VocTech Challenge Impact Network + Grant Fund

Deadline: 8-Jul-24

The VocTech Challenge Impact Network + Grant Fund is currently open for applications.

The VocTech Challenge Impact Network + Grant Fund represents a new approach to Ufi grant funding.

Purpose

The overall purpose is to grant fund a cohort of projects that use technology to tackle the three challenges they have identified. They want to be able to demonstrate how technology can catalyse larger scale sustainable change in adult skills provision so that the UK has the skills it needs.
This fund is not about the potential for impact. It is about changing how things are done to have a direct and tangible impact on learners during the period of funding, in a way that sustains when the funding has ended.
They know that solving these challenges will not be easy. That is why successful applicants will join the VocTech Challenge Impact Network, bringing together a network of stakeholders already actively tackling barriers to adult learning as part of the ongoing VocTech Challenge programme.
This grant fund is part of the VocTech Challenge: Skills for an Economy in Transition programme.

Challenge Questions

Informed by the learnings from the place-based collaborations they are looking for bold, tech-led approaches to tackle one of three specific challenges:
- Employer integration:
  - How can technology be used to integrate and reflect employers’ changing needs so that the skills of the available workforce better reflect the needs of local employers?
- Pathways into and within work:
  - How can technology be used to increase the visibility, accessibility and uptake of pathways from learning into work, or from one type of work into another, particularly in regional growth sectors?
- Vocational language barriers:
  - How can technology be used to support adults with in-demand vocational skills, but who don’t speak English as their first language, gain the industry-specific English required by employers?

Funding Information

Successful grant fund applicants will each receive between £200k and £250k to refine and deploy their ideas.
They will also join a network of organisations working alongside each other as part of an active, expert-led programme designed to create connections, share knowledge, test assumptions and accelerate adoption and deployment.

What they are looking for?

They are looking for bold ideas supported by imaginative and practical plans with the potential to radically increase adult participation in learning and training during the funding period, and to continue long after it ends.
Successful applications will focus on ideas which unlock potential in the communities, sectors, skill levels and places currently underserved by mainstream provision.
They understand that these challenges do not exist in isolation – that is partly why they are so complex. Successful applicants will be expected to explore and consider connected issues as part of the work together; however they must concentrate on one challenge question for the application.
This grant call is not about tech solutions and products in isolation. They are looking for ideas that are flexible, dynamic, adaptable and linked – not one solution for one problem for one employer. They are interested in ideas that look beyond a single product, supplier, organisation or service, and which create connections between different organisations and processes to demonstrate how people and structures could work together to address the challenges they have identified.
They are looking for ideas that can demonstrate a better way of tackling the challenges they have set out. Showing how, alongside people and processes, tech can improve how things are done and deliver better outcomes.
Ideas could be about how tech could improve and formalise ‘hacks’ or work arounds to an existing system or business process, or the development of completely new ways of working.
They are looking for ideas that support learners into real work and job opportunities, strengthening the link between skills training, local employment needs and actual jobs. Applications that talk about ‘pathways’ into work therefore must have real employers engaged locally. They won’t support projects that develop skills without a local need.
They are looking for applications with match funding to ensure the risk and commitment is shared between Ufi and the project. There is no set percentage of match funding and it can be cash or in kind. Tell them on your application what resources you will bring and what you need from them.
Whatever the idea, it must not add complexity or duplication into the existing skills system. As found in the Green and White papers, complexity, fragmentation and too many ‘systems inside a system’ are major barriers to change.

Who can apply?

This is an open grant call, so they are open to applications from all types of organisations, in line with the normal guidance.
They are looking for applications from organisations who want to be part of the VocTech Challenge Impact Network, and active movement for change that brings together a network of stakeholders already actively tackling barriers to adult learning as part of the ongoing VocTech Challenge programme.
Given the aims of this grant call they think it will be best suited to:
- Collaborative groups of organisations and employers (with a lead applicant) where at least one partner has a strong track-record in working with the target community of learners, at least one has a strong development and learning design background, and an employer or employer group partner is involved.
- Organisations/groups who are in touch with or delivering in the part of the skills system which they wish to change.
- Organisations with a strong track-record in working with a community of learners, and a route to engaging employers/employer groups.
- Organisations with a shared passion for Ufi’s mission.
This grant fund will not be suitable for start-ups or very small organisations.

Criteria

Applications must:
- Tackle one of the three challenge questions. They understand that these challenges do not exist in isolation – that is partly why they are so complex. Successful applicants will be expected to explore and consider connected issues as part of the work together; however they must concentrate on one challenge question for the application.
- Focus on Ufi’s target learner groups – the communities, sectors, skill levels and places currently underserved by mainstream provision
- Show commitment to being part of the Impact Network and consider how being part of this community could benefit/strengthen the progress of their idea
- Reduce duplication and increase collaboration when compared to the status quo
- Have an immediate purpose for a large number of learners and for organisations who will benefit from better skilled employees (1,000+ learners to benefit during the period of Ufi funding)
- Be conceived and developed in a way that sustains and scales when Ufi funding has ended
- Be collaborative with at least two of the following engaged:
  - employers or employer groups/trade bodies who can provide access to learners/users and potential employment opportunities for learners.
  - an organisation engaged with and well connected to the target learner group.
  - a provider (e.g. training organisation, recruitment or employment body, awarding body)
  - software developers with proven experience of developing digital tools with a track record of adoption.
- Demonstrate commitment from the applicant and collaborators, in the form of cash, time and / or other forms of in-kind support
To be able to achieve these criteria they believe that project applicants will need to be at least at MVP stage and have direct access to a cohort of available learners/users for development and testing so they can prove that relevance and replicate to scale.
They are also open to the fact that:
- the idea may be part of a blended or hybrid solution, where digital tools and approaches can enhance face to face delivery.
- ideas may also address the skills of trainers in deploying VocTech in order to ensure that these tools are utilised and embedded more quickly.
- the idea may not be a separate product or commercial service. The tool may well be something that can be embedded or retrofitted into existing offers or changes to practice in order to improve outcomes, catalysing longer term systems change.
- whilst this call is not focused on digital skills development, there may be a need to address digital skills as an entry point to the vocational skills and pathways to work that applicants are seeking to build.
- While the focus is on up to level 3 skills, where there is a clear demand from employers for skills above this level, they will consider applications which include a small proportion of above level 3 skills.

Ineligible

They are not looking for:
- New Learning Management Systems
- Ideas which duplicate or increase the complexity of the skills landscape.
- Speculative technologies developed in isolation of the user group.
- Ideas with no potential for scale or catalyse wider systemic change in the sector.
- Generic ‘coaching’ or motivational tools.
- Generic mental health or well-being support solutions.
- Enterprise skills solutions
- Skills that are above Level 3 or equivalent

For more information, visit Ufi VocTech Trust.