The trouble with those nylon backpacks they give out at conferences is that they all look the same. I had picked up the wrong one, in the process leaving behind my copy of "Le Gone du Chaaba" which is the set text for my A Level French exam on Thursday and which I am struggling through for the second time.
Just found it again and settling down for the first afternoon session.
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
Room with a view...?
As a no doubt welcome break from the detail of the previous posts, I thought you might enjoy this picture taken from my bedroom window here at the cunningly named Hinckley Island Hotel (yes, it's at a motorway junction and it's close to somewhere called Hinckley).
I appear to have been housed in what can only be described as a ditch, still it's nice for a London boy like me to see a bit of grass...
To avoid any reputational damage to the hotel, I would point out that the room is very nice, I even have a sofa and a huge desk, and the organisation of the conference has been very good.
Small changes, big savings
Seminar session on procurement.
Postage: 2nd class rather than 1st class significant savings for non-essential mail, use smaller envelopes to take advantage of differential postage prices. Send texts to students instead of routine mail, can automate and save time cost as well as stationery and postage
Thomas Rotherham College - energy efficiency measures (some of which EHWLC are already doing):
T5 and LED lighting
PIR sensors for lighting
Voltage optimisers
Secondary double glazing for listed buildings
Timer switches on vending machines (I particularly like this one)
Thin client PCs (MK will have a view)
Peterborough College - centrally-forced IT shutdown after 9:30pm, estimated saving £6k pa electricity
CONWEL - waste disposal: leased compactors to reduce volume of waste, saved net £5k pa
Leicester College - procurement cards, took cautious approach because of control concerns, borrowed procedures from reference site. Initial limit £300 per transaction, limited suppliers, piloted "friendly" cost centres. Now over 130 cards, usually technicians and administrators. Big change programme, some resistance, big emphasis on training one to one. Majority of transactions now on P cards. Real saving is time and effort in cost centres, redirect Purchase Ledger to other higher value added activities. Next steps to concentrate on areas with low P card use. Differential transaction limits for cost centres according to need.
Preston College - collaboration to aggregate a 200 PC order with other local colleges, combined demand over 1200 PCs led to a total £121k saving, plus improved specs.
West Notts College - vending machine contract costly and inefficient, changed model so that provider would not charge college, in provider's interest to keep machines new, full and clean etc. Saving £250k since 2005 including income benefits.
Stafford College - reverse e-auction for computer contract, saving £100K (22%) over 4 years.
Lambeth College - e-auction saved 40% on furniture for new build
Westminster Kingsway College - set up procurement team using e-procurement system (Sprinter Purchasing Manager from Bottom Line) with workflow plus outsourced invoice scanning system plus invoice data capture direct into accounts package. Automates invoice/PO matching for approval and payment, encourages staff to use the system. Need to make the right thing the easiest to do. Effectively created a purchasing team for free as the Purchase Ledger team was redeployed.
Loughborough College - move to plumbed in water coolers (not bottles) saves £14k a year plus environmental benefits. [EHWLC are moving to these]
Walsall College - negotiated with C&G re exam fees by committing to higher volumes in exchange for lower costs.
[Just realised there's a booklet at the back of the room with some of these examples, still, good typing practice for me...]
[I now have a couple of copies of the leaflet, available electronically at www.felp.ac.uk]
Postage: 2nd class rather than 1st class significant savings for non-essential mail, use smaller envelopes to take advantage of differential postage prices. Send texts to students instead of routine mail, can automate and save time cost as well as stationery and postage
Thomas Rotherham College - energy efficiency measures (some of which EHWLC are already doing):
T5 and LED lighting
PIR sensors for lighting
Voltage optimisers
Secondary double glazing for listed buildings
Timer switches on vending machines (I particularly like this one)
Thin client PCs (MK will have a view)
Peterborough College - centrally-forced IT shutdown after 9:30pm, estimated saving £6k pa electricity
CONWEL - waste disposal: leased compactors to reduce volume of waste, saved net £5k pa
Leicester College - procurement cards, took cautious approach because of control concerns, borrowed procedures from reference site. Initial limit £300 per transaction, limited suppliers, piloted "friendly" cost centres. Now over 130 cards, usually technicians and administrators. Big change programme, some resistance, big emphasis on training one to one. Majority of transactions now on P cards. Real saving is time and effort in cost centres, redirect Purchase Ledger to other higher value added activities. Next steps to concentrate on areas with low P card use. Differential transaction limits for cost centres according to need.
Preston College - collaboration to aggregate a 200 PC order with other local colleges, combined demand over 1200 PCs led to a total £121k saving, plus improved specs.
West Notts College - vending machine contract costly and inefficient, changed model so that provider would not charge college, in provider's interest to keep machines new, full and clean etc. Saving £250k since 2005 including income benefits.
Stafford College - reverse e-auction for computer contract, saving £100K (22%) over 4 years.
Lambeth College - e-auction saved 40% on furniture for new build
Westminster Kingsway College - set up procurement team using e-procurement system (Sprinter Purchasing Manager from Bottom Line) with workflow plus outsourced invoice scanning system plus invoice data capture direct into accounts package. Automates invoice/PO matching for approval and payment, encourages staff to use the system. Need to make the right thing the easiest to do. Effectively created a purchasing team for free as the Purchase Ledger team was redeployed.
Loughborough College - move to plumbed in water coolers (not bottles) saves £14k a year plus environmental benefits. [EHWLC are moving to these]
Walsall College - negotiated with C&G re exam fees by committing to higher volumes in exchange for lower costs.
[Just realised there's a booklet at the back of the room with some of these examples, still, good typing practice for me...]
[I now have a couple of copies of the leaflet, available electronically at www.felp.ac.uk]
Questions to Speakers
1% efficiency saving, how will this affect College's financial forecasts? Not yet clear how this will be applied. HE chose to do it by reducing numbers, FE should be "more for less approach" involving procurement, shared services. (RW)
Will DIUS merge/get taken over by BERR? Conversation appears to be happening in Whitehall, don't feel new change coming, but wouldn't be averse to it. (SP)
What is right of appeal for Colleges to LAs if feel unfairly treated? Initially very complicated proposals, sent back to be simplified. (RW)
Will DIUS merge/get taken over by BERR? Conversation appears to be happening in Whitehall, don't feel new change coming, but wouldn't be averse to it. (SP)
What is right of appeal for Colleges to LAs if feel unfairly treated? Initially very complicated proposals, sent back to be simplified. (RW)
Susan Pember
Director, Skills Funding Agency set-up, DIUS
2.8m adults have done skills for life since 2001. Over 3m adults currently in learning. Colleges have exceeded PSA targets, only education sector to do so (echoes Martin Doel comment). Budget was good news, £140m of new money. But efficiency savings needed and built into budget.
Refers again to Mandelson strategic sector concept. Skills activism e.g. North Carolina transformed to high tech, hand in hand with Community Colleges.
MoG/Raising Expectations - "change will benefit learners and employers": this will be the acid test. New landscape to avoid duplication, SFA will be a slimmer body, idea is to build in more autonomy for providers to enhance community role and civic duty. Still a central role for direction, strategy. SFA to be a silent brand for learners, accessed through gateways, e.g. T2G. Colleges, National Apprenticeship service.
Congratulates AoC on influencing role to improve Apprenticeship, Skills, Children and Learning Bill.
2.8m adults have done skills for life since 2001. Over 3m adults currently in learning. Colleges have exceeded PSA targets, only education sector to do so (echoes Martin Doel comment). Budget was good news, £140m of new money. But efficiency savings needed and built into budget.
Refers again to Mandelson strategic sector concept. Skills activism e.g. North Carolina transformed to high tech, hand in hand with Community Colleges.
MoG/Raising Expectations - "change will benefit learners and employers": this will be the acid test. New landscape to avoid duplication, SFA will be a slimmer body, idea is to build in more autonomy for providers to enhance community role and civic duty. Still a central role for direction, strategy. SFA to be a silent brand for learners, accessed through gateways, e.g. T2G. Colleges, National Apprenticeship service.
Congratulates AoC on influencing role to improve Apprenticeship, Skills, Children and Learning Bill.
Rob Wye
LSC Director for Young People Learning & Skills Group
YPLA system about putting learners first (sounds familiar..?). LAs take lead, to allow integration with other LA responsibilities for young people.
Not back to the future, Colleges as strategic partners not under control of LA. YPLA is a bridge between govt, LAs and providers, needs to be as simple as possible (why do I feel worried?).
Raising participation age challenge, Colleges at the heart of this. Need to be imaginative to reach last 5% or 1% of young people. Recession will affect recruitment, employers less likely to be involved with diplomas, apprenticeships, funding will be tight to deliver guarantee.
Efficiency gains (1% of DCSF budget), regardless of change of govt, funding will be tighter, more for less.
Entitlement to all diploma lines, apprenticeships coming.
LLDD, Young Offenders - how to ensure vulnerable learners are supported through transition.
Priority for transition: soft landing April 2010.
YPLA system about putting learners first (sounds familiar..?). LAs take lead, to allow integration with other LA responsibilities for young people.
Not back to the future, Colleges as strategic partners not under control of LA. YPLA is a bridge between govt, LAs and providers, needs to be as simple as possible (why do I feel worried?).
Raising participation age challenge, Colleges at the heart of this. Need to be imaginative to reach last 5% or 1% of young people. Recession will affect recruitment, employers less likely to be involved with diplomas, apprenticeships, funding will be tight to deliver guarantee.
Efficiency gains (1% of DCSF budget), regardless of change of govt, funding will be tighter, more for less.
Entitlement to all diploma lines, apprenticeships coming.
LLDD, Young Offenders - how to ensure vulnerable learners are supported through transition.
Priority for transition: soft landing April 2010.
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.
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.
AoC Finance Directors' Conference
Sunny Leicestershire, really sunny, it's going to be around 25C today. Perfect weather for a day out in the country, somewhat less perfect for a conference somewhere close to the junction of the M69 and A5.
It probably sounds like a terribly dull affair, but for us bean counters this is about as good as it gets. Seen some familiar faces already, it's a close knit community and one I'm proud to be part of. Given the issues in the sector at the moment, I expect a good deal of whinging and letting off steam, but as ever I'll be looking out for the silver linings....
I'm hoping to do some live blogging from the conference. Hopefully the wifi will continue to work, usual ruinous hotel price for internet access I'm afraid.
Nearly time for the first session, so I'll sign off now.
Sorry about the design of this blog, I set it up quickly this morning.
It probably sounds like a terribly dull affair, but for us bean counters this is about as good as it gets. Seen some familiar faces already, it's a close knit community and one I'm proud to be part of. Given the issues in the sector at the moment, I expect a good deal of whinging and letting off steam, but as ever I'll be looking out for the silver linings....
I'm hoping to do some live blogging from the conference. Hopefully the wifi will continue to work, usual ruinous hotel price for internet access I'm afraid.
Nearly time for the first session, so I'll sign off now.
Sorry about the design of this blog, I set it up quickly this morning.
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