• Nextstep are contracted by LSC to provide IAG free of charge to adults without a level 2 qualification and the LSC's Convergence co financing tender specs include the need for accredited IAG within tenders.
  
  Extended Nextsteps contract for 2 years with Connexions Cornwall and Devon.
  All Convergence contracts include IAG as a minimum standard for every learner.
  
• The Train to Gain Level 3 jumpers pilot supports adults in achieving Level 3 and the LSC Convergence co financing activity supports the delivery of Level 3 and 4 qualifications and training.
  
  More flexibilities have been introduced which includes the second Level 3 entitlement for the majority of emplers which are linked to sector skills gaps.
  
• The LSC Convergence co-financing includes a specific tender spec on the delivery of Skills for Life to the workforce.
  
  Train to Gain has been extended to include any employee where a skills for life is needed regardless of prior qualification level.
  
• LSC Objective One Co financed ESF funds support the Cornwall Adult Support Fund for HE students and for employees and the LSC Convergence co-financed activity includes learner support funds, wage subsidies etc.
  
  This project ended in June 2008.  An evaluation is underway to establish funding and advise on outcome.
  
• The LSC Convergence co-financed activity will include the provision of learning for migrant workers and also for ESOL under Skills for Life.
• 50+ learners are identified as a target group within the LSC Convergence co-financing tender specs.
• The LSC NLDC fund helps build the capacity of VCS organisations to provide learning opportunities for adults and the LSC Convergence co-financing will cover specific support for the VCS to deliver and improve learning provision.
  
  Specific funding scheme to support workforce engagement. 
  Train to Gain has been extended to include VCS and volunteers
  
  Community Grants contract not contracted with Cornwall Enterprise.
  
  Adult Apprenticeships - increased flexibilites means more adults are eligle for support. 
  
  National Apprenticeship Service and National Apprenticeship Vacancy Matching service is aiming to be up and running by Dec 08.  
  
  Enhanced incentive to access apprenticeships with co-financing funds. 
  

• The Workforce Development Group had secured £10,000 from LSC to match fund research into the impact of skills and training on the productivity of businesses in Cornwall however match funding for this could not be found. It is hoped that this will now be achieved through LSC Convergence. - Did not happen.
• The LSC has funded Train to Gain capacity building work with the VCS and retail sectors and with Union Learn reps to encourage employee led engagement in the Train to Gain service and learning generally.
• The LSC is funding the Cornwall Provider Network to implement its improvement action plan for Employer Responsiveness
• The LSC co financing activity will include opportunities for sectors to develop and deliver non accredited training.
  Developing Workforce led ESF co-financing project with partners
• Likely development of workskill straegy and associated skills accounts
• Aligned evolution from Nextstep to Adult Advancement and Careers Service
• Stronger emphasis on apprenticeships and the creation of the National Apprenticeship Service and the Natioanl Apprenticeship Vacancy Matching Service. 
• Employers are being encouraged to sign up to the 'Skills Pledge'
  
  
  Enhanced brokerage
  
  Job Centre Plus is working with Local Employment Partnerships to work with employers to support lone parents and low level skilled people offering flexible working patterns, work trials.

• The Workforce Development Project supports 11 key sectors in developing their capacity for engaging with the learning agenda, developing and/or training opportunities for their business members and it delivers specific training and qualifications to beneficiaries - extended, now called Key Sectors project to include 13 sectors (Convergence)
• A Retail Task and Finish Group has been set up and funded via LSC discretionary funds to create a sector organisation for retail to develop, deliver and monitor a skills action plan for Cornwall.
  ·  Latest activity from the Retail Task and Finish group include:

  - Development of the task and finish group  - now chaired by Alan 
  Lethbridge, a retail manager from RE:SOURCE Bodmin
  - Secret shopper program
  - Learning Champions Program Bringing Skillsmart to Cornwall
  - Engagement with the sector

  - Development of your shop Cornwall.
  - Marketing/advertising postcards and bags due to go to 1000 businesses in retail by the end of July.

  The LSC has funded Train to Gain capacity building work with the VCS and retail sectors and with Union Learn reps to encourage employee led engagement in the Train to Gain service and learning generally.
• The LSC has funded the Cornwall Manufacturer's Forum to encourage greater engagement with the skills agenda.
• The LSC has funded Cornwall Education Business Partnership and Full Motion to develop curriculum and career resources to raise awareness about the opportunities and routes into the Bioscience and Marine sectors.
• LSC Convergence co financing tenders specs stress the need to link workforce development contracts and activity with that of the Sector Skills Councils.
• The LSC Convergence co financing funding includes support for 13 keys sectors (ICT, Retail, Construction, Food and Drink, Environment/energy, Marine, Health/care, Hospitality, Engineering/manufacturing/aerospace, creative, biotechnology/medical, environmental technology, public/early years and rural) and cross sector collaboration.  These are all linked to and aligned with National Skills Academy developments and Sector Skills Compacts.

DWP led Cornwall Works for Social Enterprises co-financing programme headed by Cornwall County Council. - now contracted.  Includes support for Social Entrepreneurs e.g. Eden Project and Fifteen, development of a school for Social Entrepreneurs. 

3 core LSC covergence project are VCS capacity building targeted.