Learning and Skills Improvement Services
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Emerging models of delivery across the FE and skills sector
Following research into the evolving environment of the FE and Skills sector, LSIS has produced a guide called Emerging Models of Delivery across the FE and Skills sector and the accompanying Decision Makers Support Package, both of which are available to download from the LSIS website.
LSIS commissioned the research to examine current practice, review the reasons for change, the options available and to provide a framework to analyse these options. The research took place in the first six months of 2012. LSIS commissioned Ecorys, one of the oldest research and consulting companies in Europe, to examine current practice, review the reasons for change, options available and to provide a framework to analyse these options.
A review of key policy documents and wider literature was undertaken. This was combined with consultations with a number of strategic stakeholders including representatives from LSIS involved in their governance grant case study work, consultants who had supported the grant case study work, sector bodies including the AoC and 157 Group, representatives from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Skills Funding Agency.
Organisations were identified that were either rethinking their business model or had been through a change. Twenty organisations were identified and telephone interviews were carried out with ten. In-depth case studies were also conducted with six organisations which involved consultations with senior management teams (Principal and Vice Principal) and, where appropriate, the clerks of the organisations.
The publications will benefit the sector by increasing organisations’ knowledge of the changing landscape and understanding why business models have changed; they also provide a set of tools to enable them to analyse their current position and reasons for change. They focus on structures that are either emerging in the sector and might be of interest to colleges, or those which colleges have been encouraged to consider, such as mutuals, trusts, federations and joint venture models.
The two publications have been written for senior managers of colleges who are considering changing their legal structure or reviewing their vision and purpose, however, the information may be of use to other providers.
