Nottingham

Introduction

The debate as to how Greater Nottingham should best take up lifelong learning began in 1995. During 1996 a local advisory group developed the concept and held a major conference in January 1997. This showed there was widespread support for a Community for Learning campaign. During 1997 the advisory group formed the Greater Nottingham Learning Partnership, with Greater Nottingham TEC joining as well and accessing funding for Executive staff. The Executive facilitated a further public consultation in October 1997 which identified priorities for a 1998 Business Plan.

The aim of the Partnership is to develop Greater Nottingham into a learning community which involves and brings out the best in all its members to ensure success in the 21st century. This will be achieved by creating a coherent approach through which education and training contribute most effectively to the community's economic prosperity, social development and the individual's quality of life. This involves a collaborative partnership between educators, employers, government, business and the community focused into the effective development and delivery of world class lifelong learning activities.

The Greater Nottingham Learning Partnership, is an ever growing alliance of voluntary and influential individuals and organisations. Nottingham the Community for Learning campaign is coordinated and managed by this Partnership.

The Partners

Anyone in Greater Nottingham can influence the learning debate by joining the Greater Nottingham Learning Partnership Forum. This group meets 3 times a year and will hold an annual conference. To date the range of Forum members includes private and public employers, education institutions, training providers, community groups, individuals, associations, local and regional government representatives, unions and national and international organisations.

Forum members also form Working Groups to achieve business plan targets and to inform the community on learning issues in relevant arenas. Local specialists are also nominated by Forum members to support this work and inform the Board of Directors on specific learning issues.

The Board has 13 Directors, operating on a voluntary basis, each with a commitment to lifelong learning and aspects of its application in Greater Nottingham. They are supported by the Executive - a part time Project Leader, full time Manager and full time administrator.

Target Setting and Action Planning

The overall goals of Nottingham The Community for Learning are:

To support strategic developments within learning to create a culture of change which will:

• Promote an inclusive lifelong learning culture
• Engage and empower communities
• Harness learning and creativity to sustain and enhance the economic and social fabric of our community

These Nottingham The Community for Learning goals will be achieved through the delivery body of the Greater Nottingham Learning Partnership, which has the following functions:

• promote and celebrate the wealth of learning opportunities
• act as a think tank and policy forum to improve standards, participation, achievements and value for money in learning
• act as a Forum for the review of targets, plans, reports and to share information about learning

The following strategic objectives were identified by the wider community during the January 1997 conference.

• Increase employers committed to reskilling
• Engage more of the disaffected
• Raising aspirations/develop learning culture
• Raise standards of attainments
• Improve transitions from school to work
• Retain more graduates/develop knowledge base and improve technology transfer
• Lever additional funds

The objectives were then used as a basis for the October 1997 consultation when three were prioritised through the 1998 / 9 business plan - Raise aspirations, raise standards of attainment and lever funding. These priorities will be achieved through three working groups: Marketing, Information and Guidance and Literacy.

Progress So Far

• European funding - Parenting Initiative (£100,000) and Lifelong Success (£5.2 million)
• New Deal Unemployment Strategy 18 - 24 year olds
• Labour Market Strategy Forum
• Co-ordination of Adult Learners Week
• Strategic broker - funding, education targets, other partnerships
• Increasing Forum membership
• Active member of Learning City Network

Funding

Core initial funding to support the development phase of the project (2 years) came from the key education and training providers, with subsequent funding to support the Executive from the central government and the Greater Nottingham Training and Enterprise Council. Substantial resources have been committed from members of the partnership in terms of human resources, time, utilizing in-house existing expertise, direct support to working groups, venues, office infrastructure, press coverage, cash and public endorsement of the aims of the partnership through in house avenues.