Subcontracting (fees and charges) - policy for subcontractors

As a requirement of Gateshead Council's contracts with North East Combined Authority and the Education and Skills Funding Agency, Learning and Skills are required to publish this policy prior to participating in any sub-contracting activity from 1 August 2013. Full details of subcontracting arrangements are listed in individual Service Level Agreements which along with this policy are reviewed annually.

Gateshead Council enters into subcontracting arrangements to meet the best interests of learners and employers where provision cannot be offered as effectively in house. Subcontracting must meet the needs of the local community, and focus support on priority groups, the unemployed and increasing Apprenticeship delivery. Subcontractors will be supported to follow Gateshead Council Quality Assurance processes set out in Service Level Agreements, including Teaching, Learning and Assessment and implementation of the Quality Framework. In addition to meeting Quality Assurance requirements, Gateshead Council will also support (where required) with Curriculum Management, Accreditation, Tutor Management, Course Planning, MIS management and submission data returns, marketing, learner support, innovation and health and safety. Further details on the support arrangements are detailed in Service Level Agreements.

Learning and Skills have determined the costs of services provided and require a minimum 18% management fee for services provided.

If required a full contract review will cost the subcontractor £500

The management fee includes the returning of data- checking completions, withdrawals, suspensions, learner numbers, performance against profile, success rates and timely success rates. The management fee also includes the production of any data agreements; data reports on progress against Qualification Achievement Rates; monitoring and providing feedback on overdue learners and any action planning from checking return data.

As required, any additional chasing of outstanding paperwork/progress information will be charged at an additional £50.

Paired quality activities such as Observations of Teaching, Learning and Assessment (one per curriculum area/ tutor); action planning and monitoring of improvements; Self-Assessment feedback for SAR; Work scrutiny and file checking - 10% or 10 files (whichever is greater)[Completion of portfolio; Attendance; Progress; Predicted completion/ success; Target setting; Health and safety check] Learner engagement [including: Initial assessment; IAG; Learner support; Induction]; Collection of learner feedback and analysis completed are all included in aforementioned management fee

As required Enhanced Intervention/ Support will cost the subcontractor £50 per hour

Staff CPD- Safeguarding, Prevent, British Values will be offered free of charge

As required Staff CPD- Non-mandatory/ Specialist/ Result of Development Need will cost the subcontractor £50 per hour

Full payment terms are confirmed with individual subcontractors and are listed in Service Level Agreements, but typically will be based on actual funding drawn down from the funding bodies to the reference date (usually 1 December, 1 March, 1 July). Payments to subcontractors are capped at the rate of Maximum Contract Value listed in Service Level Agreements. Subcontractors are informed of the amounts to invoice, and payments will be made by BACS within 30 days of receipt of invoice.

Details of actual levels of funding paid and retained for each subcontractor will be published on our website within 30 days of the Academic Year final ILR submission.

2013/14 subcontracting figures (PDF, 70 KB)(opens new window)

2014/15 subcontracting figures (PDF, 71 KB)(opens new window)

2015/16 subcontracting figures (PDF, 68 KB)(opens new window)

2016/17 subcontracting figures (PDF, 70 KB)(opens new window)

2017/18 subcontracting figures (PDF, 46 KB)(opens new window)

2018/19 subcontracting figures (PDF, 43 KB)(opens new window)

2019/20 Subcontracting Figures (PDF, 106 KB)(opens new window)

2020/21 Subcontracting Figures (PDF, 154 KB)(opens new window)

2021/22 Subcontracting Figures (PDF, 53 KB)(opens new window)

2022/23 Subcontracting Figures (PDF, 106 KB)(opens new window)

2023/24 Subcontracting Figures (PDF, 106 KB)(opens new window)