Issue details

This proposal sought approval for proposed core delivery partners for the Workforce for the Future core service.

Workforce for the Future is an £8m programme, funded with 50% Investment Fund and 50% European Social Fund (ESF) monies, which runs until December 2023.

The application process in relation to core delivery partners requested that potential delivery partners identified whether their proposal could be part of the core service or one which had a project specific focus for example, a sector, geography or cohort.

The Expression of Interest stage closed on 17 April 2020; those areas identifying as part of the core offer were contacted and asked to submit full applications. These were received by 24 July. The applications received responded to a core support service specification which had, in line with WECA’s principles of working in partnership, been developed in conjunction with the Director of Business and Skills, Head of People and Skills, Service Lead for Enterprise, Inward Investment and Trade and the potential delivery partners. Procurement and Grant Management and Assurance Teams were also involved in the process to ensure compliance with WECA’s policies and operating frameworks and to undertake due diligence checks. The full applications were reviewed by an internal panel of WECA officers from across People and Skills, Enterprise, Inward Investment and Trade and Grant Management & Assurance.

Through a delegation approved by the WECA Committee, the WECA Chief Executive had delegated authority to take the decision to approve core delivery partners in consultation with the constituent council Chief Executives.