BASIC SKILLS CYMRU UNIT

THE ‘GET SKILLED UP’ PROGRAMME

WHAT IS IT?

‘Get Skilled Up’ is a programme that has been developed in partnership with Basic Skills Cymru, Rhyl City Strategy and Coleg Llandrillo, Rhyl.

A pilot project commenced in October 2008 until March 2009. Due to its interest and success a further programme was delivered from October 2009 to March 2010. Funding has recently been allocated for “Get Skilled up” to continue and expand in 2010/11.

The ‘Get Skilled Up’ programme is targeted at NEETS, young adults, single parents, and those on Incapacity Benefits/Jobseekers Allowance and young offenders. It is an element of the Basic Skills strategy which aims to identify and support those people furthest away from employment to improve their basic skills and increase their employability.

It fills the gap in current provision by providing ‘intense’ basic skills short courses within a variety of vocational career paths.

The purpose of ‘Get Skilled Up’ is to address basic skills needs, to engage participants and start to prepare them for further training and employment within specific sectors of their choice and to provide progression opportunities.

WHAT DOES IT OFFER?

The programme comprises of up to 45 hours of intensive basic skills tuition delivered with a vocational context over 3 weeks, usually between 12 and 15 hours per week.

Currently there are 6 vocational areas:

• Retail
• Business Administration and IT
• Construction
• Automotive Engineering
• Social Care
• Catering

The programmes are held at various venues to attract the client group, including Llandrillo College, Rhyl, the Rhyl ‘Hub’ and various community venues.

All programmes include employability skills such as CV writing, completing application forms, job hunting (including online and interview skills) and basic ICT skills.

HOW DOES IT OPERATE

Referrals are made using the infrastructure of the Rhyl City Strategy Partnership, including Job Centres, Careers Wales, Probation Service and Community Groups.

All participants undertake a full basic skills assessment and a diagnostic assessment to establish their starting point in numeracy, literacy and IT.  This forms the basis of course content and the development of individual learning plans.

OUTCOMES

176 individuals have participated in 14 ‘Get Skilled Up’ courses.

In the words of the providers “outcomes have been remarkable”.

88% of participants improved their basic skills.

83% progressed to further education training or employment.

OVERALL RESULTS

Course	Number enrolled	Number completed	Retention %	Successful completion	Progression to employment	Progression to learning	Total successful progression
All programmes	176	163	93%	93%	5%	79%	83%

CONCLUSION

‘Get Skilled Up’ is an innovative and flexible model of delivery at the entry/pre-employment level which is addressing the individual needs of the disengaged and those furthest from the job market.  It brings together vocational and basic skills experts to provide a totally embedded learning experience, which enables the development of basic skills in a relevant and non threatening way.

THE FUTURE

Further funding (£50,000) has been provided from April – August 2010 for the programme to continue in Rhyl and for the programme to be extended within the North Wales strategic regeneration area, to include Colwyn Bay.

Additional programmes to be offered will include Working with Children, Beauty & Nails, Classroom Assistants within the vocational sectors that individuals can consider.

Discussions are currently taking place between Basic Skills Cymru and the Menter Môn Partnership to introduce the ‘Get Skilled Up’ programme in  Holyhead from September 2010.

ADDED VALUE

‘Get Skilled Up’ has linked into other funding streams which include DCELLS Funding via the Rhyl City Strategy.

In a partnership between North Wales Police and the Fire Service a ‘Get Skilled Up’ course in Driving Awareness is starting.  This will involve driving skills in a driving simulator, driving theory knowledge and some basic automotive engineering skills.

Also, local construction employers have approached Rhyl College to deliver a bespoke ‘Get Skilled Up’ programme to their employees which they will fund.

The” Get Skilled Up” Programme has been nominated for a U.K. Beacon Award.