Decision details

The purpose of this report is to explain the reasons and positive outcomes around Sheffield City Council’s (Opportunity Sheffield’s) wish to enter into a SLA to deliver the Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge (ASK) programme within schools and other relevant establishments/organisations in Sheffield, Rotherham and Barnsley. As well as seeking approval to enter into the Partnership Service Level Agreement with BL Training Ltd for the ASK programme and to accept up to £30,540 of funding from BL Training Ltd from their allocation of funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).

That the Director of Education and Skills

a)  Approves the Council accepting up to £30,540 of ESFA funding from BL Training Ltd.

 b)  Approves and signs the Service Level Agreement to enable Sheffield City Council (Opportunity Sheffield) to deliver the ASK programme to schools and other relevant organisations in Sheffield, Rotherham and Barnsley. 

 c)  Approves the Council’s delivery of the ASK programme as detailed within the report. 

Young people need advice and guidance on the Apprenticeship, T Level and Traineeship routes as they are not straight forward compared to typical Further Education options and are developing at a fast pace. This means school-based careers staff find it difficult to keep up with the most up-to-date information.

Information and support around these areas is also a requirement of the school careers plan (Gatsby Benchmark 7).  Delivering the ASK programme enables Opportunity Sheffield to support schools with this requirement, receive funding to do so as well as offer a wealth of resources and support as a delivery partner.

Opportunity Sheffield will be part of national programme, funded by the DfE, and therefore are extremely well placed to make the most of this programme.  We are able to provide the crucial link from the educational programme (ASK) to the practical support for gaining an Apprenticeship/Traineeship via our employer engagement team and training sites.

An alternative option is Opportunity Sheffield delivers a similar programme to ASK, independently and just for Sheffield schools. However, funding would need to be identified.