Issue details

Delegated authority has been granted to the Combined Authority’s Chief Executive to take decisions on the award of regional recovery funding.

A Feasibility and Development Funding application was prepared setting out the case for releasing £336k from this fund to deliver an All Age Advice Centre pilot.

The project will deliver a portal and advice line to support individuals in making the right connections to pursue employment related support, training/learning or other opportunities open to them, with the aim of progressing into meaningful activity and progression (for full detail of the pilot, see Appendix 1).

The pilot approach will build in capacity to enable the Combined Authority and its unitary authority partners to examine the changed regional landscape, demand for and shortage of skills, and to build viable, long term, flexible solutions regionally and locally.

There will be rolling evaluation of the All Age Advice Centre pilot stage to establish viability, impact and the optimum delivery/staffing model post-pilot, including building on existing arrangements.

Business and skills leads across the West of England unitary authorities were involved in developing this proposal and the Chief Executives of the West of England unitary authorities were also consulted and in agreement with the decision.