ILM

ILM – Achievements

Started delivery in 2009 – has supported 4180 participants on the projects

268 organisations delivered 305 different projects

2151 participants into work, it is too early to tell on the ILM extension as participants are still with their employers

Participants achieved 2062 qualifications of at least a Level 1 NQF

Innovation

Over the lifetime of the project ILM has adapted to the changing economic landscape and introduction of other Welfare to Work programmes.

In 2010 the ILM collaborated with the UK Government initiative Future Job Fund creating 9 month placements for 16 – 24 year olds

In 2011 created a NEET Pilot scheme for 16 – 18 year olds, working in collaboration with DfES and Communities First

2012 saw Jobs Growth Wales, Supported Employment delivered through the ILM model

Finally in 2013 an ILM extension was agreed by WEFO and this was a chance to look at how we could adapt the ILM to suit the changing landscape. The grants being delivered now are for specific participant groups, Work Limiting Health Condition, 50+, Lone Parents and ex-offenders all over 25.

Evaluation – The participants feedback

The survey of participants in 2012 found that:

90% (346/384) believed the ILM where they worked understood their needs;

81% (310/384) believed they received the right sort of training at the ILM;

89% (340/383) believed they received enough support at their ILM job;

83% (318/383) believed the ILM matched their needs.

83% (145/174) of the respondents who were employed after exiting the ILM programme felt it was the sort of job they wanted

Key lessons learned

Wavehill in their 2012 report made 11 recommendations. WCVA through the ILM team has responded to all of these. Here is a sample:

Timeframes for procurement processes – the process has been scrutinised and actions taken to speed this up from application to approval, now only taking a matter of weeks.

The challenges of different participant groups – bespoke tenders for these groups and the specific barriers they face and reacting to the changes in UK and WG mainstream delivery ensuring that people do not fall though the cracks.

Streamlining of data capture and processes. – within the constraints of a European project WCVA have introduced a bespoke data capture system (PDS) that has been pivotal in the way our suppliers work.

The Future – Achieve Wales

WCVA is working with WEFO to develop an operation to work across West Wales and the Valleys and East Wales.

The operation is being asked to take a focused approach to support the over 25’s and specifically Lone Parents/Women returners, Work Limiting Health Conditions, over 50’s, Ex-offenders and BME.

The project will interact with other projects within WCVA and across the wider portfolio of EU funded projects in Wales by tailored grants to regional and local organisations that may not be able to access ESF funding