Purpose

In 2024, GMCA commissioned the Employer Engagement and Essential Work Skills (EEEWS) programme which had the following strategic aims:
1. Raise awareness of the training support that is available, not only in specific occupational specialisms but the essential skills needed for the workplace.
2. Support employers and their workforce to understand their current and future training needs, so that their businesses have the skills and talent they need for resilience, productivity and growth.
3. Provide the right Essential Work Skills training provision that meets this need, in particular the feedback received as set out in the LSIP.
4. Signposting to other relevant Skills Provision, where applicable
The contract for EEEWS was awarded to The Growth Company. The programme was set up as a ‘test and learn’, allowing for innovation and flexibility to truly understand how an initiative could meet the needs of employers and their workforce and fundamentally test how essential skills provision can be delivered to a workforce. The programme was divided into 5 key steps: (1) Employer Engagement, (2) Business Skills Reviews & Individual Skills Reviews, (3) Skills Brokerage, (4) Essential Skills Delivery and (5) Exit Reviews.

The initial period ends on the 30th of June 2026, with the contract including the option to extend for a further 2 years in 12-month increments, up to 30th June 2028. This decision is made to undertake the first optional extension period, up to 30th June 2027.

This decision has been made as it retains momentum for the skills delivery and employer engagement; keeps the programme as a whole and meets all the strategic aims set in the commissioning; allows GMCA to design a more impactful locality and workforce led model whilst retaining service and further mitigates risk of further underperformance.

Decision

To extend the GMCA 930: Employer Engagement and Essential Work Skills (EEEWS) Contract with The Growth Company for the first allowed for period of 12 months. The extension period will commence on the 1st of July 2026 and end on the 30th of June 2027, with an associated value of £2,676,000.