WIREDGOV

Conversations with further education and skills providers lead to the setting up of a new LSIS regional response fund

With a deadline for applications of 25 February, the LSIS regional response fund will support immediate improvement needs in the further education and skills sector brought about as a result of changes to funding mechanisms and allocations.

LSIS recognises the need for support and is looking for bids that will enable providers in an English region, to deal collectively with operational, funding and planning challenges set by new government agendas.

Broadly, the fund can be used to:

• set up a regional group involving LSIS Council members to use their regional intelligence on local/sectoral need and focus on priorities; 

• promote activity and share  outcomes, ideas and effective practice across all parts of the sector, and across a whole region;

• help organisations to respond quickly to the challenges of   reduced funding and new priorities; and

• promote collaborative, sector-led activities that allow providers to enhance quality improvement in straitened times.

To find out more about the fund and how to apply, contact your LSIS regional development manager – see list below.

The idea for the fund resulted from recent conversations involving LSIS Council members and a wide range of participants across the further education and skills sector in England. The Council is particularly concerned to develop the creative and entrepreneurial skills that leaders and managers need to anticipate policy change and interpret, and respond to new freedoms and flexibilities. 

The outcomes of the support will be disseminated widely to enable us to develop further, the leadership and management skills of a continuously changing sector.

The LSIS regional development managers are: