Decision details

Background/ Decision Summary

York has been allocated £5.1m from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) to implement the investment plan that was agreed by DLUHC in January 2023. In October 2022, CYC Executive gave delegated authority to the Corporate Director of Place to implement this Investment Plan, in consultation with the relevant Executive Members and the York UKSPF Partnership Board. This delegation was reconfirmed in October 2023 when Executive considered the results of a light touch review of the programme, which included allocating skills funding to the retrofit skills project. Due to the senior management restructure, the decision has been made by the Interim Director of City Development who now has responsibility for UKSPF.

Executive considered detailed plans for a retrofit skills project at its February 2024 meeting, noting progress and reiterating their support for the project. North Yorkshire Council have also initiated a retrofit skills project, working with York College and a consortium of training providers to deliver retrofit skills to public and private sector construction teams. In order to implement the York project, which was due to commence in April 2024, two pieces of work are required. The York College consortium will market and deliver retrofit skills training, ensuring a regional approach to workforce development. York and North Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (YNY MCA) are undertaking research to establish the current and future workforce needs of the retrofit sector.

This project’s focus on developing retrofit skills in suppliers complements the work of the InnovateUK funded ROSSY/YorEnergy project which is building householder demand for retrofit work to properties. As discussed in the paper considered by Executive in January 2024, both supply and demand must be stimulated to overcome the current market failure.

York College will coordinate training through the consortium, and act as the central point for enquiries and bookings, at a cost of £8,000. They will have a £100k fund to support the costs of training.

YNYMCA are already undertaking a study across North Yorkshire and require additional funding of £10,000 to extend this study to cover York.

UKSPF funding must all be spent by the end of the current financial year, when the current programme finishes and any unspent funds must be returned to Government.

Decision:
Award £108,000 to York College and University Centre to run Retrofit Skills training and £10,000 to YNYMCA to undertake analysis of future workforce needs for retrofit.

Option 1: Award funding to York College and YNYMCA

Option 2: Do not award funds

Option 2: Not awarding funds would prevent the implementation of decisions taken by Executive in October 2023 and January 2024 to support the Retrofit skills initiative.