f educatin Grant Fund Prspectus 2018/19 Funding Rund
2 f educatin Edge Fundatin Overview Edge is the independent educatin charity dedicated t shaping the future f educatin t meet the demands f the 21st century glbal ecnmy and ensure pprtunity fr all. Technical and creative skills are critical t ur mdern digital ecnmy. Edge believes that high quality technical and prfessinal learning shuld be a key part f a cherent, unified and hlistic educatin system t supprt scial mbility and enable all yung peple t fulfil their ptential. Visit www.edge.c.uk t find ut mre. Grant Fund Overview The Edge Grant Fund is a prgramme f three runds f grant funding. This is the secnd rund and the third rund will pen in 2020. Each rund will have up t 1millin f grant funding available. Applicatins fr funding are invited t supprt bth shrt and lng term prjects that build n prven mdels f success r test new appraches within educatin and learning. Prjects must supprt Edge s plan fr educatin, and must supprt innvatin r develpment within technical and prfessinal learning. Prjects can supprt practical delivery r be research based t build evidence and/r supprt the understanding and disseminatin f best practice. Applicatins are welcmed frm all educatinal establishments r nt-fr-prfit rganisatins wrking within the educatin sectr. Edge s Plan fr Educatin Create a brad, balanced and relevant 14-19 curriculum Make schl wrk relevant t the wrkplace; get emplyers invlved Give teachers mre supprt and freedm; encurage cllabratin between institutins t share best practice and resurce Mre high quality apprenticeships fr yung peple t help them earn and learn Ensuring a flexible, dynamic and value fr mney higher educatin system that helps prepare yung peple fr the real wrld Our plan fr Higher Educatin can be dwnladed at: www.edge.c.uk/ourplanfrhe Our plan fr 14-19 Educatin can be dwnladed at: www.edge.c.uk/ourplanfr14-19educatin
3 f educatin Hw t Apply There are three clear steps fr applicants cnsidering applying t the Edge Grant Fund. Step One Check that yur rganisatin is eligible fr a grant (page 6) and that the prject is in line with the Funding Themes (pages 4-5) thrugh reading this Prspectus and referring t ur Previus Beneficiaries (page 7). If yu are eligible and yu wish t apply, g t www.edge.c.uk/grantfund and cmplete the Initial Applicatin Frm. Step Tw Cmplete and submit an Initial Applicatin Frm by the deadline f midday n 3 May 2018. We aim t assess applicatins within six weeks f this deadline. Successful applicants will be frwarded a Business Plan Applicatin Frm and Budget Frm t cmplete, prviding further details regarding yur prject and its utcmes. Edge intends t run applicatin webinars fr prjects selected t submit Business Plan Applicatins. Dates and details will be prvided nearer the time. Business Plan Applicatins will be assessed by Edge staff and Trustees. We aim t make decisins n Business Plan applicatins within six weeks f the submissin deadline. Please nte all applicatins must be submitted via the Edge website. We cannt accept additinal supprting dcuments ther than where specifically requested. If yu have any issues accessing the frms, please cntact us. Fllwing the Innvatin and Develpment Grant Fund, Edge cmmissined NfER t prduce a dcument called Hw t deliver an effective grant-funded prject n technical and prfessinal educatin. We recmmend all applicants t review this dcument which can be dwnladed here: www.edge.c.uk/prjects/the-edge-grant-fund If yu have any questins regarding the applicatin prcess yu can cntact us at grant@edge.c.uk. Step Three Cmplete and submit a Business Plan Applicatin Frm, Budget Frm and Risk Register by the deadline f midday n 13 September 2018.
f educatin 4 Applicatin Criteria and Guidelines Abut the Grant Fund The bjective f the Grant Fund is t supprt the creatin and/r develpment f innvative prjects within the area f technical and prfessinal educatin and learning, building n previusly effective mdels r testing innvative methds. Prjects can be research based r supprt practical delivery r be a mixture f bth. The Grant Fund will supprt prjects that create best practice mdels that have the ptential fr being scaled up r are suitable fr replicatin thrugh disseminatin acrss the sectr. Prjects are required t have a direct impact n yung peple bth during the funded perid and lnger term. All prjects are required t address areas f skills shrtages fr the UK and address in detail at least 1 f the fllwing Funding Themes. Due cnsideratin will be given t applicatins that address a number f the funding themes. Funding Themes Imprve the design and delivery f engaging and relevant Careers Educatin, Infrmatin, Advice and Guidance Prjects that supprt yung peple t understand the full range f curriculum ptins, rutes t further and higher educatin as well as career ptins available. Areas we are interested in include but are nt limited t: Hw t make yung peple aware f the hidden jbs within rganisatins Hw t address gender bias fr sme career pprtunities Hw t imprve careers guidance within Higher Educatin Supprt the develpment f Prject Based Learning (PBL) and assciated prfund emplyer engagement Prjects that supprt the develpment and use f PBL within the curriculum. Areas we are interested in include but are nt limited t: Using PBL within and acrss a range f curriculum subjects Prviding teacher training/cpd t develp the use f high quality PBL Supprting the develpment f bth brad and deep emplyer engagement in the curriculum
5 f educatin Supprt the develpment f a 14-19 curriculum which integrates bth academic and technical/ prfessinal subjects Prjects that supprt the develpment and delivery f a 14-19 curriculum that integrates academic subjects with wrk-relevant technical and prfessinal learning pprtunities. Areas we are interested in include but are nt limited t: Making technical ptins available frm 14 (such as yung apprenticeships) Hlistic curriculum rutes that treat 14-19 as a single phase Prviding a blended academic/technical curriculum pst-16 Grant Amunts In 2018/19 the Fund has 1millin t grant t suitable prjects, with applicants able t apply fr between 30,000 and 100,000. Any grant awarded must be spent within 24 mnths f the prject start date. Match Funding Edge will give particular cnsideratin t applicatins fr prjects that have already secured match funding r intend t use the Edge grant t btain further match funding. Supprt the develpment f innvative appraches t higher educatin at levels 4, 5 and 6 Prjects that supprt the intrductin and develpment f innvative appraches t the delivery f high quality higher educatin. Areas we are interested in include but are nt limited t: The prvisin f accelerated, cmpressed and part-time degrees Innvative wrk based higher educatin such as higher and degree level apprenticeships. Prjects that expand Level 4 and 5 prvisin Measuring the perfrmance f technical educatin We are interested in research prjects which lk at ways t measure the perfrmance f technical and prfessinal educatin. Areas we are interested in include but are nt limited t: Measuring the destinatins f yung peple Measuring the ecnmic impact f apprenticeships Alternative perfrmance measures that are mre suitable fr technical and prfessinal educatin
f educatin 6 Applicatin Eligibility Eligible Organisatins* Edge is keen t receive applicatins frm a wide range f rganisatin types including the fllwing: An educatin establishment, such as any: Schl r Academy Further Educatin Cllege University A nt-fr-prfit rganisatin, such as a: Registered Charity Cmpany limited by guarantee Cmmunity Interest Cmpany limited by guarantee This list is nt exhaustive and if yu are unsure if yur rganisatin is eligible please cntact us fr clarificatin. * Exclusins Edge will nt fund applicatins which: are fr activities r rganisatins that are utside f the UK are submitted by individuals r prfit-making rganisatins are submitted by rganisatins whse financial histry shws serius financial deficit r are nn-cmpliant with their regulatry bdy prmte religius beliefs r plitical pinins request mney fr cntingency csts retrspective csts recverable VAT Edge will nly fund an rganisatin which meets the fllwing criteria: is a nt-fr-prfit rganisatin has its wn bank accunt with at least tw signatries is able t prvide annual accunts r 12 mnths financial prjectins is able t evidence a successful track-recrd f delivering technical/prfessinal learning fr yung peple.
f educatin 7 Previus Beneficiaries f the Edge Grant Fund Detailed belw are examples f the type f prject funded in the first rund f the Edge Grand Fund. These are prvided t give ptential applicants a feel fr the type f prjects supprted by Edge. Blackburn Cllege is using their grant t develp an Envirnmental Cnstructin Careers and Skills Academy. The cllege is wrking with lcal cmpanies t shape the curriculum, which will include electrical, gas, plumbing and bricklaying, and create 50 schlarships prviding an pprtunity fr secure emplyment. Bridgwater and Tauntn Cllege is ne f six strategic partners which frm the new Natinal Cllege fr Nuclear (NCfN). The Edge grant is helping the cllege t prvide teaching and learning via prject-based tasks using cutting-edge technlgy and virtual reality simulatin t replicate the nuclear wrkplace. Career Ready, a natinal charity, is using their grant t develp its new Think Build prgramme fr 16-19 year lds. Wrking with emplyers such as Wates, Arcadis and Wilmtt Dixn, Career Ready is prviding mentring, masterclasses, wrk visits and placements t intrduce students t pprtunities in the cnstructin sectr. Dncaster Chamber f Cmmerce and Enterprise is using its grant t help yung peple in Dncaster get int STEM (science, technlgy, engineering and maths) careers. Wrking with Dncaster Brugh Cuncil and Sheffield Hallam University, the prject ffers 18,000 students aged 15-18 wrk experience, careers advice, mentring prgrammes and have a g experiences. Educatin and Emplyers is being supprted t expand its Primary Futures prgramme which aims t reach 240,000 children. It enables primary schls t engage with vlunteers frm the wrld f wrk wh, thrugh a range f activities such as What s My Line? and classrm talks, help t bring learning t life. The Edge Htel Schl is using their grant t attract yungsters int the hspitality industry addressing a grwing skills gap. The funds will help develp learning materials and supprt a prgramme f visits and wrkshps in 200 schls and clleges t highlight the pprtunities in hspitality and encurage yung peple int the sectr. The Grimsby Institute f Further and Higher Educatin is receiving supprt fr a prject using Business Ambassadrs t advise yung peple abut careers and jb pprtunities, encurage them int careers in cnstructin and increase the number f apprenticeships lcally by five per cent t address the cunty s higher than average NEET figure. The Studi Schls Trust (nw Studi Schls Netwrk) is being supprted t cmmissin an evaluatin f the CREATE Framewrk used in Studi Schls. St Helens Chamber is using the grant t supprt its Inspiring Educatrs prgramme which will develp teachers knwledge and understanding f careers in the Liverpl City Regin, with a particular fcus n Advanced Manufacturing, Visitr Ecnmy and Digital and Creative sectrs where there is a skills shrtage. St Jseph s Cathlic Academy in Hebburn is being supprted t build n its Future Ready prgramme. St Jseph s links with Sunderland University t develp curses which enables students t spend tw days each week wrking with industry prfessinals in the wrkplace, alngside academic and technical learning. Teach First is being supprted t train teachers in careers and emplyability learning and imprve prspects fr their pupils, as part f Teach First s wrk t challenge educatinal inequality acrss England and Wales. The charity gives teachers wrking in lw-incme areas the training t develp careers prgrammes fr their students. The Studi Liverpl is using the grant t create a netwrk fr yung budding digital entrepreneurs. The Digital Entrepreneurship Netwrk, r Studi DEN, is helping students develp and market digital prducts with supprt frm industry mentrs. The Studi DEN aims t attract 2,500 yung peple giving them a gd understanding f digital skills and enterprise. Details f all Edge Fundatin supprted prjects can be fund n ur website: www.edge.c.uk
8 f educatin Grant Fund Timeline 2018/19 Open fr applicatins Thursday, 22 March 2018 Deadline fr Initial Applicatins Midday n 3 May 2018 Ntificatin f Initial Applicatin decisins Week f 11 June 2018 The fllwing dates nly apply t thse prjects selected t prgress t phase tw f the prcess Deadline fr Business Plan Applicatins Midday n 13 September 2018 Ntificatin f grant decisins Week f 22 Octber 2018 First grant payments made January 2019 Edge reserves the right t change these timescales and dates as apprpriate. What Happens Next? Grant Offer If successful, applicants will be made a cnditinal ffer with a grant agreement and terms & cnditins drawn up and agreed befre an initial payment is made. Mnitring As part f the terms & cnditins grantees will be required t cmplete mnitring reprts using templates prvided by Edge. Infrmatin required will be financial, quantitative and qualitative. Supprt Once initial grants are made Edge will wrk with grantees t maximise the impact f their grant and facilitate awareness and disseminatin f best practice. Evaluatin All applicatins must include a plan and a budget t carry ut an evaluatin f the prject at the end f the 24 mnth grant term. Grantees are als required t cmplete an evaluatin template prvided by Edge within the last quarter f the grant term.
9 f educatin Frequently Asked Questins In rder t help ptential applicants belw are answers t the cmmn questins asked regarding the Grant Fund. Will the Grant Fund be pen every year? It is ur intentin t pen the Grant Fund in alternate years namely 2018 and again in 2020 after which the perfrmance f the fund will be reviewed. What sectrs are classed as having a skills shrtage? Rather than specify sectrs with skills shrtages Edge requires applicants t demnstrate why a sectr is being targeted. This may be evidenced fr example thrugh natinal research r lcal cnsultatin ie lcal labur market infrmatin data. What supprting dcuments d yu need/can I prvide? As detailed within the Prspectus and Applicatin Advice, Edge require cpies f yur gverning dcuments and annual accunts during the Business Plan Applicatin stage. Please d nt submit any further supprting dcumentatin as this will nt be cnsidered during assessment. Can I submit a hard cpy f my applicatin? N. All applicatins are required t be cmpleted n the fficial Grant Fund applicatin frms and submitted electrnically via the Edge website. What age grup is the Fund targeting? Prjects must fcus n yung peple up t the age f 24, hwever prjects which supprt the develpment and delivery f higher and degree level apprenticeships r ther degree level prvisin have n upper age limit fr beneficiaries. Hw are decisins made? Applicatins are assessed using an externally develped assessment framewrk with bth Edge staff and Trustees invlved in decisin making. I have a questin that isn t answered abve, what shall I d? Please cntact Edge directly at grant@edge.c.uk