Content

Salford City Council – Record of
Decision
 
I (Councillor Youd, Lead Member
for Finance and Support Services and chairman of the Procurement
Board) / (Paul Dennett, City
Mayor), in exercise of the
powers contained within the Council Constitution do hereby
approve:
 
·     
for an Exception to Contractual Standing Orders to
award a contract for Apprenticeship Training Scheme
(UA92), as detailed in the table
below:
 

Detail required

Answers

Title/Description of Contracted
Service/Supply/Project

Apprenticeship training

Name of Successful
Contractor

University Academy 92 Limited

Supplier Registration Number

(to be supplied by Corporate
Procurement)

11064939

Type of organisation

(to be supplied by Corporate
Procurement)

Private Limited Company

Status of Organisation

(to be supplied by Corporate
Procurement)

SME

Contract Value (£)

£192,000  full
project

Contract Duration

18 months

Contract Start Date

03/12/2024

Contract End Date

03/04/2026

Optional Extension Period 1

N/A

Optional Extension Period 2

N/A

Who will approve each Extension
Period?

Choose an item.

Contact Officer (Name &
number)

Luke Collinson (0161 607 6901)

Lead Service Group

Resources and Transformation

How the contract was procured?

(to be supplied by
procurement)

Direct award by exception

Framework Details (where
applicable)

(procurement body, framework reference
& title, start/ end date

Not applicable

Funding Source

External Funding Source (please identify
below)

Ethical Contractor (EC): Mayor’s
Employment Charter

 

EC: Committed to sign Charter

 

EC: Accredited Living Wage
Employer

 
The
Reasons are:
The
Digital, Data, and Technology (DDaT) team recently onboarded five
new apprentices, with two focused on Cyber Defence Operations
(CyDOps) and three in user support roles. Given the urgency of
developing their skills in a structured and effective manner, there
is a pressing need to secure an appropriate training programme as
soon as possible. This is particularly critical since their
apprenticeship contracts are limited to a two-year period,
underscoring the importance of immediate access to high-quality,
relevant training that maximises their development within the time
constraints.
 
Moreover, the roles within the cyber security operations
function are highly specialised, addressing emerging security
challenges and complex operational demands. This function has only
recently been established, and as such, DDaT recognises the
importance of an apprenticeship programme that aligns closely with
our unique organisational needs. The team is keen to ensure that
the programme supports the maturing of this new function and
facilitates the rapid skill uplift essential to meet both current
and future demands. This approach will be instrumental in creating
a strong foundation for the team’s capabilities and ensuring
that our apprentices are well-prepared to contribute meaningfully
to the department’s goals and broader organisational
objectives.
 
With
the initiation of several apprenticeship roles, a number of
permanent staff across the DDaT team also chose to embark on
apprenticeship programmes to further their professional
development. This decision reflects a broader organisational
commitment to upskilling and creating a robust pipeline of internal
talent with specialised expertise aligned to organisational
goals.
 
To
ensure that these apprenticeship pathways directly support both
individual and departmental needs, UA92 has collaborated closely
with managers from each function. Through a series of tailored
discussions, UA92 worked with leadership to design custom learning
pathways that align with the specific skills, competencies, and
knowledge requirements of each area. This bespoke approach ensures
that each participant receives training directly applicable to
their role and function, enhancing the immediate value of the
programme.
 
Currently, staff members from several DDaT functions are
participating in these tailored apprenticeship programmes,
including Cyber Defence Operations (CyDOps), User Support, Modern
Operations (ModOps), Digital Inclusion, and the Resource and
Transformation digital teams. This cross-functional participation
not only fosters a culture of continuous learning and skill
enhancement but also strengthens the overall capabilities of DDaT,
enabling the team to meet evolving digital and operational
challenges with a more agile, well-prepared workforce.
 
UA92
is a Manchester based Apprenticeship provider that DDaT has
identified as being the most suitable for our needs. UA92 is a
joint venture between Lancaster University and several individual
shareholders drawn from former Manchester United
footballer’s’ ‘class of 92’ and their
associates. UA92 provides educational services and awards
Lanchester University degrees. UA92 focuses on the provision of
academic development that has been shaped with input from the
provisioning organisation to match their business need and helps
bridge the identified technical skills gap in Greater
Manchester.
 
DDaT request: Direct Award due
to Niche Training scheme
We did not pursue the standard
tender process and are instead requesting approval for a niche
direct award route. This approach is due to the unique offering
provided by UA92, which delivers a custom, bespoke course tailored
to address our specific business requirements. This programme
offers flexibility, allowing modifications to suit our
organisational needs, thereby directly targeting the internal
skills gaps we have identified. Utilising this route aligns with
our strategic goal of enhancing workforce competencies in
specialised areas critical to our operations, which would not be as
effectively met through standardised course offerings available via
the typical tender process.
 
We conducted a thorough search
with our established suppliers to identify any suitable courses
that could fulfil our team’s training needs. During this
process, we reviewed offerings from QA (an alternative technical
Apprenticeship provider), which included their Cyber Security
Engineering and Cyber Defender & Responder Level 4 courses.
However, after consultation with our Digital, Data and Technology
(DDaT) team, it was determined that these courses did not
adequately address the specific skill gaps identified within our
team, particularly in areas requiring more specialised or tailored
competencies.
 
In addition, we utilised the
government’s apprenticeship portal to explore available
programmes on the open market, specifically looking for courses in
cyber security or modern operations. Unfortunately, there were no
offerings that met our specific requirements. Furthermore, we
explored the offerings our strategic partners, Salford City College
and the University of Salford, to explore potential course options.
However, neither institution currently offers courses aligned with
our needs, limiting our options within the existing supplier
framework.
 
This assessment reinforces our
decision to seek a direct award with UA92, which can deliver a
bespoke programme precisely tailored to our business needs and
internal skills demands.
 
Options considered and rejected
were:
There are a number of
apprenticeship providers who offer the level 4 (Higher) DevOps
Engineer apprenticeship that support the upskilling of new and
existing employees.
However, each workplace is
unique, so learning tailored to both employer and employee is of
vital importance and provides us with an opportunity to ensure that
we effectively equip our workforce with the skills, knowledge and
behaviours needed for new and emerging job roles which is in-line
with our culture, values and operating requirements. UA92 have been
able to tailor the DevOps Engineer apprenticeship to meet Salford
City Council digital requirements as it is offered as a closed
cohort.
 
The council is not currently
returning any unspent levy funds to the treasury. Our levy
contributions are based on a percentage of our overall payroll.
Many employers’ levy contribution costs, like ours, are
annually increasing due to their increasing payroll costs (cost of
living) and rises in National Living Wage, however the costs of
apprenticeship courses have remained static, and our overall annual
starts are similar per year, so our risks of levy clawback are
increasing. We are not at risk of overspending our apprenticeship
levy or having to ration apprenticeships in other areas of the
Council with this award at this stage.
 
Assessment of Risk:
Failure to secure these
apprenticeship contracts poses a significant risk to the timely
completion of apprenticeships. Without the necessary contracts in
place, apprentices may face interruptions in their training
schedules, potentially leading to delays in accessing essential
learning resources, work placements, and mentorship. Such
disruptions could result in extended timelines for achieving
qualifications, impacting not only the apprentices' progression and
morale but also the local workforce, which relies on these trained
individuals.
 
The source of funding
is:
The funding for this scheme
will come out of the Apprenticeship Levy. As per the Apprenticeship
Levy rules set out by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs
(HMRC), should an organisation not use funding within 18 months of
it its addition to the accumulating fund, it is returned to
HMRC. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pay-apprenticeship-levy
 
Legal Advice obtained: Yes
 
Financial Advice
obtained: Yes
 
Procurement Advice obtained:
Yes
 
HR Advice obtained:
Yes
 
Climate Change Implications
obtained: Not applicable
 
The following documents have
been used to assist the decision process:
·     
Approval for an Exception to Contractual Standing
Orders to award a contract for Apprenticeship Training Scheme
(UA92).
 
Contact Officer: Luke
Collinson
Telephone number: 0161 607 6901
 
·     
This matter is also subject to consider by the Lead
Member for Resources and Transformation. The Lead Member has been
consulted and is supportive of the proposed contract.
 
·     
This matter is not subject to consideration by
another Lead Member.
 

Signed:    Cllr J
Youd          Dated:
    25
November 2024.
           
   Lead Member
 

FOR DEMOCRATIC SERVICES USE
ONLY
 
*          
This decision was published on 25 November 2024.
*          
This decision will come in force at 4.00 p.m. on 2 December
2024 unless it is called-in in
accordance with the Decision Making Process Rules.