Understanding supply and demand

From 2010 Local Authorities will have responsibility for the learning of all 16-19 year olds in their neighbourhood. A detailed picture of the local area will ensure that this learning is commissioned based on robust evidence of supply and demand, now and in the future, including forecasts of economic change, trends in the supply of learning and the capacity of the local provider base. Experian’s Learner needs analysis will provide Local Authorities and their partners with the data, insight and recommendations to commission learning with confidence

The Machinery of Government reforms have shifted responsibility for securing sufficient and appropriate education and training provision for all 16-19 year olds to Local Authorities, supported by the Young People’s Learning Agency.

With this new responsibility will come many difficult questions – Where is current provision and where are the learners of the future going to be located? What levels of qualifications are demanded in each sector? Which programmes are likely to be taken up by future learners?

It is critical to understand who will be coming through the system in the future and what their needs will be, particularly as the compulsory age for participating in training and education is rising and by 2013 there must be appropriate provision available for all 17 year olds and by 2015 for all 18 year olds. Alongside this, Local Authorities and their partners must also act as the champions of young people in their area, commissioning appropriate learning that is wanted and needed.

Our offer

Experian has an in-depth understanding of post-16 provision, as well as significant experience in handling information from all the key learning and labour market datasets and presenting the results in a clear, user-friendly manner. We add further value through our in-house expertise and capabilities, such as GIS mapping, employer analysis of our National Business Database (NBD), and population analysis through Mosaic Public Sector™.

Features of the Learner needs analysis:

• Supply of learning – a breakdown of the geographic range of provision, where courses are being taken, types of providers, subjects, sectors, level, programme type and a range of inspection, quality and financial health measures on the providers themselves, as well as travel to learn patterns.
• Demand for learning – the geo-demographic make-up of the local population using our proprietary and market leading socio-demographic database Mosaic Public Sector™; qualitative research to consider local attitudes to learning, accessibility and place-based issues; and forecasts of local demand, learner demand – including specific types of learners – and employer demand adjusted according to migration projections, planned housing developments, learner flows across borders and policy changes.
• Future patterns of provision – modelled potential for increasing apprenticeship take up in your area, which sectors are most likely to take on new apprentices, and whether the area relies on small or large employers taking on apprentices. From this, we can supply lists of potential businesses to contact.

For more information please contact us or download our Learner Needs Analysis factsheet.