Who does SkillsActive work with?

Click to find out about SkillsActive's work with: Employers / Government / Training Providers / Individuals

SkillsActive works with employers

SkillsActive takes the lead from employers and works to ensure that they can develop a highly professional and competent workforce, ensuring that businesses and organisations can grow and reach their full potential.

SkillsActive works with organisations of all sizes, the majority of which are classed as micro organisations – having fewer than ten employees.

Examples of SkillsActive’s work with employers, both nationally and locally:

• Development of the activepassport – a unique web-based resource that records training, qualifications and personal and professional achievements that are fully verified. The activepassport makes finding the right staff with the right skills and experience easier for employers;
• Development of an online training needs analysis tool for organisations to look at where their workforce training needs lie;
• Annual skills convention, bringing together employers and industry experts to discuss the direction and priorities of skills provision in the UK.

“The passport provides a record of achievement for life which simply needs updating rather than recreating every time an individual needs to demonstrate their skills and experience. Having internet access to each cardholder’s portfolio will allow us to develop a more tailored training programme and deploy people where their skills are most needed.”
Michaela Hutchings, senior manager strategic sport, Birmingham City Council

SkillsActive works with government

SkillsActive works with government departments and agencies, both here and abroad, to provide policy input, lobby for funding and make the case on behalf of employers and individuals in relation to training needs and skills provision.

Examples of SkillsActive’s work with the government:

• Provided a link between the government-commissioned Leitch Review of Skills, the most wide-ranging and comprehensive review of skills provision in the UK for decades, and the employers and organisations affected by the review;
• Successfully lobbied the Welsh assembly government to establish the Exercise Council for Wales, which brings together key players in the exercise and fitness arena in Wales; 
• Successfully bid for over £5.5 million of European Social Fund funding to deliver a range of programmes including getting black and ethnic minority women into the fitness sector, as well as funding qualifications in management and leadership across the East, South East and London regions.

“If we are to be taken seriously, be fit for purpose, deliver on the agendas and be true to people who work in the sector then we need to ensure that skills are top of the government’s agenda.”
The former Rt Hon Richard Caborn, minister for sport, speaking at the annual skills convention, May 2007

SkillsActive works with training providers

SkillsActive works with a range of training providers to ensure they deliver a highly professional and competent workforce, meeting the needs of sector employers.

SkillsActive works with private training providers, schools, colleges and universities on developing a range of programmes and initiatives that will benefit the sector including the development of new qualifications, and lobby’s funding agencies to ensure public money is available to fund those qualifications.

Examples of SkillsActive’s work with training providers:

• Continual development of the apprenticeship family, including the introduction of young apprenticeships in schools, work-based learning through apprenticeships and programmes targeted at elite young athletes;
• Working with colleges and universities to develop foundation degrees and flexible learning programmes to incorporate both degree level study and work experience;
• Ensuring the sector is at the forefront of education reform through the development of a new diploma in sport and leisure aimed at 14-19 year olds.

“Funding for the sector continues to be a major barrier, with most employers finding the funding criteria extremely confusing at best and unobtainable at worst. LLC, its partners and SkillsActive continue to work collaboratively to lobby and influence the focus and direction of funding for the sector.”
Tara Gausden, director of the London Leisure College (LLC)

SkillsActive and individuals

SkillsActive is working hard to ensure that individual employees and volunteers get access to the training and qualifications they need as well as helping individuals to achieve the recognition they deserve for their work.

Examples of SkillsActive’s work with individuals:

• Sponsorship of the Nancy Ovens bursary, which helps people each year to fund and develop their skills outside of their day-to-day work;
• Designed an interactive sports map illustrating how people may progress through a career in sport; 
• Launch of SkillsActiveCareers: ‘active advice for active careers’ for the whole sector – online and on the phone.

“The funding has allowed me to access high quality development opportunities that I would not have been otherwise able to afford.”
Steve Jones, volleyball coach and recipient of the Nancy Ovens bursary

Find out more

Follow the links below to find out more about the sector, skills and the role of SkillsActive:

• What does SkillsActive do?
• Why is skills provision important?
• Why is the active leisure and learning sector important?