CITY OF CARDIFF COUNCIL CYNGOR DINAS CAERDYDD EXECUTIVE PUBLIC SERVICES BOARD: 10 TH MARCH 2017 THE CARDIFF COMMITMENT TO YOUTH ENGAGEMENT AND PROGRESSION: REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION & LIFELONG LEARNING Reason for this report 1. To provide the board with an overview of the current position in relation to the development of the Cardiff Commitment. 2. To seek the support of the board to continue to drive and prioritise a partnership approach to improving employment outcomes for young people. 3. To prepare for an update to the Cardiff Public Services Board on 21 st March 2017. Background and context 4. The ultimate goal of the Cardiff Commitment is to ensure that all young people in the city of Cardiff secure a job, post education and training, that allows them to be the best that they can be; a job that unleashes and grows their own unique talents and skills and enables them to contribute fully to the prosperity of the city. At the same time, the Cardiff Commitment seeks to drive up skills development in the city, by connecting young people, schools and wider educational institutions with the business community. 5. Working in partnership, the Council is seeking to create a coalition for change that commits to making a real difference to young people s lives and future independence. Delivery outcomes can be summarised as: - Higher youth employment and economic activity (aged 16-24). - A better skilled and qualified labour market to meet the needs of growing economy (aged 16-24). - Improved educational achievement for learners. - Reduced numbers of young people Not in Education, Training or Employment. Page 1 of 6
6. The Cardiff Public Services Board received an initial report in relation to the Cardiff Commitment in May 2016, which provided an overview of the new youth engagement and progression strategy and an update on young people s destination outcomes for the academic year ending 2015. 7. A further report was presented to the Executive Public Services Board in September 2016, with a specific focus upon apprenticeships, in line with Welsh Government s ambition to create 100,000 apprenticeships in Wales during this administration and the impending introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy in Wales in 2017. 8. The Executive Board agreed that each organisation would nominate a representative to engage with the Council to develop the Cardiff Commitment. Nominations have since been received and contacts are being pursued. Both the Health Board and Natural Resources Wales joined the Council at a multi-agency forum to introduce and promote the Cardiff Commitment in December 2016. 9. This report provides an update on progress since September 2016 and indicates proposed areas of focus in the months ahead, to initiate a programme of work to deliver upon the Cardiff Commitment. Update on progress 2016 Year 11 School Leaver Destinations 10. Indicative figures for 2016 point to a further increase in the numbers of young people leaving school at the end of year 11 and making a positive transition to ongoing education, training or employment. This year s indicative NEET figure is 3% (100 pupils). A reduction of 1.5 percentage points from 2016 (52 pupils less). This represents a 5.8 percentage point decrease since 2010, when the Council s NEET figure stood at 8.8%. 11. This improvement in outcomes is attributable to several factors, including: - More effective identification and tracking of young people at risk of becoming NEET - Improved youth support and mentoring services - Partnership working with work based learning providers to align course start dates - Stronger information sharing arrangements between partner agencies - More robust schools engagement. 12. Final destination figures will be published by Careers Wales in April 2017 and these will be subject to detailed analysis at school and pupil level, to inform ongoing improvements in identification and support arrangements. Page 2 of 6
Employer Engagement 13. Significant progress has been made since September 2016 to engage a wide range of partners in shaping the Cardiff Commitment: A panel discussion was held during Cardiff Business Week, with contributions from the Director of Education and business leaders. On 7th December 2016, the Council hosted an event in City Hall that welcomed over 70 individuals from the private, public and voluntary sectors, Careers Wales, Job Centre Plus, Welsh Government and Schools to share ideas and opportunities. Over 40 employers attended a follow up event on 14th February 2017 in Central Square. Cardiff and Vale College have collected input from employers at three employer advisory boards, in Catering & Hospitality, Construction and the Creative Industries. Without exception, all parties engaged in all sessions, agreed with the aims of the Cardiff Commitment and were supportive of plans to establish a citywide partnership to deliver improved outcomes for young people. 14. Common messages emerging to date include: To set a clear strategic vision and goals, with a set of defined priorities for action that are agreed by all parties, including young people at the earliest opportunity. To promote and broker better schools / business relations, including via strategic partnership arrangements. To significantly improve careers advice and guidance in schools. To offer a comprehensive range of work experience opportunities for young people. To better connect young people with the extensive learning and employment opportunities in the city, to raise their awareness of potential career pathways. To support employers to take on Apprentices, supported by the Welsh Government funded programme. To take advantage of digital communication channels, including social media. To develop reciprocal pledges to the Cardiff Commitment from schools, young people and employers. 15. To date, at least 30 employers have indicated a clear willingness to contribute to the Cardiff Commitment. Business leaders are in the process of completing surveys to confirm the range of opportunities that they would be prepared to offer and are working with us to develop Employer Pledges to action. 16. On the 30 th March, several employers including Google, Big Learning Company, AeCOM and young entrepreneurs will be supporting the Council s Youth Participation team to run a full day s Grand Council with up to 150 young people. This event will give young people the opportunity Page 3 of 6
to share ideas and opinions to inform the Cardiff Commitment and to participate in a range of interactive sessions with industry. Junior Apprenticeships 17. A new Junior Apprenticeships programme was launched in September 2016, in partnership with Cardiff and Vale College, to offer a full time career focused learning programme for a select number of 14 16 year old students in Cardiff. The programme is the first of its kind in Wales and offers six different vocational pathways in line with key economic priority sectors. 18. Forty-four young people from Cardiff schools are currently participating in this programme, from years 10 and 11. Cardiff Council Employer Position 19. During the autumn term 2016, Arad Research completed a review the range of opportunities available within the Council for young people to access employment or training. Their report highlighted a number of strengths and areas for improvement, noting the relatively low proportion of young people in the workforce at present (3% aged 16-24 years). 20. The Council has committed to a range of actions to further support young people to enter employment within the Council, including: - Setting a target to create 100 Apprenticeship / trainee opportunities during the 2017/18 financial year - Creating a new post to co-ordinate the corporate scheme - Agreeing a model of corporate and directorate funding for the proposals - Developing Mentoring schemes for managers wishing to host and train young people - Offering Traineeships, volunteering opportunities and work experience. 21. The Council has also recently established a Community Benefits Board, to secure and co-ordinate appropriate community benefits through procurement and commissioning processes. This Board will also consider the identification of community benefits for young people in support of the Cardiff Commitment. City Region Developments 22. It is also important to recognise the fit of the Cardiff Commitment with the South East Wales Regional Skills Partnership and the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal. Council Officers are proactively engaged in the regional employment and skills agenda and in particular the City Deal aspiration to increase the number of people taking up Apprenticeships. Page 4 of 6
Setting up a Cardiff Commitment Programme Governance Structure 23. To ensure clear and structured leadership and accountability for the delivery of the Cardiff Commitment, new governance arrangements will be put in place by the end of May 2017. These will include: A new multi-agency Strategic Leadership Group, chaired by the Council Chief Executive, to set the direction of the Cardiff Commitment programme, agree a shared vision, goals, priorities and high level forward plan; champion the programme; support resourcing; agree reporting structure going forward. Head teachers and young people will be represented on this group. A new Operational Steering Group, chaired by the Director of Education, to take ownership of the forward plan and be accountable for translating the plan into action, driving and monitoring progress through six work streams. Six work stream areas with designated lead officers to ensure a focus on upon: - Cardiff Council s role as an Employer - Cardiff Council s role in procurement, commissioning and community benefits management - Identification and Tracking of young People, particularly those most at risk of becoming NEET - Brokerage and coordination of support for young people - Employer engagement (all sectors) and Schools/Business links - Provision of Education and Training / Learning pathways. Advisory forums including youth forums, employer networks, headteacher forums and neighbourhood links. 24. Regular reports will be provided to the Public Services Board, the City of Cardiff Council Cabinet, and the Cardiff Education Development Board. Initial programme priorities for action 25. To respond to the clear messages that we have received from engagement activities to date (as noted at paragraph 14 above), the programme will focus upon the following key areas from the outset: - Collecting Pledges to the Cardiff Commitment - Developing a Digital platform to connect young people, schools and employers - Strengthening brokerage and support arrangements - Improving careers advice, guidance and work experience opportunities. - Opening up opportunities to create Apprenticeships. Page 5 of 6
Considerations for the Board 26. The Board may wish to consider: - Opportunities to further involve the public sector in delivering the Cardiff Commitment. - The significant contribution that the Cardiff Commitment can make to the Well Being goals of the Well-being of Future Generations Act, and how this may be incorporated in a future Well-being plan. - Any particular areas of focus for the Public Services Board on 21 st March 2017. - Reporting requirements to future Board meetings. NICK BATCHELAR Director 10 th March 2017 Page 6 of 6