October 2008

How Government might best support a thriving culture of informal adult learning A Consultative Event, St. George's House, Windsor Castle, Thursday 9th - Friday 10th October 2008 This session built on the responses to the consultation that had recently taken place on Informal Adult Learning. Our goal was to shape a cross-Government framework that, with regional and local flexibilities, demonstrates its roles and responsibilities in supporting a thriving culture of informal adult learning. In doing so, we wanted to scope how DIUS could best help to grow and support informal adult learning in ways that connect with other key policy areas both with the Department and across Government. Background Paper, List of Participants and Report of the June event available in the library

June 2008

Focusing ESOL on Community Cohesion This 2-day national ideas building event held in June 2008 explored the role of ESOL in helping to strengthen community cohesion, building on responses to the recent Government consultation paper. The brief was to work with stakeholders to develop shared understanding of the issues, and together to build ideas that could be woven into a plan to put them into practice in readiness for a phased roll out of this policy strand to begin in April next year. Stakeholders included Government Departments and agencies, SSCs, Local Authorities, employers, Trades Unions as well as the Minister of State and Secretary of State for DIUS. On going work has emerged from this event in developing a commissioning, planning and delivery matrix and accountability framework. Background Paper, List of Participants and Report of the June event available in the library

May 2008

DIUS Family Day, The purpose of the session was to help the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, and other organisations working on education and skills work on how to get their message across to key customers. The aims of the day were to:

• Outline the task (both politically and practically)

• Identify where and how partners help achieve this task (unearthing contradictory priorities and interdependencies)v

• Showcase how DIUS can support them

• Identify how the task translates to tangible change/an offer for customers.

May 2008

Working with SE Agencies (SEEDA, Jobcentre Plus, LSC), Local Authorities and other key partners to develop a strategic and operational approach to delivering integrated employment and skills provision

April 2008

Working with DIUS & COI to develop a national framework for funding ESOL provision. This work has included facilitating a national conference held at Windsor Castle in June. Following this event, we are now helping to develop a matrix approach for prioritising, planning and funding ESOL provision in a way that is responsive to the needs of different groups, encourages individual progression and integration, and is aligned to local regeneration and economic development strategies

November 2007 – March 2008

Development of the Workforce Strategy and Implementation Plan for the Further Education Sector in England 2007-12. Work built on responses to the consultation that preceded it and explored how we can begin to implement changes across the four key areas for consultation: understanding the workforce, attracting and retaining the best people and improving the sector image, training and developing a modernised workforce, and increasing the diversity of the workforce. The project included facilitation of 2-day consultation and ideas building event, followed by a two further day events to firm up the content of both the strategy and implementation plan, and a number of group sessions with employers and representatives of other Sector Skills Council to test out and sharpen up ideas. The project contributed significantly to the publication of the Sector Skills Council’s strategy and implementation plan for the FE Sector.