Call for submissions for LSIP work on Clean Energy Sector (Non Nuclear)

The Chamber has been tasked with producing a Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) this year and continuing to refresh, build on and implement this over the following two years.

LSIPs are intended to be employer-led and locally owned, putting employers at the heart of skills provision. They will set out the key priorities needed to make technical education and skills provision more responsive to the changing needs of employers and the local economy. In essence LSIPs are about ensuring we have the right provision to enable people to do their current and future jobs better. More information is available in the following guidance: Local skills improvement plans – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Cumbria Chamber of Commerce has been designated by the Department for Education (DfE) to lead on the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) for Cumbria as part of the national roll out. This follows in from the Cumbrian LSIP produced as part of the Trailblazer pilot early in 2022. You can read a copy of the report here: https://www.cumbriachamber.co.uk/local-skills-improvement-plan-lsip.

As for the Trailblazer, other employer representative bodies partnering in this delivery: Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster, CBI, CITB, CLA, Cumbria Tourism, Farmer Network and the NFU. As we did for the Trailblazer, we’re working with employers, partners and other stakeholders to identify and clearly articulate employer needs, issues and opportunities and set out how these can be addressed, and, where we can, act on that directly. The approach taken for the Trailblazer, which worked well and which we are implementing for the roll out, is to engage with specialist partners and consultants to lead the work on specific sectors, bringing to bear their specialist knowledge, links, engagement and experience.

Minimal work was undertaken on energy as part of the Trailblazer but clearly it is a key sector for Cumbria, now and moving forward. We therefore need to commission a number of complementary in depth pieces of work on the energy sector “starting from scratch” rather than building on the pilot.

With the core LSIP funding we are undertaking work on the nuclear sector. To complement this activity we are now seeking to procure a deep dive piece of work “To research into the future skills required for the non-nuclear elements of the Clean Energy Sector”. This will be funded through money made available separately by the Department for Education to Cumbria LEP to support the LSIP, which is being transferred to the Chamber for this piece of work.

We recognise that this is a wide sector, with only a short timescale and limited funding available, so intend to agree with the successful bidder a narrower scope for this deep dive, likely to be a focus on future skills needs related to solar energy and agree what can reasonably be achieved in the timescale.

Activity Required

This work needs to:

  • Identify, include and build on any relevant research already undertaken reasonably recently and any underway/planned within the timescale of this LSIP plan, including other LSIPs.
  • Engage directly with relevant stakeholders, including employers and providers.
  • Clearly articulate current and future skills needs and any gaps in provision, including detailed curriculum requirements and wider issues and suggest appropriate actions. This should include upskilling and reskilling of the current workforce and other adults, as well as young people. It should include key skills needs at a granular level.

Timescale

This work needs to be completed by 31st March 2023.

Budget

There is a budget of £10,000 including VAT available for this work.

Information needed from bidders/instructions for submission

  • Brief summary of relevant experience, expertise and engagement in energy and/or research
  • CV for anyone to be involved in carrying out the research and analysis
  • Contact details for two relevant referees
  • Hourly rate (actual cost and payment arrangements to be agreed once we have agreed the work with the successful bidder)

Instructions for Submission

Submissions should be sent by email to Suzanne Caldwell, suzanne@cumbriachamber.co.uk, marked ‘Confidential – Tender Enclosed’ to reach us by no later than 9am on Friday 10th February 2022.

The Chamber’s rights

The Chamber reserves the right to:

  • Waive or change the requirements of this service from time to time without prior, or any notice, being given
  • Seek clarification or documentation in respect of a tenderer’s submission
  • Disqualify any tenderer that does not submit a complete tender in accordance with the instructions within this tender brief
  • Disqualify any tender that is guilty of serious misrepresentation in relation to its tender or the tender process
  • Withdraw this service at any time or re-invite tenders on the same or any alternative basis • Choose not to award any contract or accept the lowest or any tender as a result of the current procurement process
  • Choose not to award a contract to any organisation it views as a competitor or to have another conflict of interest
  • Make whatever changes they see fit to the timetable, structure of content of the procurement process
  • To split this work into more than one package, depending on the proposals received

Bid Costs

The Chamber will not be liable for any bid costs, expenditure, work or effort incurred by a tenderer in proceeding with or participating in this procurement, including if the procurement process is terminated or amended by the Chamber.

Project Funding

The Local Skills Improvement Plan is a Department for Education initiative, funded  by the Department for Education. This specific element will be funded through money made available separately by the Department for Education to Cumbria LEP to support the LSIP.

© Cumbria Chamber of Commerce