Decision details

Delegated authority has been granted to the Combined Authority’s Chief Executive to take decisions on the award of grants under the Digital Skills Investment Programme in consultation with the Chief Executives of the Combined Authority’s constituent councils.

The second funding call made a sum of £1,330,000 available to deliver digital training to support baseline/lower level digital skills (70%) and medium/higher level digital skills (30%).

Following the application and assessment process, 4 applications were recommended for approval as follows (in each case, particular conditions were also recommended prior to the release of funding as per the detail below):

1. Bath College led consortia including Bath Spa University and Royal United Hospital, Bath delivering lower, baseline digital skills to support 140 NHS band 2-4 workers develop sector-specific digital roles to support progression in healthcare roles. £177,484 requested.
Recommendation: Conditional approval, first requiring the submission of an acceptable outline of how this differentiates from existing Adult Education Budget funded provision.

2. NextGen led consortia including Opposable Games and TechSPARK delivering a bootcamp in games development, specifically around Unity and Unreal skills, building on their offer funded through call 1, which is on track. £76,488.61 requested.
Recommendation: Conditional approval, first requiring the submission of an acceptable explanation for how the applicant will achieve the target to enrol 100% of participants from target groups working collaboratively with local partners and building on learning from their existing call 1 funded bootcamp; and also providing relevant detail on programme content.

3. KWMC working with various partners to deliver baseline/lower level digital skills in 2D and 3D design to 52 participants to support routes into 4 employment strands: modern methods of construction, carpentry and fabrication, furniture and product design, and set building. £86,970 requested.
Recommendation: Conditional approval, first requiring the submission of an acceptable explanation of wider consortia partners and employer-specific and pre-determined involvement. Further information is also required to understand employability and further training progression routes for participants.

4. SGS College led consortia working with South Gloucestershire Council to deliver baseline/lower level sector-specific digital training through their In2Sport project, targeting individuals on probation and a project delivering digital skills for the education and health and social care industry totalling £82,209.83
Recommendation: Conditional approval, first requiring the submission of detailed clarifications on specific employer-led digital elements of each training area.

To award round 2 grants under the Digital Skills Investment Programme to the following applicants:

1. Bath College led consortia including Bath Spa University and Royal United Hospital, Bath - £177,484 - this allocation is conditional on the submission of an acceptable outline of how this differentiates from existing Adult Education Budget funded provision.

2. NextGen led consortia including Opposable Games and TechSPARK - £76,488.61 - this allocation is conditional on the submission of an acceptable explanation for how the applicant will achieve the target to enrol 100% of participants from target groups working collaboratively with local partners and building on learning from their existing call 1 funded bootcamp; and also providing relevant detail on programme content.

3. KWMC working with various partners - £86,970 - this allocation is conditional on the submission of an acceptable explanation of wider consortia partners and employer-specific and pre-determined involvement; further information is also required to understand employability and further training progression routes for participants.

4. SGS College led consortia working with South Gloucestershire Council - £82,209.83 – this allocation is conditional on the submission of detailed clarifications on specific employer-led digital elements of each training area.

Not applicable in relation to this specific decision, i.e. this was the option considered.