Business and the environment

Skills for Climate Change

Skills for Climate Change is at the heart of driving the environmental learning and skills agenda to create a low carbon London.

Tender opportunity FAQ's:

Q: Could you confirm that any bid received before midnight on Friday 16 December 2012 will be considered.

A: Yes

Q: What is the pattern of meetings between the partners and what dates are Scheduled?

A: Partner meetings - Every 8 weeks:

7th Feb - TBC

03rd April - TBC

05th June - TBC

Q: What other meeting dates are scheduled with stakeholders?

A: Quarterly Steering Group meetings

29th Feb - TBC

30th May - TBC

25th July - TBC

Q: The ITT notes that delivery continues until July 2012. How many beneficiaries are expected to have been through the programme by Jan 2012?

A: 50+

Q: Do you have contact details for beneficiaries employers (as well as beneficiaries themselves). If so, how many employers might this be?

A: We've been working with two large contractors but this will grow when other partners start to deliver the learning tools

Q: Could you explain what the document SfCC learning tool evaluation questions for learners is? Have these questions been used during the formative evaluation?

A: They are intended to be used as a formative evaluation, but have not yet been issued

Q: Could you say any more on what transnational activities have been undertaken through the SFCC project?

A: These are currently in discussion with partners and visits are expected to take place in March/April

Q: We are assuming the structure would follow the headings set out in s4cc evaluation guide-finalv2-1.doc 1.9 Specification requirement. Is that correct?
A: Yes that is correct.

Q: We have reviewed the SFCC Learning tools brochure - are these representative of the Creative tools refereed to?

A: Yes that is correct.

Q: It would be useful to understand the documentation and likely inputs for 'Analysis of financial & monitoring data completed' highlighted in 1.8 key outputs
A: This refers to the project claims and reports.

Q: It would also be useful to understand thoughts on the sample group for 'Survey of non-users as a control group to support identification of the counter factual position and deadweight effects'
Who did you envisage would be approached to take part and on what grounds? We would have thought another option could be to understand the ‘deadweight effect’ by discussing this with stakeholders who have extensive experience of working with the target groups?
A: We are happy to consider other methods of ensuring that findings and impact reports are sound.

Q: Are any other support documents needed ie Equal Opportunities, Environmental, Quality Assurance?
A: These are not required at this stage.

Q: We are assuming the structure would follow the headings set out in s4cc evaluation guide-finalv2-1.doc 1.9 Specification requirement. Is that correct?
A: Yes that is correct.

Q: We have reviewed the SFCC Learning tools brochure - are these representative of the Creative tools refereed to?
A: Yes that is correct.

Q: It would also be useful to understand thoughts on the sample group for 'Survey of non-users as a control group to support identification of the counter factual position and deadweight effects'. Who did you envisage would be approached to take part and on what grounds? We would have thought another option could be to understand the ‘deadweight effect’ by discussing this with stakeholders who have extensive experience of working with the target groups?

A: We are happy to consider other methods of ensuring that findings and impact reports are sound.

Q: Are any other support documents needed ie Equal Opportunities, Environmental, Quality Assurance?
A: These are not required at this stage.

Q: I have looked at www.cipsonline.com/sfcc, but can find no Frequently
Asked Questions there. Am I missing something?

A: These should have be posted

Q: Do you want the table of Key Project milestones/outputs included exactly as in the RfP, but with the "bidder to complete" items filled in, or - are we allowed to make minor modifications (for example combining review by Lead Partner and EPMU Project Delivery Officer)? A: Yes you may modify - may we suggest time slots for the dates marked TBC?

A: Yes you can suggest time slots, but these will be subject to confirmation

Q: Can you clarify the project management. For example: will the Skills for Climate Change Steering Group have additional meetings (beyond the 2 scheduled quarterly meetings) in order to oversee the evaluation (see RfP 1.11), and are these likely to coincide with the partner meetings? What is the role of the EPMU Project Delivery Officer and how does it relate to the
Lead Partner and the Steering Group?

A: The SG meetings will include an item for Evaluation and the evaluators will be expected to feedback (partners will be invited to these meetings). Additional meetings with an SG sub group may be necessary. The EPMU Project Delivery Officer (from the GLA) attends SG meetings and will liaise with the ITM Unit in Birmingham to agree the final report. The SFCC Project Manager from London Capital Colleges/Newham College reports to the Head of CIPs at Newham College

Q: Since the bid is submitted by email, do you require signatures at the bottom of the pricing Schedule? Who is meant to sign the Authorisation?

A: Yes, please ask a senior member of your organisation to sign

Skills for Climate Change video 1:

Skills for Climate Change launches Low Carbon Skills Shortages Report

On 13th July 2010 the London Capital Colleges’ Skills for Climate Change project, part-financed by the European Social Fund, launched its report highlighting current low carbon skills shortages and gaps in training provision in London’s construction and built environment sector.

The report; Identifying the Low Carbon Skills Relevant to London Construction and Building Services’ Engineering Businesses will help shape the development of appropriate learning tools to support the up-skilling of employees within the sector.

The report was launched at 15 Hatfields, which was chosen because it has been built to the highest environmental specifications. Over fifty representatives from partner organisations, construction companies and other interested parties attended the event which included a short film from Nik Wood Communications, as well as presentations from Philip Badman, Vice Principal of Newham College, Paul Warren, Training Manager of BeOnsite and Keith Marshall OBE, Chief Executive of SummitSkills.

The report, produced by Ecotec Research Consulting, has identified significant potential gaps in low carbon skills and training provision in London’s construction and building services engineering sectors. With needs totalling in the range of 9,500 – 20,000 courses each year for the next 5 years, only 40% of this demand can be met by current provision and this is concentrated in certain occupations and technologies. This leaves a total estimated annual training capacity shortfall of 5,500 – 13,000, again with concentrations in particular technologies.

This call for action is being led by Newham College of Further Education on behalf of London Capital Colleges to spur regeneration and economic development through innovation and collaborative approaches.

Skills for Climate Change is a fast growing network of both private and public sector organisations, at regional and transnational levels, to support the development and delivery of learning and skills to the construction and building services sectors.

The London Capital Colleges’ Skills for Climate Change project, commissioned Ecotec Research Consulting to produce a research and mapping report highlighting current low carbon skills shortages and gaps in training provision in London’s construction and built environment sector.