• 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 LSC is about to agree a contract with Nextstep for £400k to improve capacity to deliver this to adults already at Level 2 or above.
  
  
• 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 employers which are linked to sector skills gaps.
  Extra flexibility to support SME's and more flexible training outcomes.  All Convergence projects have Level 3 outcomes built in. The LSC is now reviewing P5 ESF funding to facilitate additional Train to Gain activity.
  
• The LSC Convergence co-financing includes a specific tender spec on the delivery of Skills for Life to the workforce. This funding strand is not being fully utilised either for employees in the workforce or entering the workforce ti improve numeracy and literacy skills.
  
  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 has been contracted with Cornwall Enterprise.
  
  Adult Apprenticeships - increased flexibilities means more adults are eligible for support. 
  
  National Apprenticeship Service and National Apprenticeship Vacancy Matching service is aiming to be up and running by Dec 08.  Now up and running for employers and providers.  Simon Waugh has been appointed as the Chief Executive for the NAS.  
  
  Enhanced incentive to access apprenticeships with co-financing funds. 
  
  Additional core LSC funding is now available to support skills development for 6 months + unemployed. This has been contracted via the colleges. From October 09 a 12 month unemployed offer will be available to help fulfil the Government's Young Person's Guarantee for 18-24 year olds.

• 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 strategy 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'
  
  The LSC has contracted £575k with the TUC to support the capacity of learning in the workplace.
  
  
  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.
  This is continuing with ESF funding, using £130,000 of existing contract funding.
  
  LSC, JCP, GOSW and partners are planning events to strengthen brokerage linkages within Cornwall

• 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). Update - now only 12 sectors as fish are no longer a sector.
  Launch of IMIX by Key Sectors project (Businesses Networking).  Launch took place on Nov 08, and now in the next phase, linking with ERDF
  The recently commissioned ERDF Business Collaborations Project aims to encourage collaboration between high growth potential businesses operating in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly so businesses are able to come together to exploit opportunities that stimulate and accelerate economic growth.
  
• 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. CRCC have produced a report outlining the main barriers faced by the voluntary sector in accessing the Train to Gain service. These include lack of time and resources for smaller organisations, the organisation must have paid staff as well as volunteers (many VCS organisations in Cornwall do not have employees), training not being a priority as concentrating on securing funding, need for match funding, upfront costs of training
  
  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 Childrens Workforce is a separate strand and rural - also a separate strand to complement ERDP) and cross sector collaboration.  These are all linked to and aligned with National Skills Academy developments and Sector Skills Compacts.
  
  An economic recovery plan is to include significant increase in flexibility of mainstream and ESF programmes to include targeted, bespoke provision. 
  Flexibilities include providing flexibilities within existing contracts and eligibility has been flexed.  The 1st contract with Truro-Penwith College went live 21st April and 2 are due to go live (1 with Working Links and the other with Cornwall College). 

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 convergence project are VCS capacity building targeted.

The TUC is operating a Learning Centre in St Austell.

The enhanced Community Grants fund offers money for community learning centres.