Action Points
14.5.09
Present:
Chris Osborne
George Reid
Diana James
Gary Davies
Lisa Johnston
Lowri Edwards
Clarification was sought on a variety of topics.
As a result of the strategic planning meeting and Gallu exec these are the guidelines that have been agreed for Gallu work with the Tourist Associations.The following points should be sent to the three Tourist Associations with Chris Osborne’s name at the bottom. LJ
Use of Supplier Members at Events and information seminars
Any events involving supplier member promotion, it should be made explicitly clear that Gallu is not involved and that it is a supplier member promotion event. As a result Gallu may promote the event on its website but will not act as booking agents for these events unless a fee for this service is made.
Continuation of Non added Value workshops
Statutory courses are good hooks to get new businesses involved in the initiative and as members of the Tourist Associations. Gallu to continue signposting as done presently and ensure minimum work is carried out in this aspect.
Organisation of Social/Networking Events with the Tourist Associations
Gallu is funded by public sector money as such they are not to take the lead in organising this type of event or fund Tourist Association social events. All events that Gallu get involved with should have a training element.
Funding Tourist Association Open Meeting and Social Events
Gallu are not to fund any of the Tourist Associations open meetings or Events.
The meeting continued and looked at areas of training the trade needs but does not necessarily want.
Legislative issues –
To consider adding a 15 minute slot on any applicable legal aspects to other workshops with links to where to find the rest of the information.
This could also be included in the Tourist Association and Local Authority newsletter.
Softer HR Skills, training and development of staff, could focus the promotion of these as competitiveness in the current economic climate.
Requested workshops and how these can be moved forward.
GD says we should be planning a portfolio of training for the winter/ spring time this should be completed by September. These workshops are as an extra to the TA’s open meetings and the short sharp skill delivery afterwards. GD aims to encourage both Gallu and the TA’s to do this but for Gallu to be mindful that there may well be drop out workshops as a result of these and too manage time accordingly.
Food workshops and the Food Bid – meeting tomorrow LE in attendance will determine how the pot of money that they have will be spent. This amount is £40K. In brief, there are 4 counties in West Wales and we should have a focused food strategy. The money will be used to support the food initiatives that are already in place, PR and possibly some funding towards Gallu workshops which focus on Food and local produce. LE to keep any eye on this and to go to the group and update the group with any foodie courses we are requested to run and see if there is any bespoke funding.
DJ stated that this could also present an opportunity for the AAA to be promoted and to note that the Welsh Chefs Conference will be held at Castell Howell in September.
Digital Media workshops and Bid – opportunities are still under investigation but it has been identified that there is a lot of provision and not all of it is suitable for the sector. The monies will be used 80% for business development/support. Awaiting bid completion by Visit Wales and release of convergence funding. Gallu to hold spending too much money on this training at the moment, but to still embrace the enthusiasm of the trade regarding this topic. LJ to speak to GD and LVW
Recruitment and Retention – GD suggests that Gallu does not have the time or resources to influence school/FE/HE pupils, however the provision of vocational qualifications in Wales need to be geared for our Trade to make use of them.
If you have a situation where there is duplication between Pembs College, Trinity and Coleg Sir Gar helping them to come together to provide the best course and working alongside Gallu will assist the trade in upskilling. CO stated that this is due to come out of the Work Force Development Group initiative.
DJ met with the college consortium, at the moment they are mapping provision and wish to talk to Gallu about this, they are following the model that was used for the Energy Sector. Then using the industry channels they have to talk to trade to say this is available is this what you want? Our role should be quite focussed in pushing this forward and getting some responses. Each college is going to identify a member of staff to work on this. DJ volunteered LJ to meet with these 3 to pull all the information together and they will be presenting it at the meeting on the 17th June the resulting action will be put into a bid for convergence funding over the summer. LJ
DJ stated that there is frustration as the Sector Priority Fund is going to be purely accessibly by the SSC s and they will chose partners as they wish (this is not a huge sum of money). The Colleges have a Minister’s support for what is proposed and have decided to go ahead with an independent bid for convergence funding.
Planning for Gallu 2010/11, this project will be an important element of how things are done in the future. We need to be aware that colleges will not be putting in the bid if they are not going to get anything out of it, and as such caution should be exercised with regard to sourcing the best training provider for the job, there should be an open tender for workshop delivery. CO stated that Private training providers need to included in the initiative at some point.
CO discussed Trinity University College Professional Practise Programme The programme means that Trinity will go out to the workplace and establish the skills the industry have and what skills they need and then deliver the fall short in the workplace.
Recruitment and Retention
GR says his concern is creating a want within individuals to come and work in the sector and would love to see people being turned away from courses as they are undersubscribed. George would like to see continuation with the influencing of young people to work in the sector. GD says that for 2 people with a small budget (Gallu) this would be an impossible job however working with influencers to provide them with a better knowledge and understanding of the sector is more achievable. CO suggests that part of the problem is that there is activity going on however it is not mapped so we cannot get a conclusive idea of what is going on. GD suggests that there may be an opportunity for the college consortium to map what is going on and potentially hold some of the events for influencing students. DJ reported from her meeting yesterday this was reported as an integral part of the bid, and as such Gallu could be in a position to influence how it happens.
DJ stated that the colleges cannot always meet the demand of the sector for short tailor-made courses because this is a high-risk activity; this is recognised by the colleges , however if they could spread the risk between the 3 institutions there might be less risk and more possibility to be more accommodating in the future.
Refreshing the training provider database.
The Gallu team should, before paying for a advert in the newspaper for more trainers, send a message out to existing training provider database about why we are looking for more trainers. An invitation could also be published to the Gallu website where all trainers must submit their details and expression of interest.
The next meeting is pencilled in for the 4th of June LJ to advice group if it is going ahead nearer the time.
AOB
GD confirmed Budget - £100K for Gallu projected income for Gallu over the next 12 months is £6K.
GD summarised the new roles with in the TA’s and how the aim was to create greater efficiencies within the TA’s and provide a better service for the businesses.
Business to Business Research – nothing different than before but Pembs Tourism is to collate the information from the other associations put into some meaningful research, albeit the delivery of this will be branded to suit the relevant TA.
Communication – will be 80% collated by the CTA and as with B2B research will be branded as per the relevant TA.
Roadshow/workshops - Cathy to oversee/coordinate the events that are going on in the region.
Nia Ball at the CTA will be overseeing the coordination of all of the above.