To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what changes have occurred in the level of funding for Business Education Partnerships since the inception of the Learning and Skills Council. (66336)

We do not fund Education Business Partnerships nationally. However, through the LSC, we annually provide £25 million to support the local delivery of school business links activity. Mark Haysom, chief executive of the LSC has written to my hon. Friend and a copy of his reply has been placed in the Library.

Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 19 May 2006:

I write in response to your recent Parliamentary Questions regarding Business Education Partnerships (EBPs).

Firstly, I will answer your question about the future role of EBPs.

EBPs are independent providers. The ways in which they carry out their role now and in the future is a matter for those partnerships themselves. The LSC values the work of the EBPs, evidenced by the significant sums of Learning and Skills Council (LSC) funding which they receive.

There is a huge challenge ahead of us in implementing the Government’s 14-19 agenda. This agenda requires high levels of partnerships and collaboration between business, schools and colleges so that all young people are better prepared for the world of work.

A particular challenge is to make sure every young person has access to the new specialised diplomas which are being developed. This challenge is not just to the education service, but also to business and employers to engage and to contribute to what young people learn and experience during their time at school and college. The future funding and organisational arrangements must reflect this changing agenda. For example, the Government have given a significant increase in funds this financial year for enterprise and the development of the vocational curriculum—these funds have been targeted at schools, and not providers. It is for the schools themselves to determine which providers can best meet the individual needs of their pupils in the light of the school's circumstances. I have no doubt that the best providers will continue to deliver high quality provision.

For our part, we are looking at the whole delivery of education business link activity in the context of the developing 14-19 and skills agendas. We plan to consult on our conclusions in the near future.

Clearly, the LSC will need to ensure that its funds and partnership activity can make the maximum impact in delivering the Government’s agenda for young people. My colleagues and I plan to discuss further with the national EBP network how the EBPs and the LSC can best work together to achieve this impact.

Regarding your Parliamentary Question about the levels of funding for EBPs since the inception of the LSC. EBPs, alongside other independent providers like Trident and Young Enterprise, receive income from a range of sources, including a substantial share of the LSC’s education business link funding.

The LSC receives £25 million from the DfES for education business link activity. This amount has remained the same since the LSC took over the funding of this activity in 2001. As you will see from the figures below, from 2001-2006 the LSC has supplemented this resource with specific LSC funds. The actual amounts allocated for education business link activity by the LSC are as follows:

The LSC values the work of EBPs which have strong partnerships in support of the curriculum offer to young people in schools and colleges.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the future role for Business Education Partnerships is in developing links with (a) business, (b) the wider community and (c) schools. (66337)

Business involvement with schools is essential to our education reforms, especially at 14 to 19. Education Business Partnerships, and other intermediary bodies, facilitate support for schools from an estimated 300,000 employers.

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) are currently reviewing the delivery structure for Education Business Link activities. Therefore, Mark Haysom, chief executive of the LSC has written to my hon. Friend and a copy of his reply has been placed in the Library.

Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 19 May 2006:

I write in response to your recent Parliamentary Questions regarding Business Education Partnerships (EBPs).

Firstly, I will answer your question about the future role of EBP's.

EBPs are independent providers. The ways in which they carry out their role now and in the future is a matter for those partnerships themselves. The LSC values the work of the EBPs, evidenced by the significant sums of Learning and Skills Council (LSC) funding which they receive.

There is a huge challenge ahead of us in implementing the Government's 14-19 agenda. This agenda requires high levels of partnerships and collaboration between business, schools and colleges so that all young people are better prepared for the world of work.

A particular challenge is to make sure every young person has access to the new specialised diplomas which are being developed. This challenge is not just to the education service, but also to business and employers to engage and to contribute to what young people learn and experience during their time at school and college.

The future funding and organisational arrangements must reflect this changing agenda. For example, the Government has given a significant increase in funds this financial year for enterprise and the development of the vocational curriculum - these funds have been targeted at schools, and not providers. It is for the schools themselves to determine which providers can best meet the individual needs of their pupils in the light of the school's circumstances. I have no doubt that the best providers will continue to deliver high quality provision.

For our part, we are looking at the whole delivery of education business link activity in the context of the developing 14-19 and skills agendas. We plan to consult on our conclusions in the near future.

Clearly, the LSC will need to ensure that its funds and partnership activity can make the maximum impact in delivering the Government's agenda for young people. My colleagues and I plan to discuss further with the National EBP Network how the EBPs and the LSC can best work together to achieve this impact.

Regarding your Parliamentary Question about the levels of funding for EBPs since the inception of the LSC. EBPs, alongside other independent providers like Trident and Young Enterprise, receive income from a range of sources, including a substantial share of the LSC's education business link funding.

The LSC receives £25m from the DfES for education business link activity. This amount has remained the same since the LSC took over the funding of this activity in 2001. As you will see from the figures below, from 2001-2006 the LSC has supplemented this resource with specific LSC funds. The actual amounts allocated for education business link activity by the LSC are as follows:

The LSC values the work of EBPs which have strong partnerships in support of the curriculum offer to young people in schools and colleges.

Trust this is helpful.