Decision

To approve Wiltshire Council entering into Grant Agreement with the Grant Recipients listed below for the delivery of Skills Bootcamp programmes under Wave 7, in accordance with the funding allocation received from the Department for Work and Pensions.

For the avoidance of doubt:
- this decision approves the grant awards to the Grant Recipients as set out below which falls within officer delegation limits (up to £50,000); and

- the grant awards which exceed £50,000 (set out in the table below) will be subject to approval by Cllr Hubbard via an Individual Cabinet Member Decision in accordance with Part 9, paragraph 12.2.1(b) of the Council’s Constitution.

See table in attached document.

Reasons for the decision

1. Wiltshire Council was allocated £1,500,000 from the Department for Work and Pensions.

2. Note – the Grant Offer Letter and associated Grant Conditions were issued by the Department for Education. However, the grant funding has subsequently been paid to the Council by the Department for Work and Pensions.

3. The providers and courses have been identified following an assessment of labour market need, employer demand, and a competitive grant procedure (for a portion of the funding).

4. The Department for Work and Pensions fund the delivery of the Skills Bootcamp programme on an annual basis, and this programme is subject to annual review and budget allocation.

5. A proportion of the grant funding has been made available to the incumbent providers who have been awarded funding without a competitive process. In addition, new providers and existing providers wishing to offer additional or new provision have been evaluated via a competitive grant procedure in accordance with the Department for Education Project Specific Conditions.

6. The funding arrangements set out in this decision constitute the award of grant funding rather than the procurement of services for the purposes of the Procurement Act 2023. Wiltshire Council is providing financial assistance to support the delivery of Skills Bootcamp outcomes and is not procuring services for its own requirements.

7. Legal Services has considered the application of the Subsidy Control Act 2022 and is satisfied that the proposed funding arrangements comply with the applicable Subsidy Control requirements.

See the attached document for considerations in line with Wiltshire Council’s Constitution.

Alternative options considered

Making the full grant funding amount available via a competitive grant procedure. This option was discounted because it would not adequately recognise the successful delivery of existing provision, could result in disruption to continuity of delivery and would delay implementation of the programme, increasing the risk of a gap in provision.