ALP Chief predicts tighter times to NE providers
Dated: 12/10/2009

ALP Chief Executive, Graham Hoyle, sharing a platform at the Tyne & Wear and Northumberland Association of Learning Providers AGM with ALP Director and NE Regional Chairman, Frank Ramsay, and the NAS NE Regional Director, John Wayman

ALP Chief Executive, Graham Hoyle, sharing a platform at the Tyne & Wear and Northumberland Association of Learning Providers AGM with ALP Director and NE Regional Chairman, Frank Ramsay, and the NAS NE Regional Director, John Wayman, predicted what he felt was going to be a difficult couple of years for training providers. Resources for the 2009/10 contract year ? which of course is already well under way ? were still far from clear, with programme monies certain to stay incredibly tight until April 2010. There was still a real danger that a failure to find a way of ?smoothing? Train to Gain delivery throughout the whole twelve month period would see monies available from April to August 2010 that could not, and would not, be used. A position that would surely be focused upon by a ravenous Treasury that would by then undoubtedly be looking for savings/cuts from anywhere.
Whilst he predicted that the skills agenda, and Apprenticeships in particular, would remain high up on the Government?s agenda (whichever party was by then in power) he still predicted a squeeze on Government skills monies representing at best a levelling off of the steep growth curve of the last few years, and at worst a (modest) downturn. Keeping this in perspective, whilst clearly not a welcome picture, it had to be viewed against the substantial growth that most providers had enjoyed over recent years. Nevertheless, providers? business plans needed to be realistic, and Graham hoped that his analysis would at least give a background picture within which they could plan and operate successfully.
He did point out that there was a major continuing growth market ? albeit for all the wrong reasons ? and that was within the DWP arena, with substantial opportunities to upskill the growing numbers of unemployed. Some 70 ALP members were already active in this market, many of them gearing up for real growth behind the continuing rise in unemployment.
Other topics touched on included the need to protect the high quality, employer linked programme led Apprenticeship programmes that were probably likely to increase until employers start growing their normal Apprenticeship intakes again. There was also continuing concern about the exact involvement of local authorities in the 16-18 Apprenticeship field, though providers were much reassured by the recent announcement ? covered of course by Countdown ? that local authorities would have the responsibility for determining the volume of Apprenticeships needed in their area, but not be involved in determining which providers should be contracted to deliver.