Organisation Name:  Swansea University

Project Description: This project will focus on advancing computing and ICT skills and supporting the Software sector in Wales.  It will, thus, help to achieve the aims of P3T2:
supporting employers in identifying and addressing the skills needs of their sectors at all levels, including management, technical and craft skills; helping workers and enterprises adapt to new forms of work organisation and new technologies.
Software and data are fundamental to most industry and commerce. The computing and software sectors are a key element in the development of all aspects of the economy. Software is a huge sector in its own right; and software helps drive sectors as diverse as automotives, electronics, communication, financial services, retailing, medical and social care.
Software plays a crucial role in delivering services, both commercial and public. Software capabilities play a crucial role in every knowledge economy.
However, computing and data management is in an early stage of its evolution. Despite the major technological advances we have experienced in recent years, great new transformations are on the horizon. Wales needs to prepare itself to be in the forefront of these technological advances, to protect its economy and to enable more of its businesses to become players in the global economy.
This project will work with companies to increase the visibility and impact of the software industry, and increase its contribution to the Welsh economy. It will promote state-of-the-art design capabilities, technical knowledge and skills that are needed by companies whose core business is heavily dependent on software.
This project will aim to raise the profile globally of the software industry and leading academic expertise groups in Wales. Currently computer science in Wales punches below its very considerable weight.
This project will provide a support sharing/exchanging mechanism or network for the software industry to be aligned with the Universities where the knowledge transfer is brokered in both directions. This will create an environment that not only encourages the growth of software and technology companies but also makes Wales a country where highly respected academics and professionals are attracted to work.  Current research is investigating similar organisations in Scotland, Ireland and England. In Wales no organisation specifically supporting the software industry exists but there is an opportunity here to establish a more comprehensive and inclusive programme geared to the individual needs of the Principality.
The project will be based in the computing departments in HEs across Wales.
By identifying skills needs current and future, scoping problems and opportunities, brokering partnerships, etc. this project it will help employers cope with pressures resulting from accelerating technological and (hence) market developments world-wide. By assisting their workforces to build capacity and enhance their economic performance, it will strengthen significantly the ability of the software sector in Wales to safeguard and innovate across the Welsh economy.
The project will set up Software Alliance Wales (SAW), partly inspired by organisations in Ireland and Scotland.  The Software Alliance Wales will consist of one national and four regional networks to support executives, software developers, and ICT professionals employed in software-based companies.
The national network, with its base in Swansea, will:
Co-ordinate and integrate regional expertise, experience and activities.
Represent the national interests of the Welsh software sector and cognate industries in the UK and internationally.
With the authority and independence of HE, act both as an ‘honest broker’
to promote the excellent achievements and capabilities of the Welsh software industry and facilitate collaboration between companies.
Facilitate relevant courses corresponding to business requests Organise communication training for public and corporate stakeholders to promote the understanding and benefits of computing, technology and science.
Research and pilot activities to promote the wider inclusion of women in computing and technology careers.
Promote Wales as an extremely attractive recruitment destination for both computing professionals and potential new businesses.
With the help of the regional network, ensure that the whole of Wales is very well informed of technical opportunities, advances and threats.
Develop actions to be implemented by the regional hubs and organise the free transfer of specialist expertise across the Principality.
The regional networks will have hubs situated in HE computing departments across Wales, all of which have individual and specialist expertise.
Each regional network will:
Organise networking workshops and seminars on technical and business topics and promote professional development as part of Software Alliance Wales.
Broker research and development projects including those completed by final year and MSc students, supervised by academics and organised in collaboration with business and industry Build local networks of expertise in the software sector.

Email Address: j.williams@swansea.ac.uk

Geographical Area of Operation: Convergence

Organisation Core Business: Higher Education

Who will be involved in delivering the project:  The project will be led by Swansea University and partnered with the Computer Science Departments in:-The University of Wales Aberystwyth;The University of Wales Bangor; Canolfan Bedwar; The University of Glamorgan. The project will engage with other stakeholders e.g. FE colleges, strategic programmes e.g. eSkills UK and the IoD and professional bodies e.g. The British Computer Society all of whom deliver in the convergence region.

Who will be the end beneficiaries: The beneficiaries will be companies in Wales and their employees, academics and their undergraduate and graduate students.

Spatial area/s to be covered by the project: The project will cover the whole of the Convergence Region

What might the outputs(activity measures This project will help people adapt to changing economic and technological pressures impacting on businesses and organisations. As well as the level of UK and international interest in Software Alliance Wales created by this project its outputs will be measured by:-*the number of participants in this project* the number of female participants, including those working part time * the numbers of participants accessing Level 4 training and above* the numbers of participants accessing professional development *the number of employers supported* the number of graduates taking up employment with businesses in Wales.

What might be the results of the project: The project will result in: 1. An increase in the numbers of participants gaining qualifications, taking up CPD or further training/learning including female and disabled participants; 2. A raising of technology knowledge and skills levels in the Welsh workforce; 3. A wide range of companies investing in R&D and investing in new applications and emerging technologies e.g. processing, customer management, finance and project planning and online marketing.

What would its impact be The impact of the project will be: 1. To raise the computing and ICT skills levels of all employees in Welsh companies regardless of gender, disability or ethnic origin. 2. The development of an environment that encourages the vibrant and sustainable growth of software and technology companies.3. The software and technology companies will command higher level skills and knowledge but also offer higher paid employment thus establishing the Software Industry as one of the key factors of economic growth.4. To increase R&D spend by companies by brokering business/university collaboration

Roughly what might be the scale of the project: This project will operate throughout the Convergence region.  It will set up a Welsh Software Alliance, with a national Executive Committee and regional hubs based in the Computer Science departments in the Universities. This will facilitate the dissemination of all the activities contained in the project throughout Wales.

Estimated Cost: £5m total cost over three years

Where might the match funding come from: The match funding will be drawn from academic and company time

Organisation Name: National Entrepreneurship Observatory for Wales

Project Description:

The aim of this project is to enable the most detailed study of entrepreneurship to be undertaken across Wales through utilising the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) research methodology and other surveys, contributing to policy and practice in the sector.

The GEM consortium - of which Wales is currently a member - has been measuring the entrepreneurial activity of working age adults across a wide range of countries in a comparable and consistent way since 1998.

In 2007, the study covered 42 countries and represented the world’s most authoritative comparative study of entrepreneurial activity in the general adult population. Wales has participated as member of the GEM research consortium since 2000. The core of the adult population survey is identical in each country and asks whether or not respondents are involved in starting a business, whether they own or manage a business, what motivates them, where their finance comes from, if they are involved in some form of entrepreneurial activity and what their attitudes are towards entrepreneurship .

GEM takes a broad view of the nature of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial activity, and does not focus on the business created but on the specific role played by individuals in the entrepreneurial process.

Then GEM is different to many other datasets that measure new or small firms, in that it studies the behaviour of those individuals who are involved in all stages of entrepreneurial activity. It also measures a wide range of entrepreneurial characteristics such as motivations, barriers, innovativeness, and high-growth aspirations.

During the period, 2005-2008, the GEM team in Wales has undertaken a number of quantitative and qualitative studies into entrepreneurial intention, activity, skills and growth. Through European Structural Funding, Wales currently has one of the most reliable GEM studies in the world, making it possible to conduct a far more detailed examination of the specific framework conditions that influence entrepreneurial activity and which can be used to develop specific enterprise policies. This project aims to build on that project and continue to provide detailed research studies on enterprise and business development. This greater understanding of entrepreneurship, and its contribution not only within the private sector in Wales, but also in the public and voluntary sectors, will make a significant difference to the Welsh economy. Indeed, encouraging an increase in entrepreneurial activity is seen as a vital part of the main economic strategies for Wales, including WAVE, HEFCW 3rd Mission Committee and the WAG Knowledge Economy Nexus reports, and all local authority county-level economic development plans. In addition, the role of entrepreneurship in the social economy is becoming increasingly important and the stimulation of deprived localities through initiatives such as Communities First will rely on the entrepreneurial capacity of individuals and bodies operating on the groups within local communities.

Clearly a greater detailed understanding of the mechanisms of entrepreneurship in Wales – such as the availability and type of financial resources; the cultural and social norms that affect initiative and self-sufficiency; the level of entrepreneurship education and training for entrepreneurial development – can directly influence the development of economic policies and programmes within the WSelsh Assembly Government, social partners (TUC, FSB, IOD and CBI), the private sector (banks, accountants), local government, and voluntary/community groups, all of which are key stakeholders in the development of the Welsh economy.

Email Address: twheeler@glam.ac.uk

Geographical Area of Operation: All Wales

Organisation Core Business: Research and education

Who will be involved in delivering the project: The National Entrepreneurship Observatory - a partnership between Cardiff University and the University of Glamorgan

Who will be the end beneficiaries: End beneficiaries will include individuals, businesses, policy makers, training providers, Local Authorities, Chwarae Teg, the voluntary sector and community groups, enterprise support organisations

Spatial area/s to be covered by the project: Pan Wales

What might the outputs(activity measures:The main outputs of the project will be a series of integrated research studies on entrepreneurship skills and development in Wales, which will be widely disseminated on an ongoing basis, and will be structured so as to so as to complement and inform activities and plans of individuals, businesses, policy makers and enterprise support organisations

What might be the results of the project: The results of the project will be the continuing development and delivery of improved, evidence based entrepreneurship, small business, learning and economic development policy in Wales.
Utilising the GEM methodology, the project will be able to provide information on key areas of interest regarding entrepreneurship including entrepreneurial intention and activity, welsh language business, enterprise education, enterprise in deprived areas, informal investment, fast growth businesses and other areas of key interest to business development organisations and policy-makers in Wales. Therefore, the ability to provide information on entrepreneurship within Wales will improve policy making in a number of areas and contribute to the raising prosperity across the Welsh economy in key areas of enterprise development

What would its impact be: Policies which lead to greater levels of entrepreneurship, particularly amongst key groups such as women, young people and those living within deprived communities.

Roughly what might be the scale of the project: The GEM II Wales project would last for 4 years and encompass a series of both quantitative and qualitative research projects in entrepreneurship which is supported by a continuous dissemination programme

Estimated Cost: Total cost of £1.8 million

Where might the match funding come from: Universities and other partners

Date 25/02/08

Organisation Name: Geoscience Wales (Cluster)

Project Description: Summary

The project will provide continuing professional development (CPD) for, and facilitate development of training products and services by, SMEs engaged in geoscience-based business. Strategic priorities include a) optimum utilisation of finite natural resources, b) mitigation of global warming, and c) transition to a sustainable economy. The project will be delivered by Geoscience Wales in partnership with a leading academic institution in Wales, underpinned by advanced ICT systems and software bureaux.

Background

In the 6 years since its inception as a cluster, Geoscience Wales has become an effective network and business development mutual organisation serving c. 35 Wales-based SME Associates through direct sales and also links with Affiliates (foreign nationals, large enterprises and institutions). Operating as Geoscience Wales Limited (GWL) for 4 years under the Objective 1 programme, the cluster has established a record of facilitating development of geoscience-related SMEs and of raising their profile on the international stage, creating high-value jobs and generating substantial mainly foreign sales income. The company has the potential become self-financing in 2008 but growth is presently limited by indigenous capacity in cutting edge skill areas.

The Challenge

Much of the geoscience SME sector in Wales is focussed on non-renewable resources. It faces substantial medium term uncertainties within a sustainable economy and increasing competition from the East. The future challenge is to enhance and re-orientate the skills base of this knowledge-based business sector so that it can grow prosper within a the new, sustainable economy. This means up-skilling and re-skilling around the sustainability agenda. Early adaptation is critical to establish a leadership position in the new economy.

The Plan

GWL plan a programme of Continuing Professional Development for its Associate SMEs, delivered in partnership with a leading, commercially-focussed academic institution with a track record of fostering innovation and industrial liaison. It is further proposed to enable the development of a training services portfolio by GWL’s Associates for sale to the existing international client base. Both of these developments will be underpinned by a specialist software bureaux service.

The project will target specific requirements identified in a skills audit. Initial priority will be at the professional level, as a catalyst for cultural change.

The following specific tasks are envisaged:
- Undertake a skills audit for the geoscience SME community and map demand
- Design and deliver CPD programmes to both upskill and to reposition.
- Recruit leading edge trainers internationally
- Establish a CPD accreditation system of international standing, partnered with a leading academic institution.
- Enable sustained, on-demand delivery of CPD to SMEs via ICT.
- Pursue research links through joint industry-academic initiatives, creating a pipeline for skills retention in Wales.
- Bring service capacity from academic institutions to market to enhance existing SME capacity.
- Audit existing SME capacity for outwards delivery of training and engage with an academic institution to build and deliver an accredited portfolio of courses (GWL courses).
- Market, and deliver GWL courses internationally.
- Operate a bureaux for specialist geoscience software systems otherwise unaffordable to SMEs, enabling delivery of training at the cutting edge.
- Recruit international corporate and academic partners to support the development and commercial exploitation of indigenous capacity.

Email Address: Richard.Hatton@btinternet.com

Geographical Area of Operation: All Wales

Organisation Core Business: Cluster organisation for the development of Wales-based Geoscience SMEs through international business development and value added intervention.

Who will be involved in delivering the project: The project will be delivered by GWL staff and staff from one or more of Wales Universities, in cooperation with government agencies responsible for education and training.

Who will be the end beneficiaries: The end beneficiaries will be all Wales-based SMEs working in or in association with the field of geoscience who interact with the project. Currently, the majority of these companies are based in Northwest and South Wales.

Spatial area/s to be covered by the project: The project will cover all the convergence areas (pan-Wales).

What might the outputs(activity measures): The project will address many of the stated outputs of this framework, which will include Enterprises assisted, individuals assisted, training delivered (number of courses and individuals/SMEs benefitting), jobs created, economic value added.

What might be the results of the project: A step change in the ability of the geoscience SMEs to compete internationally in key growth areas and thus to create and retain high value jobs in Wales in a sustainable economy.

What would its impact be: Potentially doubling of the economic output of SME's in the medium to long term (10 years), subject to continuation of a Wales-wide CPD programme.

Roughly what might be the scale of the project: The project will be applied via GWL’s 35 current SME Associates and at least double that number will ultimately be involved in delivering the project, together with a leading academic institution. The project will run for 3 years with an expectation of a 3 year extension subject to successful completion of the first phase.

Estimated Cost: The estimated cost of the first phase (3 years) is estimated at £1.5m.

Where might the match funding come from: The majority of the match funding will come from GWL’s own funds, cash and in-kind contributions from the private sector, local authorities, and government agencies responsible for training and education (DCELLS).

Date 01/02/08

Organisation Name: University of Glamorgan

Project Description: The delivery of higher-level skills in the workplace is at the heart of several national and EU agendas. Both the Graham Review of part-time HE in Wales (2006) and the Leitch Review of Skills (2005) identify the need for supply-side improvements in the provision of education and training to individuals and SME’s. Additionally, the recent Webb Review of FE (2007) encourages improved ‘employer-provider relationships and challenges FEI’s and HEI’s to come together in partnership to become ‘the recognised skills driver in their area’. Webb particularly focuses upon the need for ‘an expansion of Foundation degrees ’ and intimates strongly that ‘a consortia approach to the development of new awards should be adopted’ in order to provide integrated and collaborative delivery.

The project will develop and deliver Foundation Degrees and progression routes equivalent to NVQ level 4.

The project will provide beneficiaries who are permanently resident in the West Wales and the Valleys programme area with opportunities to undertake Foundation degrees. The Foundation degrees will be promoted to key sector workers and disadvantaged and/or under-represented groups (BME, women, disabled workers, older workers, etc). The aim will be to encourage non-traditional progression routes into further and higher learning, life-long learning and work-based learning. The Foundation degrees will also be formulated to meet the demands of individual sectors.

In terms of subject areas to be covered, this is a non-exhaustive list:
•    STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths)
•    ICT
•    Construction
•    Innovation
•    Environment (Renewable Energy, Materials Resource Efficiency,
Environmental Management, Environmental Construction, Waste Management,
etc.)
•    Health (e.g. Community Health, Nutrition, Nursing)
•    Public Sector (e.g. social care, education, police)

There could also be a focus on sectors that are key to the Spatial Plan Areas or of key strategic importance to the Welsh Assembly.

The project itself will be innovative in terms of its flexible delivery,
including:
•    Taster sessions (evenings/ weekends to tempt FT-working beneficiaries)
•    Summer Access course in numeracy and literacy
•    Work-based learning/ e-learning/ distance learning
•    Learning @ FEIs that will feed into degree courses at HEIs nearby
•    Support for beneficiaries, including fee waivers and/or bursaries
(subject to successful completion of credits)

Email Address: mjeffrie@glam.ac.uk

Geographical Area of Operation: West Wales and the Valleys

Organisation Core Business: Research, Education, Knowledge Transfer

Who will be involved in delivering the project: Higher Education Institutions, Further Education Institutions, Sector Skills Councils.

Who will be the end beneficiaries: Disadvantaged or under-represented groups (BME, women, disabled workers, older workers, etc). Indirectly, Welsh industry will benefit.

Spatial area/s to be covered by the project: All beneficiaries will be permanently resident and/ or work in the Convergence area (West Wales and the Valleys). However, project delivery partners can be based in the Regional Competitiveness (East
Wales) Programme area, in order to provide beneficiaries with the best education opportunities possible.

What might the outputs(activity measures): Participants accessing qualifications at level 4: Female participants; Older participants; BME participants; Participants with work-limiting health condition or disability; Female participants who work part-time

What might be the results of the project: Participants gaining qualifications: Women in management; Skills level of employment

What would its impact be: Increased skills levels of the workforce; Women in Management

Roughly what might be the scale of the project: Wales-wide, but it will be determined by the scale of interest from potential beneficiaries

Estimated Cost: Total cost: £10m (over the life of the project)

Where might the match funding come from: Project partners, Hefcw, Sector Skills Councils

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Date 25/01/08

Organisation Name: Swansea University

Project Description: Project Name:    Welsh Economy Labour Market Evaluation
Research Centre (WELMERC). This project will meet one of the aims of priority 3 theme 2, namely improving research into skills needs and systems for matching learning supply to demand for employers and individuals as well as contributing to others such as supporting employers in identifying and addressing the skills needs of their sectors at all levels, including management, technical and craft skills. A key priority identified by the Swansea Bay and Western Valleys element of this strategic framework is to review knowledge economy skills and requirements and implement a regional skills plan for the knowledge economy, and this project will deliver on this priority. The activities of the project will include formal and informal methods of engagement and dissemination with strategic partners. Its activities will include capacity building in research and analysis capability within the skills and labour market dimensions. This will include capacity building for those required to analyse and interpret labour market intelligence (through the provision of both short courses and publications) and the development of higher level skills (through targeted Ph.Ds on issues relevant to this proposal).WELMERC will expand its work on benchmarking the Objective One area and the Welsh labour market as a whole to include international comparisons and the market for goods and services. In particular it will focus on the productivity gap between Wales and the rest of the UK and examine the role of entrepreneurship in helping to stimulate economic growth. In the main this will be achieved by the secondary analysis of existing sources of data as well as primary analysis of individual organisations to examine adaptation to new forms of work organisation and technology.It should be noted that WELMERC is a member of a new European Union Framework 7 Collaborative Research Programme on Health and Safety at Work, which includes 18 other institutions in 13 European countries.
WELMERC will draw on this work.It will also focus on higher level skills by monitoring the economic returns to different types of higher education graduates both in Wales and elsewhere in the UK, making use in particular of the HESA Longitudinal Study to analyse the input of the new fee regimes on degree access and graduate migration. It will draw also on the ESRC project being undertaken within WELMERC on Graduate Over-education and Labour Market Performance, which is being carried out in conjunction with the University of Melbourne.

Email Address: j.williams@swansea.ac.uk

Geographical Area of Operation: South West Wales

Organisation Core Business: Higher Education

Who will be involved in delivering the project: While WELMERC’s main focus has been on economic analysis based on multivariate techniques we propose to broaden our remit to incorporate a multi-disciplinary approach, drawing on expertise in Bangor and Aberystwyth Universities, as well as other research centres within Swansea University, such as the Owen Institute for Applied Social Scientific Research and SOTEAS (Environment and Society). WELMERC will complement the Future Skills Wales Partnership and the proposed Learning and Skills Observatory by providing a detailed analytical capability to support other projects addressing research into skills needs. Through its capacity building role, improved benchmarking and economic intelligence based on robust, higher level analysis it will assist in the better design of policy

Who will be the end beneficiaries: The beneficiaries will be employees of businesses in Wales, companies in Wales and policy makers. One particular market failure that this project will address is that of information failure as it will provide information to individuals, employers and policy makers on skills requirements and the benefits of skills improvements. Leitch emphasises the fact that Labour Market Information (LMI) is vital in ensuring that economically valuable skills are provided.

Spatial area/s to be covered by the project: The project will cover the whole of the Convergence region

What might the outputs(activity measures): Research Studies. Research studies will encompass key
intervention groups including: •    The inactive, •     Older participants, •    BME
participants, •    Participants with work-limiting health conditions or
disabilities, •    Participants accessing basic skills qualifications, •
Female participants who work part-time.

What might be the results of the project: Outputs will consist of reports, discussion papers and publication in international refereed journals. Dissemination will also be widened by the publication of regular newsletter distributed among a wide section of those involved in public policy and by the maintenance of a web-site through which all outputs can be accessed. In addition we will offer short courses for those involved in labour market activities and support a number of Ph.Ds focusing on the above issues, some of which will be linked awards with a number of firms within the Convergence area.

What would its impact be: In considering the role of upskilling on productivity improvement WELMERC intends to analyse the impact of the Sector Skills Councils. The Leitch Report puts great emphasis on their role and refers to the need for co-ordination between the different providers of LMI in order to assist the SSCs to fulfil their roles in translating human capital into value added (particularly in SMEs). WELMERC will analyse collective measures to address specific skills issues. The Leitch Report also focuses on productivity and the need to address market failures which prevent the UK (and Wales) becoming world leaders in skills development.
The project will be a key provider of LMI to support the successful operation of the Convergence Programme and will assist the Welsh Assembly Government in achieving their goals in the policy area of Employment and Skills. The WELMERC project will therefore have a significant impact on the Convergence region.

Roughly what might be the scale of the project: This project will operate throughout the Convergence region.

Estimated Cost: £1m over three years.

Where might the match funding come from: The match funding will be drawn from academic and project partner time.

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Date 25/01/08

Organisation Name: Welsh Assenmbly Government & UNICEF

Project Description: ‘Roots to Success’ is a transnational project focusing on improving emotional wellbeing and personal effectiveness of young people aged 11- 25 and also Adults in the workplace. It aims to empower Young People to develop their potential and to take greater advantage of learning, development, employment and civil engagement opportunities. Its design and implementation involves various organisations across Wales and across Europe working collaboratively together, specifically schools, local authorities, parents, communities, youth workers, young adults as peer support, learning coaches and UK FEIs and HEIs. It will be delivered through the formal, non–formal and employment routes.

A version of the programme will also target Adults in Work to encourage their acquisition of new skills, widen horizons, increase confidence and effectiveness in planning their career development.

Both the youth programmes and the adult programmes will be accredited to national and European standards and individuals will receive formal qualifications.

The project will be based on a coherent set of devolved, UK national, and European learning, youth and employment policy commitments and priorities demonstrating public value, efficiency and impact. Each countries approach to this transformational learning model will be tailored as required to national cultures, needs and priorities.

The project is founded on the principle of active Communities of Learning and supported by peer learning, sharing knowledge and building sustained capacity. This will be enhanced via IT support. The project is being developed using an evidenced based & consultative approach which draws on international good practice.

The project will offer a range of tools, resources and development materials which can be used by practitioners to engage with young people who may require more intensive support (such as young people not in education, employment or training - NEET.) It will also work with mainstream and higher achieving young people and adults.

The project will work with a range of schools, colleges, employers and other organisations across Wales to provide young people with the opportunity to gain new skills and confidence that that are transferable to further learning or employment and support them to make the transition.
It will also facilitate their engagement in exciting and innovative national and European activities, such as the EU Youth Programme. The Learning Coach will enable the provision of tailor made support for young people helping them to embed and fully utilise new learning to improve and maximise their life chances.

The project will support the further development of 14 – 19 Learning Pathways Extending Entitlement, the introduction and implementation of revised Schools Curriculum; the Youth Service Strategy for Wales; the Skills that Work for Wales Strategy and the Webb review : Promise & Performance.

Email Address: yasmin.hussein@wales.gsi.gov.uk

Geographical Area of Operation: Across Convergence area in Wales and relevant regions within Europe

Organisation Core Business: Education adn Skills POlicy & service delivery for children, young people and support for adults in employment. UNICEF promotes the rights of children and young people in Wales, UK, Europe and the world

Who will be involved in delivering the project: Those involved in delivering the project are likely to include WAG, UNICEF and EARLALL members, including licensed trainers and learning coaches who may include teaching practitioners, Local Authority Youth Workers and engagement with Careers Officers, British Council, Funky Dragon, European Youth Pact, parents and the community sectors etc.

Who will be the end beneficiaries: The end beneficiaries will include young people aged 11- 19 within the Convergence programme area and also parents, practitioners and young adults acting as peers working with children and young people. Thei sproject will relate to Priority 1 and Priority 3 of the Convergence Programme

Spatial area/s to be covered by the project: All areas within teh Convergecne programme in Wales and similalry within some relevant regions of Europe as agreed with our EARLALL partners

What might the outputs(activity measures): Outputs from the project will include the development of a range of training programmes, toolkits, guidance materials and resources and sets of qualifications for young people and practitioners.

What might be the results of the project: The project will result in improved levels of skills in terms of emotional well being outcomes and personal effectiveness and in key skills, increased qualifications and will be in line with the key indicators for the appropriate strategic frameworks. The project will offer innovative new approaches to developing young peoples well being & personal effectiveness as a means of developing their potential and encouraging their engagement in education, training, employment and also in local, national and European decision making, citizenship and social cohesion issues. It will provide evaluation and case study material and evidence of effectiveness. It will offer European wide perspectives and comparatives. It will provide professional development opportunities for practitioners. It will provide an innovative, evidenced based, transnational, ‘made in Wales’, not for profit, well-being and personal effectiveness programme enabling young people and adults to increase their potential holistically.

What would its impact be: An increase of relevant skills by young people and adults in the workplace, eg emotional intelligence, capability development, confidence, higher aspirations, wellbeing, engagement in learning, development and new areas of work and increased opportunities for exposure to national, European and possibly international activities and also to engage in policy dialogue; increased opportunities for skills development and innovation for practitioners.

Roughly what might be the scale of the project: This will be a large scale project targeting a high number of young people aged 11- 19 and also adults too, estimated at approximately 10, 000 over the 7 year period.

Estimated Cost: The cost is yet to be determined but is likely to be in the region of £14m including match funding and ESF funding over 7 years. It would draw upon P1 ESF programme resources. The programme would aim to begin in September 2008.

Where might the match funding come from: Match funding is expected to come from current organisations core funding (variable sources) and possibly grants (Lottery Funds and DfID) and possibly budgets available to local authorities.

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Date: 21/01/08

Organisation Name: Culture and Arts in Valleys Authorities (CAVA)

Project Description: The “Creative Bridges Into Work” Project will be a coherent programme with three distinct elements consisting of: 1. Creative Skills Programme (P1 T1 & T2; P2 T1 & T2; P3 T1)A strategic and coordinated programme of imaginative and innovative creative industries learning and training opportunities, linking with the relevant Skills Development programmes to establish career pathways and progression routes into employment, support workforce development; complement business advisory services for the creative and cultural industries; supporting the development of other skills development initiatives, by building the capacity of the workforce in the Valleys to better meet the needs of those entering the industry and in order to increase growth and productivity
levels within the sector. A range of arts and creative industry
activities, led by existing providers and using existing resources, will be offered as a means of addressing issues of economic inactivity among unemployed adults, encouraging and enabling them to develop new and transferable skills that will help them gain sustained employment. The
activities will include:•    Creative workshops to identify potential, build
confidence and develop talent.•    Action research - Performance appraisal
sessions, and training audits with all participating CCI sector businesses, including public sector managed services (such as LA theatres), the private sector, social enterprise and development trust
sector, charities and voluntary organisations.•    Structured training to
improve creative business practice, technical skills and develop generic business competencies (eg Finance, Marketing, Press and PR, project
management, entrepreneurship, strategic planning)•    Training in how to coach, mentor and develop emerging talent.•    Participation in a seminar
programme delivered by professionals from across the creative industry
sector.•    Group projects to develop peer education, collaborative working
and networking skills•    A mentor who has a leadership role within the
creative industry sector.•    A series of placements in creative and cultural
organisations within the region.•    An individual action research project to
develop self-motivation, resilience and entrepreneurship.•    Coaching
sessions to support personal and career development. 2. Coordinating Learning for the C&CI sector (P1 T1 & P1 T2)Training for existing local authority Arts Development Officers and C&CI sector workers to provide them with the necessary skills to offer business support for individuals and SMEs within the C&CI sector and signpost to other advice/support areas – with the aim of establishing a team of (up to 6) officers to work across the Valleys with: the Jobs Match Team, 14-19 coordinators, Education Business Partnerships (ESIS) and Children and Young People’s Single Plan Coordinators and any other relevant officers responsible for signposting young people into work and without the detailed and specific knowledge of the C&CI sector and the opportunities within it. 3. Business Support for the C&CI Sector (P2 T2)This Project recognises that much of the current thinking is that the focus of development work in support of the creative industries should be on creating or strengthening the conditions that enable a thriving creative sector to grow and this thinking suggests that this is principally a matter of general development and business support.Through the establishment of a C&CI Business Support Officer the Project will supplement and expand the existing support given by Business Support programmes within the CAVA authorities, offering specialist business advice and support for existing and emerging creative industries SMEs. Based within one local authority this specialist senior officer will work closely with Creative and Cultural Skills, Skillset, the relevant WAG departments and specialist C&CI agencies e.g. Welsh Music Foundation.

Email Address: Sally.Church@Torfaen.gov.uk

Geographical Area of Operation: The CAVA membership covers the South East Wales Valleys
area: Bridgend, Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Merthyr, Torfaen, Rhondda Cynon Taf

Organisation Core Business: The local authority arts services within CAVA deliver a cultural programme in a diverse range of theatres and arts venues and on an out-reach basis through established Arts Development teams and through partnerships with a range of established creative and cultural sector organisations. CAVA takes a strategic planning approach in relation to cultural development, public art development and creative industries support. In particular RCT CBC have developed and are delivering a Creative and Cultural Industries (C&CI) Plan. Bridgend CBC has an established Creative Industries Training Programme. The Valleys Creative Industries Forum (VCIF) was established in 2007 to support the development of the creative and cultural industries across the Valleys. CAVA authorities work collaboratively on the Valleys Dance and the Valleys Literature Development Initiatives; with Creu Cymru and Audiences Wales.

Who will be involved in delivering the project: Own staff, Subcontracted organisation/s, Freelance / self-employed agents.

Who will be the end beneficiaries: Individuals, entrepreneurs, and SMEs working within any specific sector of the C&CI (in accordance with DCMS definition) in the SE Wales Valleys; people seeking employment generally (gaining core skills); people seeking employment in the C&CI – women, disabled people, young people aged 11-25 (inc 14-19) and older people; economically inactive people and mental health service users; “socially excluded” and “at risk”
groups, employers with high rates of staff absence through stress-related illnesses.

Spatial area/s to be covered by the project: South East Wales Valleys

What might the outputs(activity measures): The provisional outputs are: the number of: people trained; training events delivered; C&CI SMEs supported; C&CI start-up businesses supported; C&CI jobs safeguarded; C&CI studio spaces and exhibition spaces established and developed; participating C&CI businesses; participating individuals, plus proportion completing the programme; participants attending short courses and seminar programmes. Further details will be added after discussion at VCIF, with Business Support Officers and the Connecting South Wales Forum – the Six Valleys Consortium, as the Project has the potential to cover all of the South East Wales Valleys

What might be the results of the project: Number of beneficiaries going on to further education, training or better employment; Number of cultural apprenticeships; Arts and Creative Industry jobs created in communities directly; Arts and Creative Industry jobs created in communities indirectly; People gaining employment in the C&CI; Increased growth in the creative sector in the SE Wales Valleys; Closer working with the Universities to ensure that there is support available for graduates to move into this sector; Increased number of employees with formal qualifications; More, better quality jobs within the CCI sector in SE Wales; Investments made by SMEs, stimulating private sector investment; Establishment of a Creative Valleys Agency – independent organisation set up as a Community Interest Company (a new model recently developed through legislation) to provide a strategic partnership, project development, professional support, creative business incubation, flexible funding support. The role will include: advising on application processes, commission training, representation and other similar functions. Further details will be added after further discussion at the VCIF, with Business Support Officers, Connecting South Wales Forum – the Six Valleys Consortium, as the Project has the potential to cover all of the South East Wales Valleys.

What would its impact be: Safeguarding C&CI sector jobs; Creation of net new C&CI sector jobs; Growth in and consolidation of the C&CI sector in South Wales, contributing to the social, cultural and economic regeneration of the South East Wales Valleys; Improved C&CI Business Support provision including a Strategic Investment Fund – ranging from grants, guarantees, low cost loans and other financial instruments; Development of the Knowledge Based sector; Evolution of business and social networks where a number of creative businesses are in proximity will contribute greatly both to individual business success and to generating an attractiveness which draws more practitioners into a virtuous spiral of growth in the commercial, voluntary not-for-profit sectors; The development of Cultural Quarters within the SE Wales Valleys area – encouragement of clustering by the creation of managed workspace and business incubation appropriate to the creative sector; Improved employment prospects and improved employability for local people; Improved perception of the Valleys as an attractive place to live, work and do business; Growth in the local economy;Less working hours lost to stress-related absences, more movement of people on sickness benefit back into employment, potential increase in numbers employed in the creative industries in the SE Wales Valleys area.

Roughly what might be the scale of the project: TBC - not yet known as the Project has the potential to cover all of the South Wales Valleys area and detailed discussions have yet to be held within CAVA, at
the VCIF and with Business Support Officers

Estimated Cost:

Where might the match funding come from: WAG C1st, South East Wales Valleys local authority Arts Services, Arts Council of Wales, creative industry organisations, voluntary and private sector, Local Health Boards.

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Date: 10/01/08

Organisation Name: Buzz Training

Project Description: Buzz Training offers specific arts, multi media and transferable skills to targeted groups via the establishment of an internal magazine and journalism training division. Trainees will receive a combination of taught courses including, journalism, editing and proofing, sales & marketing, distribution, photography, design and new media. Work placements within recognized media companies will assist in leading to accreditation and qualifications. This is a unique project in Wales and provides a private public partnership to deliver training in response to identified skill shortages in the workforce

Email Address: buzzemma@hotmail.com

Geographical Area of Operation: Pan Wales

Organisation Core Business: Training

Who will be involved in delivering the project: Each module is based around the development of specific artistic activity and will be delivered by trainers, the majority of whom are respected artists in their given field. The commercial/business element of each module is only present to provide a pragmatic underpinning for artists to enhance their artistic employability. It is secondary to the actual artistic element of the modules, which are designed to develop specific artistic practice and provide skills to enhance creative opportunities open to beneficiaries

Who will be the end beneficiaries: The project is aimed at a number of specific target groups:
18 plus undergraduates, continuing professional development, from colleges and universities, Secondary Education (14-16 year olds) to encourage and motivate young adults to consider self-employment, and also to encourage this field as a future career for school leavers.

Spatial area/s to be covered by the project: Pan wales

What might the outputs(activity measures): Vocational qualifications, improved soft outcomes, employment.

What might be the results of the project: The project will improve skill levels, providing both intermediate and higher level vocational training for the media industry and developing confidence, self-esteem and motivational skills amongst people marginalised from the labour market. Activity has the potential to translate into qualifications, part time, or full time jobs or self - employment.

What would its impact be: To increase skills levels and employability

Roughly what might be the scale of the project: : Pan Wales, working with 200 trainees per year

Estimated Cost: 1.2 m over 5 years

Where might the match funding come from: WAG, ACW, LA's

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Date: 08/01/08

Organisation Name: Bangor University

Project Description: The delivery of higher-level skills in the workplace is at the heart of several national and EU agendas. Both the Graham Review of part-time HE in Wales (2006) and the Leitch Review of Skills (2005) identify the need for supply-side improvements in the provision of education and training to individuals and SME’s. Additionally, the recent Webb Review of FE (2007) encourages improved ‘employer-provider relationships and challenges FEI’s and HEI’s to come together in partnership to become ‘the recognised skills driver in their area’. Webb intimates strongly that ‘a consortia approach to the development of new awards should be adopted’ in order to provide integrated and collaborative delivery.

The project will develop a range of research training and higher skills development packages linked to demand-driven business-commissioned R&D projects.

Delivery of this package of integrated research training and higher skills development provision will be linked to the provision of postdoctoral research fellowships, PhD research studentships and Masters level qualifications in order to prepare individuals to contribute to research as professionals.

The core concept of KESS is to promote collaborations between the highest quality research groups (including a large number of groups with an emphasis on the environment and sustainability) in Welsh HEIs for the benefit of businesses, individuals and the R&D bases in the convergence regions of Wales. It will also complement the University of Wales proposed ‘Global Academy – Innovation Scholarships’.

The principal components of KESS are:
•    The appointment of a total of 25, 3-year Postdoctoral Fellowships.
•    The provision of 350 Postgraduate Research Studentships, jointly funded
by industry and incorporating time spent by each student in the company supporting their project (on a full time, part time and distance learning basis).
•    The provision of 400 Research Masters level places, following industry
commissioned research projects (on a full time, part time and distance learning basis).
•    The establishment of a Postgraduate Training Network to provide
collaborative, discipline-specific research and business training. This will include a “Grad School’ element to act as focus for the high skills development and for employer interaction.
The aims of KESS are
•    To support and facilitate the delivery of higher level, post-graduate
skills to support the knowledge economy, particularly in the SME sector and also to attract large industry/ business inward investment.
•    To improve the retention of graduates in the Convergence region, in
particular, and build a strong cadre of research students and staff to ensure the sustainability of internationally-excellent research in the region.
•    To prepare the Convergence region for the technologies of the future and
to provide the new technologists to lead change.
•    To encourage growth in business funded R&D in the Convergence region.
•    To promote technological development, transfer and commercialisation.
•    To catalyse the building of partnerships with major research funders.
•    To increase access amongst the partner institutions to the EU’s 7th
Framework Programme and build collaborative, interdisciplinary research at the interface of existing disciplines by engaging with the Welsh Assembly Government and business research teams as proposed in the Lambert Report.

Email Address: bryn.jones@bangor.ac.uk and mjeffrie@glam.ac.uk

Geographical Area of Operation: Convergence (West Wales and the Valleys)

Organisation Core Business: Research, Education, Knowledge Transfer

Who will be involved in delivering the project: KESS builds on an existing partnership between Aberystwyth, Bangor and Swansea Universities and provision will be open to other Welsh HEI’s with ‘high skills’ links to businesses and individuals in the Convergence area. Key stakeholders have been involved and support the project.

Who will be the end beneficiaries: Participants gaining higher level skills and qualifications.
In particular postgraduate students and fellows, who will then use those skills in employment to the benefit of the knowledge-economy in Wales.
KESS will also include a part time element allowing current employees to ‘up skill’ whilst in employment. The Masters element of the programme provides the opportunity for businesses to release their employees to carry out a targeted research project for 1-year, so both these employees and their employers will benefit. The project will specifically focus on raising skill levels of employees and helping employers and enterprises adapt to change and to raise productivity.

Spatial area/s to be covered by the project: All spatial areas covered by Convergence

What might the outputs(activity measures): 1) Number of employees/students enrolled in PhD programmes.
2) Numbers of employees/students enrolled on Masters programmes. 3) Numbers of companies (and other organisations) advised of the opportunity to participate in the scheme. These will fulfil the following target
outputs contained in the Operational Plan: •    Participants accessing level
4 and above training •    Female participants •    Older participants •    Female
participants who work part-time

What might be the results of the project: 1) Number of employees/students gaining PhD qualifications.
2) Number of employees/students gaining Research Masters qualifications.
3) Number of companies (and other organisations) participating in the scheme as collaborators in post-graduate student projects. These will fulfil the following target results contained in the Operational Plan: •
Participants gaining qualifications at (level 4 and above) •    Employers
adopting or improving equality and diversity strategies and monitoring systems.

What would its impact be •    Re- engagement of individuals in learning, increase in
transferable skills, raising technical and research skills. •     Retention
and development of highly skilled people in Convergence regions •     Support
for the growing knowledge economy in Wales, by increasing the quality of the workforce in Wales and increasing the competitiveness of companies. • It will have a significant and enduring impact in the provision of high-level skills and retention of highly skilled people in the Convergence region.

Roughly what might be the scale of the project: 6 years, Convergence-wide

Estimated Cost: £30 million over 6 years

Where might the match funding come from: Company partners, academic institutions and staff

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Date: 08/01/08

Organisation Name: Swansea University

Project Description: The delivery of higher-level skills in the workplace is at the heart of several national and EU agendas. Both the Graham Review of part-time HE in Wales (2006) and the Leitch Review of Skills (2005) identify the need for supply-side improvements in the provision of education and training to individuals and SMEs. Additionally, the recent Webb Review of FE (2007) encourages improved ‘employer-provider relationships and challenges FEIs and HEIs to come together in partnership to become ‘the recognised skills driver in their area’. Webb intimates strongly that ‘a consortia approach to the development of new awards should be adopted’ in order to provide integrated and collaborative delivery.

The Knowledge Triangle Skills Project (KTSP) will support the provision of Masters level (post-graduate) higher level skills where there are identified skills gaps, to support the knowledge economy and increase productivity. The project will deliver a range of Masters level courses to both current employees and the future workforce, including the development of new training and education programmes to fill gaps in provision and to facilitate the development of bespoke Masters programmes formulated to meet the demands of the knowledge economy. It will deliver management activity for West Wales and the Valleys, operating at a range of levels from SME-orientated master classes through to full credit-bearing programmes at the executive Masters level. It will promote excellence in higher education and university-business partnerships. It will be complementary to the KESS PhD scholarship programme and the LEAD project.
The KTSP project is pivotal to the achievement of the OP and Framework in the delivery of high level skills and will help Wales deliver on the Lisbon Strategy.

Email Address: j.williams@swansea.ac.uk / mjeffrie@glam.ac.uk

Geographical Area of Operation: West Wales and the Valleys

Organisation Core Business: Research, Education, Knowledge Transfer

Who will be involved in delivering the project: The HE sector has explored the possibility for partnership collaboration with other organisations and the project will be delivered collaboratively. Discussions have taken place with WEFO. The project will support employers in identifying and addressing the skills needs of their sectors at all levels, with an emphasis on management. The participation of social partners (business and trade unions) will be actively encouraged. Key stakeholders have been involved and support the project.
The KTSP will focus on linking education, research and innovation in the Convergence region. Stakeholder involvement will be encouraged in relation to curriculum development and the definition of learning outcomes.
Collaboration will take place between HE staff delivering Masters level programmes, with specialist presentations and conferences.

Who will be the end beneficiaries: The existing workforce and the future workforce in need of up-skilling

Spatial area/s to be covered by the project: The whole of the Convergence area.

What might the outputs(activity measures): Participants gaining qualifications at Level 4 and above.

What might be the results of the project: Delivery of qualifications at Level 4 and above, with a focus on management development activities – outcomes identified in terms of impact on business productivity rates, and contribution to GVA.
Outcomes will be measurable in terms of company participants, and on evaluated impacts on those participants.

What would its impact be: There will be an enduring impact in that the project will enable a greater participation in training and a broader range of participants from the Convergence region to access training

Roughly what might be the scale of the project: The project will operate across the Convergence region over a six year period, working with key stakeholders

Estimated Cost: £10m ESF

Where might the match funding come from: University contributions from staff time and overheads.
Employers’ contributions

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