EBP Annual Report 2010

www.walsallebp.co.uk Walsall Education Business Partnership: 4th Floor, Townend House, Townend Square, Walsall WS1 1NS Tel: 01922 424200 Fax: 01922 424243 E-mail: info@walsallebp.co.uk

Annual Report ners Some Valued Part

September 2010

Walsall EBP Achievements – 2009

a) further significant developments to the Walsall EBP to record EBL activities including providing access t report to all of the secondary schools

b) successfully gaining accreditation to offer the Edexc suite of awards c) organised most successful Employer Conference to delegate attendance and feedback

d) access to Walsall EBP Work Experience database ‘so neighbouring EBP e) increase in number of primary schools supported

/ 2010

P database used o an ‘in-time’

f) highly successful Holiday Bursary placements for Technology teachers funded by Metals Academy

cel Workskills

g) Walsall EBP Board to provide ‘employer voice’ to 16-19 Commissioning process

date with record

h) introduction of accredited H&S and First Aid qualifications to the ‘Smart Choices’ programme

old’ to another

i)

successful launch and implementation of the Walsall EBP Enterprise Champions

j) maintained performance standards required for Award for Education Business Excellence

ANNUAL REPORT 2010

2

Highlights

Some highlights of the past contract year (August 2009 – July 2010) are: Targets – in spite of the difficulties with the recession Walsall EBP achieved, and in most cases exceeded, all of the external targets set by various funders for the 2009 / 2010 contract year. The overall performance figures are as follows: 10,413 secondary school students involved 1,558 primary school pupils involved 3,151 businesses supporting education business link activities with schools

Funding:

Income £ 616,000

Expenditure £ 588,000

ANNUAL REPORT 2010

3

Walsall EBP Em

mployer Conference Entitled “Making Learning Real” this year’s Employer Conference, at the Banks’s Stadium on Thursday 18 March 2010, was sponsored

by Walsall Housing Group and, although the economic climate remains ‘challenging’, the event attracted over 180 delegates, easily the highest number in the 14 year history of the event. The high numbers actually caused the only potential difficulties but there was a real ‘buzz’ and vibrancy evident during the morning and the positive feedback received from the delegates was outstandingly good.

The main input was by Tim Johnson, Executive Director – Regeneration, Walsall Council who explored the links between the physical regeneration taking place within Walsall and the need to improve the education and skill levels of the young people currently in Walsall schools. He also emphasised the real need for local employers of all shapes and sizes to get involved.

The most pleasing aspects of the Conference from our point of view were: a) the sheer number of delegates – which surprised us; b) the quality of the delegates – the increased attendance again from senior managers / decision makers;

c) the quality and level of feedback from the Showcase sessions; d) the very obvious enthusiasm and interest in the Awards; e) the number of delegates wishing to become involved in more Walsall EBP activities.

CONFERENCE

ANNUAL REPORT 2010

4

Walsall EBP ‘Champions’ Launch

An increasing number of employer support schemes use the ‘Ambassador’ Construction, Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM), Retail, etc) and s year Walsall EBP decided to replace its ‘Ambassadors’ with Walsall EBP ‘Champions to reduce confusion.

hed

title (Health, so earlier in the ’ in an attempt

As part of this ‘re-badging’ process the opportunity was taken to: i)

increase the quality and effectiveness of the Walsall EBP ‘Champions’

ii) increase the number and scope of Walsall EBP ‘Champions’ to include: Enterprise Champion Construction Champion Business Champion Health & Social Care Champion Fair Trade Champion

MFL Champion Retail Champion Engineering Champion IT Champion Environmental Champion

As part of the recruitment process all Walsall EBP volunteer ‘Champions’ (who are recruited from local organisations) agree to: a) undergo an Enhanced Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) check; b) work within the requirements of the Walsall EBP Child Protection policy; c) attend a short induction training session organised by Walsall EBP;

The new arrangements were formally launched at the Employer Conference in March 2010 and there are now a total of 37 Walsall EBP Champions in place.

ANNUAL REPORT 2010

5

Increased number of primary schools supported

Introduction of Accredited H&S and First Aid Courses

The number of schools involved in the heats for the Primary School Enterprise Challenge increased from 28 in 2009 to 40 in 2010 which is really pleasing to note. The teams of year 5 pupils, once again, showed a high level of enthusiasm and skill which often caused the judges a real headache as they strived to select a winning team to go forward to the final at Banks’s Stadium in June 2010.

The decision was taken by Walsall EB this year to offer accredited H&S an First Aid qualifications to all studen involved in the Smart Choice employability skills programmes. Thes have been really well received and off the students the opportunity t improve their confidence and th content and quality of their CV.

The number of primary schools involved with other Walsall EBP education business link activities also increased during the year.

BP nd ts es se er to he

Increased number of Engineering Roadshows The demand for Walsall EBP Technology / Engineering Roadshows has continued to grow and events have been organised at six different Walsall schools this year: i) ii) iii) iv) v) vi)

The feedback from the schools, students and employers at each of the events continues to be extremely positive and it is obvious that this activity is fulfilling a really important need.

Brownhills Community Technology College Frank F Harrison Engineering College St Francis of Assisi Catholic Technology College Castle Business and Enterprise College Queen Mary’s Grammar School Joseph Leckie Community Technology College

Maintained Award for Education Business Excellence (AEBE) Performance Standards Having gained the Award for Education Business Excellence, in April 2009, the Walsall EBP team have worked hard this year to maintain the necessary performance standards. Walsall EBP will be due for re-accreditation in April 2012.

ANNUAL REPORT 2010

6