David Collins/David Pullein/Martin Doel

Welcome from AoC President David Collins. Pointed out that 3 of the keynote speakers have the word "challenge" in the title of their presentations.

David Pullein, chair of the College FDs Group - need to consolidate, rationalise, procure better, not a time for aspirational planning. FE sector and FDs are up to the challenge, strength in working together. Future needs to be about learners, shouldn't be turned away because their funding stream has dried up.

Martin Doel, CEO of the AoC - one challenge: continue to deliver successfully for learners, communities and employers.

Sub-challenges:

Financial

- Capital: astounding mismangement, initially 144 college plans on hold, now another 40 at least. Additional budget money partially used on overhang of existing projects. £750m available for next wave, estimated demand is £8bn. Needs-based criteria, ready-to-go projects prioritised. National Council 3rd June, demand from 200 colleges higher than expected, so further delay whilst these are considered and additional value for money criteria applied.

- Revenue: T2G latest (potential) train crash. Demand grew exponentially and not managed. Need to maintain reltionships with employers as we smooth the funding back to affordability. No brainer that funds should be vired between Adult and ER funding pots, particularly given state of economy and local variations in needs.
16-19 funding, growth consolidated, extra money given that more will be staying on.
Efficiency savings - built into budget announcement, addtional challenges at central and provider level. Shared services and procurement will come of age.

Organisational

AoC continue to stress autonomy of colleges, funding following learner, national funding formula. "Duty to Collaborate", IAG effective, non-viable 6th form presumptions ("vanity projects") should not be allowed to proceed.
Working ever more closely with DWP and BERR

Curricula

Diplomas - good/bad, black/white debate, but some lines work well, need to operationalise, more nunaced debate needed.
QCF opens up opportunity for unitised funding.

Musings

There is no FE Sector, but there is a College Sector, deliver public value, need to move closer to community, "of a place" with strategic scale and effect on a community.

Plan led/demand led......Mandelson, which are strategic sectors? How do we anticipate demand, prepare for recovery,

Chaos theory, non linearity, military analogy, need to be more joined up than the "enemy". Competence, capability, agility to respond, scale.