a) Update on Bromley/Orpington College merger – Sam Parrett (Bromley College)
b) Apprenticeships in Bromley and South London – Peter Davies (National Apprenticeships Service)
c) News Round
Minutes:
Members of the Partnership gave an update on a range of activities undertaken since the last meeting.
Learning and skills provision continued to be developed across the Borough. Sam Parrett confirmed that Bromley and Orpington Colleges had merged on 1st August 2011, and there had been significant investment in development across both campuses. A review was currently being undertaken with a view to increase the higher education offer of the College, which would also include higher level apprenticeships. A community engagement strategy was also in development and the college was seeking to establish an Employer Forum to develop college provision in partnership with the needs of local businesses. Carol Arnfield reported that Bromley Adult Education College offered a range of courses that supported people into employment including counselling, ICT and complementary therapy. Recent courses had also been developed for English for Speakers of Other Languages students.
Peter Davies confirmed that there were currently over 1200 Bromley residents working in apprenticeships across London, with apprenticeships available in a wide range of industries including hair and beauty, IT and electrical and plumbing. The process of recruiting an apprentice was being simplified through use of a web-based matching service, and work was also being undertaken to support small employers to take on apprentices. The Bromley Education Business Partnership had just been awarded a contract to deliver a pre-apprenticeship programme and would be working with partners and employers to support young people into apprenticeships over the next 2 years. Katy Woolcott confirmed that 12 candidates were being identified to participate in an engineering apprenticeship at London Biggin Hill Airport from January 2012.
With regard to unemployment, 2.9% of Bromley’s working age population was currently claiming Jobseekers Allowance, with 5 wards showing higher unemployment than the national average. David Keogh confirmed that the Department of Work and Pensions had recently been restructured, which should support stronger working at a local level. Louisa Allen reported that the Reed Partnership had been awarded funding for a two year programme to tackle worklessness in families. Voluntary job clubs had also been set up in the Cotmandene Centre and the Mottingham Community and Learning Shop to support people into employment. Colin Maclean noted the role of volunteering in supporting people back into work and highlighted the need to consider how the voluntary and community sector could engage with the business community.
Businesses across the Borough continued to be impacted by the economic downturn and were working hard to retain skilled staff. New business start ups were steady and there was demand in the property market for small office suites and retail units. Businesses continued to find it difficult to secure finance and Rob Cundy reported an increase in the number of insolvencies in the Borough. With regard to upcoming events, the Glades Shopping Centre was working to encourage retailers to introduced longer opening hours during December 2011 to support the Christmas retail offer, and the Bromley Business Awards would be taking place at The Warren on Wednesday 26th October 2011.
Katy Woolcott informed members of the Partnership that Project LoCATE had now been established. London Biggin Hill Airport had been identified in the London Plan as a Strategic Outer London Development Centre and LoCATE aimed to bring together key stakeholders, including landowners, businesses and local residents’ associations to maximise the economic development potential of the site and make a wide range of opportunities and benefits available to the local community.
RESOLVED that the update be noted.