Decision details

Following the successful Enterprise Adviser Pilot (14/15) and a further 2 year delivery phase (15/16 and 16/17) the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority (SCR) has secured involvement in the next phase of delivery (EAN - Enterprise Adviser Network) from 1st September, 2017 to 31st August, 2018 and subject to satisfactory performance this may continue to August, 2020 (2 academic years) but this will be subject to a further agreement.

The grant will fund 1.75 FTE enterprise coordinator posts and other programme expenditure.

Please note that programme has already started and expenditure has been incurred as the grant is from September 2017. This is because of late contracting from Doncaster Chamber of Commerce and Industry (who Sheffield City Region have asked to manage the next phase of the programme) and expenditure was incurred in order to maintain the stability of the programme from the previous year.

SCC has now been advised by Doncaster Chamber of Commerce and Industry who will manage the funding for this phase, that it will receive £43,750 plus a further £8,750 one-off incentive payment following confirmation of 100% of the school/colleges/special schools being matched with an Enterprise Adviser for the period 1st September, 2017 to 31st August, 2018 to manage activity in Sheffield. The Council will provide match funding at 50% being £43,750 for the Enterprise Adviser posts with the incentive agreement being 100% grant funded.

Approval is being sought for SCC to sign the Back to Back Agreement with Doncaster Chamber of Commerce for £43,750 (plus £8,750 incentive payment) for the period 1st September, 2017 to 31st August, 2018.

That the Director for Communities, Libraries, Learning and Skills:-

(i) notes the acceptance of the Doncaster Chamber of Commerce and Industry  Enterprise Advisor Network grant of £43,750 and match funding by the Council of £43,750;

(ii) approves the Council entering into and signing the Back to Back Agreement with the Doncaster Chamber of Commerce and Industry to accept the Enterprise Advisor Network grant and the terms of the grant;

(iii) In consultation with the Director of Finance and Commercial services agrees to also accept any additional grant funding of up to £8,750 from Doncaster Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The amount is conditional upon meeting successful school engagement targets across Sheffield; and

(iv) in consultation with the Director of Finance and Commercial Services, and the Director of Legal and Governance, to take such steps as they deem appropriate to achieve the outcomes set out in the report.

The grant will support the continued delivery of the SCR Enterprise Advisor Network from 1st September, 2017 to 31st August, 2018.

The £43,750 grant funding is available for delivery together with a further incentive payment of £8,750 following confirmation that 100% of the schools/colleges/special schools have been formally matched with an Enterprise Adviser in Sheffield during the period 1st September, 2017 to 31st August, 2018.

The Enterprise Adviser Network will match all Sheffield Secondary, Special Schools and Post 16 Colleges with an Enterprise Adviser. This will expand business/education activity, improve careers guidance, increase vocational training opportunities for 11-18 year olds and inform the development of the ‘Learn to Work’ proposal in the LEP Growth Plan.

The funding will enable the continuation of additional activity that wouldn’t otherwise take place.

Fund the project from existing resources – rejected as no resources available and £43,750 (plus further incentive payment of £8,750 grant available from the Careers and Enterprise Company via Doncaster Chamber of Commerce and Industry .

Do nothing – valuable activity in the City and across Sheffield City Region would not take place.