Tribal Hubs delivers IAG success for Dorset region

Tribal Hubs successfully achieved the year’s targets despite new rules on allowing only one session per customer per year, and also a strict focus on reaching clients with below level 2 qualifications. The company improved integration of IAG services with Jobcentre Plus and increased marketing programmes to broaden awareness and ensure high levels of take-up.

This focus on basic skills, combined with the organisational and administrative challenges of changing over to Tribal as the service provider 12 months ago, made achieving the targets all the more impressive. Lyn Gardner, IAG director for the area, explains, "It is a challenge to access people with below level 2 qualifications. Lack of qualifications can be a sensitive subject for adults, and learners in this target group often lack the confidence or motivation to start a learning programme. In response to this, the Tribal team has invested a great deal of time in encouraging and motivating this target group, an area where we recognised there was a lack of existing provision."
Caroline Pover, contract manager at the Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole LSC, praised Tribal’s achievements, "I have been really impressed with the work Tribal has undertaken over the past year to ensure the service delivered is of a consistently high standard and is accessible through a variety of providers across the sub-region."
Tribal Hubs works in partnership with a wide variety of organisations including Jobcentre Plus, Ufi learndirect, local colleges, voluntary organisations, training providers and the probation service to enhance the opportunities for jobs and learning for Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole residents. Tribal’s coordinated approach to the service, combined with the commitment of its partners, has allowed the company to embrace the government's agenda to create a ‘no wrong door’ service across the Dorset region.
Tribal also runs two projects which deliver one-to-one coaching for people who have not worked for some time, to help them to move closer to employment. The company also manages four European Social Fund (ESF) co-financing projects which are designed to build the capacity of the IAG network across Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole. One project is for people with qualifications above level 2, who are unemployed. There is also project funding for Tribal to upskill its advice workers, to help its network of providers work towards achieving the matrix standard and to allow Tribal to develop referral systems across the NHS through ‘Prescriptions for Learning’, where learning advisers are based in GP surgeries.
Tribal is a leading provider of support services to the education and public sector with extensive experience in strategic and operational management in the learning and skills sector. Tribal’s portfolio also includes the management of the learndirect centres in Dorset, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.
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Notes to editors

Tribal Technology
Tribal Technology, a member of Tribal Group plc, aims to be the first choice for creative IT and information management solutions which improve and transform organisations. Combining technical expertise with in-depth understanding of public and private sector operations, Tribal Technology delivers software, systems, consultancy and managed services, to support the management of education and training, libraries and information services, and local government support services.

Tribal Group plc is one of the fastest growing companies supporting the public sector today. The Group's activities cover the full spectrum of strategic and operational support services including consulting, property, technology, resourcing, education and communications.

For further information, please contact:
Catherine Dhanjal, TheAnswer Ltd Tel: 0208 655 0953 or 0794 166 9925
Email: catherine.dhanjal@theansweruk.com

Date: 17th October 2005 Ref: TA-278