General - March 2008 ACE Monthly Report – Operation

Regional Activities

All Regional Account Managers report demand for ACE is increasing vastly across all regions although companies will not pay the employer contribution.
(Still on-going)
Attended meetings with local LSC regarding £692 employer contribution, no immediate plans for the contribution to be relaxed and is still creating problems around new registrations.
In some regions some assessment centres are overcoming these problems but they are in the minority, the majority of feedback from all regions is that the employer contribution is the main problem large numbers are not being registered onto ACE.
Registrations have improved slightly in March however we still have many companies with vast numbers to register that won’t due to paying employer contribution.
Discussions have taken place regarding the Regional ACE Groups, it was decided that it would be left to each region to implement their own strategy to move ACE forward on a regional basis.
Majority of regions have decided to integrate the ACE meetings into ECITB Regional Forums, Yorkshire and Humberside and North West will run separate meetings on the same day directly after the ECITB Regional Forums.

ACE registrations in March = 145 Total registrations 348

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 the two methods as shown below:

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 33.5% of costs up front which is £692 (minimum 2 hours of training)

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

On-going no decision made.

ACE Charges

New ACE charges being implemented as from 13th April 2008. (details below)

Range of services that will be provided to Approved Centres by ECITB for the above charges will include:

• Continual promotional work/materials
• Management of ACE programme
• Administration of a ACE programme
• Complete revised ACE website, promoting all approved centres
• Brokerage service between employers and Approved Centres
• Brokerage service between Approved Centres and local funding provider

It is vitally important external income is generated to fund any initiatives which will help to ensure the future success of the ACE scheme.

All NVQ/SVQ candidates who completed their qualification before 13th April 2008, and who are eligible for an ACE Card, will receive their card free of charge.
All NVQ/SVQ candidates who were registered for their qualification before 13th April 2008, and who are eligible for an ACE Card, will receive their ACE Card free of charge upon completion of their qualification.

Few Approved Centres unhappy with the above charges, as far as l am concerned the Approved Centres need to realise Ace is not an ECITB product but an industry initiative. ACE cannot continually be financially supported by the ECITB, therefore some income has to be generated to move ACE forward and although the industry and ECITB benefit from achieving a competent workforce all the financial rewards/benefits go to the Approved Centres. Why should these Approved Centres not make small contributions to the initiative to continue making the ACE scheme a success. The demand for ACE is higher than ever at this moment in time both companies and clients realise the importance of a competent workforce in our industry and as momentum grows again the Approved Centres will benefit from long term work and increased financial reward.

Website

Complete new revised website will be going live on 1st May. Home page has three separate areas for employees, employers and approved centres, also includes scrolling banner with latest registration/completions and news/bulletins for monthly reports etc.
More information and mock ups of new website will be presented at ISG meeting in April. (New design shown below)

Additional Information

The CITB have requirements for 1500 employees to obtain the ECITB ACE Card, meeting arranged 16th April to identify locations of candidates.

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. Still on-going

Registrations will be starting on LOR this month approximately 150/200 candidates require ACE cards. The Client is requesting all contractors working on new project will achieve ACE cards throughout the project.

Meeting arranged with National LSC to discuss possibility of ECITB holding funding contract For ACE/TECSkills. If this proposal is accepted it would resolve the issue around employer contribution as employers contribute directly to the ECITB.

• ACE Monthly Report March