Changes to the Alliance Staffing Structure -2010-2011

From: Sarah Mcloughlin [mailto:sarah.mcloughlin@sscalliance.org]
Sent: 10 March 2010 09:53
Subject: Changes to Alliance staffing infrastructure from April 2010

Dear All,

I wanted to let you all know that from April 1st, there will be significant changes to the staffing infrastructure of the Alliance of Sector Skills Councils which will affect the way we currently work throughout the English regions. Please see the below communication from our CEO, John McNamara for full details.

In the North West, Joanna Woolf (CEO, Cogent) and Jaine Chisholm-Caunt (Stakeholder & Policy Director, Cogent) will remain Chair and Deputy Chair of the North West Alliance, and Regional Forums for the network of SSCs will continue to meet quarterly, as arranged until further notice (throughout 2010 they will be held on the following dates: 12th May, 25th August and 10th November at Cogent SSC in Warrington).  However, from April there will be no dedicated Regional Alliance Manager, as has been the case over the past year, and therefore attendance at Regional Groups and Panels will cease and the last e-bulletin will be circulated in March.

I have attached a current list of North West Alliance Forum contacts for your reference in taking regional work forward with SSCs.

Finally, I would like to thank you for your support over the past year.

Kindest Regards,

SARAH MCLOUGHLIN
North West Alliance Regional Manager

Changes to the Alliance Staffing Structure -2010-2011

For our members and  the Alliance, 2010-11 will be a year of  great challenge and opportunity, in which we will focus on our strategic priorities. It is also a year in which budgetary constraints will present significant challenges. Our new business plan for next year is set in this context and, in order to deliver optimum impact for our members, it includes a number of changes to the Alliance staffing structure. There will be number of new posts: a Marketing & Communications Director, a Communications Assistant, two England-wide Project Manager posts and a Cross Sector Project Manager. It is proposed that the current posts of Communications Manager and the six current Regional Manager/Co-ordinator and support posts are made redundant. The Alliance approach of having an SSC CEO as a strategic link in each region will continue.

The Alliance Board is clear that this is the most constructive way forward, but would concur with many in the English regions where the Alliance has had dedicated staffing, that these staff have added significant value to the skills infrastructure there, and that their contribution will be missed. There will be a number of consequences for activity involving SSCs in the regions, and the way forward we anticipate is summarised below:

• SSC forums in the regions: these are considered to be valuable and should continue into 2010-11 if members are willing to organise and support them
• SSC cross-sector groupings and clusters: these too will need to be self-maintaining, and it is very helpful for the Alliance centrally to know who the key contact/lead is for each grouping/cluster so that we can make connections with other related activity at regional and national levels (please send this info in future to jennifer.teulon@sscalliance.org)
• Working relationships with partners and stakeholders: CEO regional chairs will continue to play a part in this at a strategic level
• E-bulletins and other communications: regional information will be incorporated into central Alliance communications from April 2010
• Other general enquiries: the email address for these is info@sscalliance.org
• In view of the changes outlined above, we will be providing regular updates on progress on our extranet site for SSC members, and on our website for external stakeholders.

We are aiming to make the transition as smooth as possible for all concerned, but if you do have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us at Alliance head office.

With best wishes

John McNamara
Chief Executive