1st Feb 2008
General - February 2008 ACE Monthly Report – Operations
Regional Activities
All regions still working closely with local LSC representatives and Train 2 Gain Skills Brokers to identify ways of funding the ACE scheme. Joint visits taking place in many regions with skills brokers to determine company requirements for ACE.
All Regional Account Managers report demand for ACE is increasing vastly across all regions although companies will not pay the employer contribution.
In the North East ARC training are overcoming this problem by refunding the employer contribution back to the companies for services such as: Admin work, co-ordination of employees and other general work carried out by the company to ensure the smooth delivery of ACE assessment for their employees. The LSC do not seem to have any problems with assessment centres refunding money back to the companies, l’m currently waiting for this in writing from the LSC.
Again registrations are relatively slow at the moment, two main reasons for this, in the majority of regions existing ACE assessment centres are bidding for Train to Gain contracts this should be resolved in the near future and employers reluctant to pay the £692 employer contribution which is required for any employees that have previous qualifications which is majority of candidates in our industry. A number of new assessment centres going through approval to become ACE assessment centres. This should help us cope with the huge demand once the funding issues are totally resolved.
Currently working closely with RAM’s to ensure candidates registered on ACE and being funded through Scottish Enterprise are on schedule to complete before end of March to ensure the funding contract moves forward into April.
ACE registrations in February = 109 Total registrations 203
Train to Gain
Train to Gain funding for ACE is currently available in all English regions, there are different levels of funding available depending on candidate eligibility as shown below:
First Level 2 fully funded £1800 + £600 Basic Skills + £150 Initial Assessment
Below 49 Employees wage costs paid for up to 70 hours
Level 3 Jumpers as Level 2 but £922 assessment only or £1800 training and assessment (must have 20 hours or more training)
Level 3 & 4 Trials fully funded £2768 employer must pay 37.5% of costs up front which is £692 (minimum 2 hours of training)
LSC currently discussing employer contributions, strong possibility they could be scrapped as they are well aware this is stopping candidates being registered on ACE.
For latest information check www.traintogain.gov.uk
New Assessment Centres
Many regions working with new Training Providers and Colleges to help them obtain local Train to Gain contracts and ACE approved centre status. Still on-going, it is vital we engage new assessment centres to cope with the huge demand once the funding issues are resolved.
ECITB ACE Proposal/Funding Bid
Following a conversation with Pauline Hall last week our ECITB ACE proposal/funding bid has been submitted to National LSC and we are awaiting the outcome.
ACE Charges
Discussions currently talking place regarding charges for ACE cards, registrations etc. Decision should be made and communicated in the near future.
Additional Information
The CITB have requirements for 1500 employees to obtain the ECITB ACE Card, brief details are below:
1. The OSAT Co-ordinators are looking at the competence of the workforce and they had 35,000 NVQ placements in 2007 with a target of 50,000 in 2008 (most Level 2).
2. There are now 1673 CSCS registrations that CITB are unable to place on NVQ programmes. They are as follows:
526 Steel Erectors
62 Steel Fabricators/Platers
510 Steel Fabricators/Welders
575 Steel Fixers
3. CITB currently has three T2G contracts in place for 'Regional Response' (South West, East and London). In addition, they have a contract in place for 74 candidates in the South East who must be completed by July 2008. CITB also has a 'National Pot' to cover the cost of 1500 NVQ's nationally.
4. CITB receives £1000 for completion of Level 3 NVQ (£150 registration and £850 completion) and £900 for Level 2 NVQ.
At the moment we don’t know the exact location for the 1673 however it is extremely likely they will be spread across all our regions. CITB have now started a National campaign (through OSAT Co-ordinators) to alert all the candidates that there is a service/provision for them to gain their NVQ 3/ACE Card.
All 1673 have been given one year from registering for renewal of the CSCS card to gain the relevant NVQ, so this is now becoming urgent for CITB.
To move this initiative forward the ECITB will be setting up a meeting in a central location with CITB and approved assessment centres to establish a method of working and then l would expect the CITB to work directly with assessment centres in order to register their candidates. An agreement/contract would be set up with CITB and ECITB to show we are working together on this project.
Scottish Enterprise have indicated they will provide funding for a further 100 candidates to complete the ACE scheme @£800 per candidate.
Some issues with TTE in Middlesborough regarding ACE assessment, the situation is currently being investigated by awarding body.
Meetings to be arranged in North West region between assessment centres, companies and Train to Gain Skills Brokers to ensure all parties have a better understanding of ACE funding available.