Agenda item 4 - LEP update

Chief Executives' Group - North Yorkshire and York

4 November 2021

LEP update

1 Purpose of the Report

1.1To provide an update on the activity of the York and North Yorkshire LEP. This paper covers:

  • LEP review
  • Capital Funding
  • Business Support
  • Skills
  • Plan for Growth


2 LEP Review

2.1 The outcome of the LEP review which will outline the future role of the LEPs is inextricably linked to the levelling up white paper. This paper will set out how government sees the governance of local growth in the future. It is expected that Mayoral Combined Authorities will sit at the head of this. However it remains unclear how this will be managed in areas without a MCA. Given the commitment to negotiating a Mayoral Devolution Deal for Y&NY planning for the LEP function to sit within this remains the right option.

3. Capital Funding

3.1 The Getting Building Fund remains on track to fully deliver and retain the delivery track record for York and North Yorkshire. In addition the LEP has committed some of its Growing Places funding to underwrite an over-commitment.

3.2 The proposal to increase allocations to the projects for Northallerton eCampus (£50,000) and North Yorkshire Digital Infrastructure (£300,000) was approved by this Board on 24 June 2021 Subsequent approvals - as required by the programme – were confirmed by MHCLG. Overall progress is good and the table shows forecast GBF claims up to the end of Quarter 2 (ie 30th September 2021), along with risk ratings in the final column. 

4. Business Support

4.1 The LEP Business Support function, primarily through the York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub is focusing on twelve priority themes.

4.2 The Key Sector development plans are taking place through the Plan for Growth process, whilst a collaborative inward Investment approach across all YNY Local Authorities and the LEP is underway. This will also feed into the Local Government Reorganisation economic regeneration workstream.

4.3 In addition it is worth noting that Northern Powerhouse investment Fund, has received an additional £600m follow on funding within the CSR. The YNY LEP currently has the best return on its investment across Northern Powerhouse. York and North Yorkshire invested £7m in the fund with investments worth £25.89m currently having been made into YNY businesses.

5. Skills

5.1 The LEP Delivers the Y&NY Careers Programme in partnership with NYBEP. Every school in YNY is currently engaged in the programme.

5.2 The DfE expects all schools and colleges to use the internationally recognised Gatsby Benchmarks to develop a careers programme that increases opportunities for students to access everything from experiences of the workplace and personal guidance with a careers adviser, to engagement with employers, colleges, training providers and universities. The benchmarks are non-statutory but support schools and colleges by providing a framework around which they can develop their careers programme.

  • The following table provides information on the eight Gatsby Benchmarks and the progression of all of North Yorkshire schools in achieving the benchmarks.
  York & North Yorkshire Careers Hub Baseline (Jul 2018) York & North Yorkshire Careers Hub (Aug 21) National Comparator
BM1 A stable careers programme Every school and college should have an embedded programme of career education and guidance that is known and understood by students, parents, teachers, governors, employers and other agencies 6% 76% 63%
BM2 Learning from career and labour market information Every student, and their parents (where appropriate), should have access to good quality information about future study options and labour market opportunities. They will need the support of an informed adviser to make the best use of available information. 28% 85% 78%
BM3 Addressing the needs of each pupil. Young people have different career guidance needs at different stages. Opportunities for advice and support need to be tailored to the needs of each pupil. A school’s or college’s careers programme should embed equality and diversity considerations throughout. 9% 42% 42%
BM4 Linking curriculum learning to careers. All subject staff should link curriculum with careers, even on courses that are not specifically occupation-led. For example, STEM subject staff should highlight the relevance of STEM subjects for a wide range of career paths. Study programmes should also reflect the importance of maths and English as a key expectation from employers 28% 73%  71%
BM5 Encounters with employers and employees. Every student should have multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace. This can be through a range of enrichment activities including visiting speakers, mentoring and enterprise schemes, and should include students’ own part time employment where it exists. 38%  70%  66%
BM6 Experiences of workplaces. Every student should have first-hand experiences of the workplace through work visits, work shadowing or work experience to help their exploration of career opportunities, and expand their networks. 31%  64%  40%
BM7 Encounters with further and higher education. All students should understand the full range of learning opportunities that are available to them. This includes both technical and academic routes and learning in schools, colleges, universities and in the workplace. 16%  39%  40%
BM8 Personal guidance. Every student should have opportunities for guidance interviews with a career adviser, who could be internal (a member of school or college staff) or external, provided they are trained to an appropriate level. These should be available for all students whenever significant study or career choices are being made. They should be expected for all students but should be timed to meet their individual needs 66%  85%  75%

 

5.3 York & North Yorkshire LEP hosted a virtual careers and skills information event to prepare young people for their next steps in education and the workplace. The event show cased key sectors, highlighting transferable skills across a huge range of different careers and opportunities. A range of inspirational options for gaining work experience were presented with input from local employers such as, NHS, FERA, LNER, Kier Construction, Nestlé as well as representatives from the Maritime industry. 34 schools participated and an impressive 15,000 ‘live views’ and ’20,000’ on demand views were recorded.

5.4 Additionally, YNY Careers Hub is hosting a Learn Live Careers Leaders CPD event that coincides with COP26 - Better Jobs for a Better Future which aims to demystify the COP26 summit and what it means for young people’s career pathways in the future. We have content created from York and North Yorkshire LEP, Nestle, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Tech Buyer and more speaking directly to Career Leaders about how to support students around this agenda and its impact on their careers.

6 Plan for Growth

6.1 As previously detailed the LEP held a series of roundtables as part of the Plan for Growth development. This included a focus group of LA Economic Development Officers. This will be followed up by a dedicated session for each Local Authority to ensure wide engagement. The current timeline will see a draft developed for Christmas to then consult on the draft in the new year for formal sign off by March 23.

7.0 Recommendations

7.1 Chief Executives are asked to note progress with the LEP and that the Levelling Up White Paper will determine the future role of LEPs.
 

James Farrar Chief Operating Officer, York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership

29 October 2021