The NCS will be re-commissioned over the next few months and the NCS Trust intend to commission providers to coordinate and deliver the service in 9 lots across England.  These lots will be very large (£65m – £125m pa each) and will require provision of: Adventure activity; Personal development activity and; Social action work. 3SC is exploring ways to be involved either as a subcontractor or through a consortium of providers and we expect to put out a call for expressions on interest in the coming weeks

The MoJ are currently tendering the Prison Education Framework (PEF) which will mainly cover the provision of a core curriculum of English, maths and ICT. The PEF may also contain some specific sector skills qualification and could also include employability interventions.  The MoJ also intend to create a DPS to sit alongside the PEF and this will be the mechanism that they will use to commission pilots and innovative services for individual prisons the focus of these services will be employability work and personal development. This tender was due to be launched in August but there has been a delay and will now go live in September. 3SC intend to be active on the DPS and will be seeking delivery organisations to work with us in due course.   

Ensuring High Quality Careers Guidance: Making the Most of Everyone’s Skills and Talents Public Policy Exchange Central London. Wednesday 14 November 2018 In December 2017 the Government published the long-awaited Careers Strategy, which envisages the creation of a thriving careers system that promotes social mobility. The new strategy is based around four key priorities: ensuring every school and college has a high-quality careers programme; providing opportunities for work experience; offering tailored support to students; and utilising appropriate sources of information about jobs and careers. It also aims for the appointment of a dedicated careers’ leader in every school and the creation of 20 careers hubs in disadvantaged areas. Moreover, the Minister of State for Apprenticeships and Skills announced her ambition to achieve a shift in attitude, by raising the profile of apprenticeships. Additionally, she called for the Institute for Apprenticeships to speed up the process of approving new apprenticeship standards, following a sharp decrease in apprenticeships starts since the introduction of the levy. Despite these positive steps, significant progress is still required to ensure that everyone …

Join ERSA and Give us a Chance Consortium (GUAC) at this one day conference in central London on 12 September. Details here.

The Voluntary Data Conference. Thursday 11 October, Central London With the Fundraising Regulator and NCVO leading in discussion, this pivotal conference provides the perfect platform to examine how all voluntary organisations can further strengthen their data protection protocols in line with new GDPR’s laws; and continue to maximise their social impact through effective data management. Join data experts and senior charity officers to assess proven best practice from charities leading in delivering effective data-led approaches to inform strategic decisions, enhance data security and ensure adequate training for staff and volunteers to effectively manage and maintain data. LIMITED PLACES NOW REMAIN! SECURE YOUR PLACE HERE KEYNOTE DISCUSSION: Gerald Oppenheim, Chief Executive, Fundraising Regulator – The Future of GDPR and Data Protection in Voluntary Sector Fundraising – Analysing the latest changes to the Code of Fundraising Practice in relation to data protection and GDPR – Formulating a data policy which effectively communicates data usage to individuals and supports the “legitimate interest” condition when conducting direct marketing – Assessing what constitutes effective data management when marketing, fundraising and reaching …

The Working Wales tender is about to move into the ITT phase with a shortlist of up to five bidders per lot invited to work up full bids. The service aims to support people of all ages to overcome barriers and gain the skills to achieve and maintain good quality, sustainable employment. The provision will be funded for a period of up to seven years, will have an expected value in the first year of £56 million, and will be let in seven lots. 3SC are talking to a number of bidders and hope to be in a position to develop a delivery partnership as the bid progresses. The final submission of proposals is due by the10th September 2018 with delivery commencing on 1 April 2019.

Join NPC Ignites on 10 October 2018 for the NPC’s annual conference. They’ve lined up a selection of innovative thinkers to shake things up. Topics will range from data to digital and place-based approaches to governance. More here.