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National Skills Academy

SkillsActive has received government endorsement to proceed to the next stage in developing a National Skills Academy for sport and active leisure. SkillsActive aims to establish the National Skills Academy for sport and active leisure as a network of centres of excellence for work-based learning.

Latest Updates:

NSA Regional Network – Invitations to tender

SkillsActive is pleased to announce that invitations to tender for the NSA regional network for National, London, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, and South East regions are now available. For information and documentation click here for more details, please contact NSASupport@skillsactive.com.

NSA Regional Operations Group (London) - Invitations for membership

We are currently recruiting new members to the NSA Regional Operations Group for London, click here for more details.

About the NSA

The NSA will not just coordinate the best of what’s already there, but will deliver in a 21st Century style (via the virtual platform website, leading edge training centres, and custom designed in house learning programmes for example)

With a sector so diverse, covering public, private and voluntary organisations, one of the biggest challenges facing active leisure and learning employers is the ability to access publicly funded, industry-recognised, quality assured training at a local level.

A National Skills Academy (NSA) is a network of employer-led, world-class centres of excellence delivering the skills required by employers in the sector, on a local level. The NSA represents an exciting evolution in the way we train our workforce. For the first time, employers will take control of the design and delivery of learning in their industry, working in partnership with government and top training providers, from both the public and private sectors.

It is time to deliver. The development of a NSA for sport and active leisure will revolutionise the industry by providing one single, coherent approach to all skills training in our sector.

The National Skills Academy for sport and active leisure aims to be :

An industry recognised in its own right for its professionalism, with a highly skilled, committed and diverse workforce, and a regular supply chain of new talent coming through.
A sector at the heart of best practice skills training, benefiting fully from government programmes and support, but at the same time contributing new ideas to developing core life; coaching; people; management and leadershp; and equality and diversity skills in all people - but particularly the 19-24 year old age group.
A sector genuinely open to all, offering work opportunities throughout every community in Engalnd, and at all skills levels.
An industry hugely attractive to young people, to black and minority ethnic groups, the disabled and women, and one which, because 4 out of 5 of its job rles are voluntary, part time, and/or seasonal, has a key role to play as a 'gateway to other careers', largely becuase of its ability to provide essential generic, and employability, skills.
An industry (through its Sector Skills Agreement) well informed by its skills gaps, and hence able to articulate with confidence its training offer, in the knowledge that it genuinely delivers against the latest skills priorities on the ground - currently:

At Levels 2 - more school leavers entering the workforce with suitable employability skills (particularly self-confidence, taking responsibility, and people skills) and less workers without a Level 2 qualification
At Levels 2/3 - more workers gaining technical qualifications (29% shortfall currently) and customer service skills (lacking in 79% of front line staff)
At Level 4 - more staff progressing onto management and leadership roles (relevant skills lacking in 69% of exisitng managers, and high drop out rate)

6. Finally, a sector rich in the diversity of its sub-sectors and target groups, and hence benefiting fully from a cross-fertilisation of ideas in terms of future innovation, development, and sustainability going forward as they relate to:

Sport, Fitness and The Outdoors Industry (Phase 1 of the NSA from 2008) and;
The Playwork and Caravan Industry (Phase 2 of the NSA from 2009).

The National Skills Academy for sport and active leisure is supported by a number of high profile organisations from across the sector including Amateur Swimming Association, Birmingham City Council, Bromley Mytime, Dog and Duck Leisure Park, England and Wales Cricket Board, Fitness First, Greenwich Leisure Limited, KAM Limited, Montgomery Leisure Services, PGL, Rugby Football Union, Sencio Community Leisure, Sheffield United Football Club, Sports Coach UK, Sport England, St Alban City and District Council, Warrington Borough Council, Westminster City Council.

Next steps and sector involvement

On 7 May 2008, the Learning Skills Council announced its formal approval of the NSA for Sport and Active Leisure. We are now in the first phase of our project, which includes recruiting staff, creating the new virtual platform and setting up our national office. We will also be setting up hubs in London, Northwest and Yorkshire and the Humber for official Launch in September. We will continue to develop and plan for roll out of the NSA in another 6 regions throughout England for launch in two later phases. These 6 additional regions include the Southeast, East, and the Southwest in Phase 2 and West Midlands, East Midlands and North East in Phase 3.

We need your involvement now to shape how the Academy will work for you in your region. This is your opportunity to create a system to access training, to leverage significant public investment

So far we have raised £5.8m of capital to be match funded by the LSC. Contact us to find out how you can participate and invest in the future of the Academy.

Email: NSASupport@skillsactive.com.

NSA Regional Network – Invitations to tender