerarde Manley - Skills Development Manager
T: 0116 228 1963 E: gerarde.manley@lsc.gov.uk
E-bulletin/latest news updates
The aim of this monthly e-bulletin is to provide you with the latest information on Skills Accounts and to keep you updated during the trials which are due to start in September 2008.
Issue 1 - July 2008
Issue 1 includes:
History and basic information about Skills Account
What to expect during the trials
Skills Accounts toolkits and helpline
Further information.
Also available with this month's edition of the e-bulletin are the Skills Accounts factual briefing as well as the comms briefing.
To read the factual briefing document click here
To read the comms briefing document click here
Marketing and Communications updates and information
Subgroup presentation
Agenda for subgroup meeting 22nd July 2008
