Dear Mr Evans

Freedom of Information Request

Thank you for your e-mail of Thursday 21 May 2020, where you requested
information regarding the Skills Development Fund (“the SDF”).

The information you requested is as follows, answering the questions in
respective of the order asked in the e-mail.

The SDF funding is not subject to a financial cap per learner. Please
note, however, that not all courses are eligible for funding via the SDF.
Eligibility of the course is subject to the regional skills priorities set
by the Regional Learning and Skills Partnership, approved by Welsh
Government and other rules that Welsh Government have set, such as the
caps on the proportion of courses at each level.

The SDF delivery does not generate profit for the College. They are funded
at a set rate dependent on the qualification and the length of the course.
In some cases the courses are run at a loss, because the numbers of
students who attend the courses are lower than the number agreed when the
course was confirmed. 

As long as the organisation is based in Wales, then the SDF can be
accessed; this is subject to whether the relevant course is eligible. In
some cases, individuals can access the funding too. Welsh Government have
not yet confirmed to Colleges whether the SDF will be made available in
2020/21.

If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact me on
[1][email address]. If you are dissatisfied with the
handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an internal
review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of
the date of receipt of the response to your original letter and should be
addressed to: Catherine Lewis, Vice Principal: Corporate Services, 01639
648003.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information
Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9
5AF

Yours sincerely

Gemma Charnock

Assistant Principal: Governance

Gemma Charnock

Pennaeth Cynorthwyol: Llywodraethiant

Assistant Principal: Governance

Grŵp Colegau NPTC                                            NPTC Group of
Colleges                                                         

Heol Dŵr-y-Felin                                                  
Dwr-y-Felin Road                                                 

CASTELL-NEDD                                                   
NEATH                                                                   

SA10
7RF                                                               SA10 7RF
Ffôn: 01639648005                                                Tel:
01639648005                                                  

e-bost: [2][email address]          e-mail:
[3][email address]           

References

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Dear Mr Evans 
We will consider your additional questions and respond shortly.
Kind regards
Gemma 
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From: Rhys Evans <[FOI #666317 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2020 11:31:23 AM
To: Charnock, Gemma <[email address]>
Subject: Re: FOI Request
 
Dear  Ms Charnock,

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to me.

Would it be in order to ask two follow up questions in relation to your
reply?

Firstly  I wish to know the caps that the Welsh Government have set on the
proportion of courses at each level?

Secondly as you stated the funding  is for organisations based in Wales,
does this mean it is only for Welsh companies, or companies who have based
their headquarters in Wales.

Many thanks for your anticipated help

Yours faithfully,

Rhys Evans

Yours sincerely,

Rhys Evans

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Dear Mr Evans

Thank you for your e-mail below of Wednesday 17 June 2020, where you requested additional information regarding the Skills Development Fund (henceforth, SDF).

The information you requested is repeated below, with our response set out underneath.

1. Firstly I wish to know the caps that the Welsh Government have set on the proportion of courses at each level?

The guidance from the Welsh Government concerning caps states that 85 percent of all delivery has to be at level 2 and above; with 25 percent of all delivery at level 4. No more than 15 percent delivery at level 1 or below is permitted. In all instances the caps apply to Pound Stirling value of the delivery rather than numbers of learners.

2. Secondly as you stated the funding is for organisations based in Wales, does this mean it is only for Welsh companies, or companies who have based their headquarters in Wales.

The SDF was introduced to allow the FE sector to develop provision to address job specific skills gaps and raise the skills and career opportunities for learners at a regional level, as identified by Regional Skills Partnerships (RSPs).

For the 2019/20 academic year, all SDF delivery had to be endorsed by the relevant RSP.

Eligibility for the Skills Development Fund is broad in the sense that the provision offered can be on full-time or part-time basis, for employed or non-employed learners, and at any level (subject to the caps above); with the only condition that any proposed provision should be supported by the RSPs. There are no additional criteria relating to employers, which means that an employed learner could (in theory) be working for an organisation whose headquarters are based outside of Wales.

Details of the funding arrangements for the 2020/21 academic year are currently being finalised and we understand that Welsh Government aim to publish guidance for FE institutions shortly.

I hope you found this response is helpful. If you have any further queries, however, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email address].

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your original letter and should be addressed to: Catherine Lewis, Vice Principal: Corporate Services, 01639 648003.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.
Good luck with your studies.

Yours sincerely

Gemma

Gemma Charnock
Pennaeth Cynorthwyol: Llywodraethiant
Assistant Principal: Governance
Grŵp Colegau NPTC                                          NPTC Group of Colleges                                                         
Heol Dŵr-y-Felin                                                   Dwr-y-Felin Road                                                 
CASTELL-NEDD                                                    NEATH                                                                   
SA10 7RF                                                               SA10 7RF                                               
e-bost: [email address]          e-mail: [email address]           

Assistant Principal: Governance

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