16/1/12
From 21 December 2011 onwards the ERI is available to Scottish employers recruiting a Modern Apprentice, who matches one of the following criteria:
ERI is also available to employers recruiting an employee, who matches one of the following criteria:
This development is great news for Scottish businesses and young people across the country.
For more information please contact the Employer Helpline 0800 783 6000 or see www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk
Source: Skills Development Scotland
5/1/12
The English teenager became the youngest winner of the Ladies' British Open Amateur Championship held at Royal Portrush when she took the title in June aged only 16, breaking a 112-year record.
Now 17 and in her second year of the AASE programme, Taylor, beat cyclist Lucy Garner and swimmer Eleanor Simmonds to the award.
The decision was made by a panel chaired by BBC Sport presenter John Inverdale.
The youngster made a memorable debut on the Ladies European Tour, qualifying for the Slovak Open and then hitting a hole in one during the first round and is ranked 20th in the women's amateur world rankings.
Taylor helped England win a silver medal at the European Girls Team Championships in the Junior Solheim Cup and was also a member of England's winning Ladies' Home Internationals team. She has been now been signed by Baylor College, Dallas, Texas, on a sports-based scholarship.
Speaking about her achievements, Ryder Cup player and world number 25 Ian Poulter said: "She is not only a great golfer but an extremely well-rounded young woman. Lauren is a deserving winner of the award and has my full support as she moves forward with her golfing career."
Steve Robinson, English Women's Golf Association national coach, added: "Lauren has always impressed me with her work-rate, attitude and ambition along with her desire to compete - the attributes all top-class athletes require.
"Lauren is a very talented, down to earth sportsperson and has a very bright future ahead of her."
In addition to Taylor, Garner and Simmonds, the original shortlist of 10 also included: Liam Broady (tennis), Sally Brown (athletics), Tom Daley (diving), Jack Laugher (diving), Pat McCormack (boxing), Laura Robson (tennis) and Anthony Watson (rugby union).
The award is made to the outstanding young sportsperson aged 16 or under on 1 January 2011. Previous winners include Daley, Andy Murray, Wayne Rooney, Simmonds and Theo Walcott.
Learn more about SkillsActive's Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence
SkillsActive chief operating officer David Henwood helped judge the first ever Lifetime Learner Achievement Awards ceremony on 17 November.
David says the awards, split into three categories (Open, Academy, and Apprenticeship programmes), recognise and celebrate the learning achievements and resulting career and personal successes, of those who have completed a qualification with SkillsActive's approved training provider, Lifetime.
David was invited to be a judge alongside David Foster (Lifetime CEO), Carole Bishop (Head of Lifetime Awarding), Spencer Melhman (NotGoingToUni).
David says: "It was a real honour to talk to the 20 finalists and learn what a difference their new found skills and knowledge in the active leisure, learning and wellbeing sector has made to them and those around them.”
Mark Davey, 31, from Westcliff-on-Sea was crowned the open category and Overall winner of the 2011 Awards. Mark overcame health issues and is now a fulltime gym manager, running his own exercise referral company and helping give back to those suffering similar health conditions.
Rachel Hobbs, 21, from Guildford was named as Apprenticeship programme category winner with a story of determination and passion to succeed for the sake of her young son.
The Academy category prize was scooped by Londoner Ian Perkins, a young man who has well and truly turned his life around through training.
20 finalists were shortlisted for the inaugural 2011 Lifetime Learner Achievement Awards, from an impressive 130 nominations. For further information on the 2012 awards, please visit www.lifetimeawards.co.uk
SkillsActive issues Apprenticeship frameworks, which outline the minimum requirements needed to complete the Apprenticeship at each level and for each occupation. We also provide certification for apprentices in England and Wales.
If you are a training provider in England or Wales and you would like to deliver government funded Apprenticeships, you need to hold a contract with the Skills Funding Agency.
Training providers in Scotland need to hold a contract with Skills Development Scotland. Training providers in Northern Ireland need to hold a contract with the Department for Employment and Learning.
To gain a contract, you must meet certain requirements, such as minimum contracting value. If you do not meet the minimum contracting value, you can enter into a subcontracting arrangement with a larger training provider. If you are a training provider in England, one way to do this is by joining SkillsActive’s Group Training Association.
To find out more about the Group Training Association email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Only training providers in Scotland need to register with SkillsActive to deliver Apprenticeships.
To register as a training provider with SkillsActive Scotland, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
There’s a wide variety of Apprenticeships available in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Select a country below to learn more about the types of Apprenticeships available in your area.
SkillsActive has worked with employers and training providers to develop a set of Apprenticeship frameworks. These outline the minimum requirements apprentices need to complete the apprenticeship at each level and for each occupation. You can then work with your employer and apprentice to identify the most suitable framework for their needs.
Learn more about the Apprenticeship frameworks available in your country by viewing Frameworks and Guidance.
At the end of their Apprenticeship, all apprentices need a certificate to show they have fulfilled the Apprenticeship requirements.
In England, Wales and Scotland, certificates are issued by SkillsActive. In Northern Ireland, they are issued by the Department for Employment and Learning.
Apprentices can apply for their own certificate or authorise their training provider to apply for one on their behalf.
England
A new certification service run by the Alliance has been developed and is known as Apprenticeship Certificates England (ACE). Apprentices, learning providers or employers who act on their behalf, will be able to request Apprenticeship certificates using the ACE online system. ACE provides a unique centralised certification system that will save Sector Skills Councils / Sector Skills Bodies (SSCs/SSBs), providers and certifying authorities valuable time, resource and investment and will allow them to track the progress of apprenticeship candidates. The system was officially launched on Wednesday 25 January 2012 by John Hayes MP, Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning.
You will need to register your organisation on the system via the online registration form; this can be done by going to www.acecerts.co.uk and completing the information and contact details. Once you have completed this process you will be emailed a username and password for ACE. This will be your "administrator" account which you can then use to create additional accounts for your centre. You will be able to create a maximum of 5 additional users.
The user guide that has been created for centres to help you use the system and also further e-learning materials can be found on www.acecerts.co.uk/tutorials.
The cost of certificates will be £22.
Should you have any questions relating to the new online system, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Apprentice Authorization Form England (mandatory to complete for all framework claims via the ACE system)
Wales
This certificate is for apprentices completing their programme in Wales.
Certification Request Form Wales
Scotland
To request a certificate in Scotland, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Northern Ireland
These are issued by the Department for Employment and Learning.
Keep track of your apprentice’s training with an activepassport™
activepassportTM is an auditable online tool that will help you track and record an individual’s Guided Learning Hours - a statutory requirement of the new frameworks in England and Wales.
If you’re a training provider, activepassport™ can:
Learn more about activepassport™ >
Our consultants can provide you with detailed information about delivering Apprenticeship training, or developing frameworks to suit businesses in your area.
To find out more, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Find out about Apprenticeship framework updates and other news relevant to Apprenticeships.
There is a range of intermediate level and advanced level Apprenticeships available in the sector, covering sport, fitness, playwork, caravans, the outdoors, and hair and beauty.
Apprenticeships usually take between 12 and 24 months to complete, depending on the type and level of Apprenticeship. Anyone aged over 16 and not in full-time education can apply.
Apprenticeships provide an entry point into many jobs in the active leisure, learning and wellbeing sector. Find out what exciting careers you could get into with Apprenticeships with SkillsActive Careers.
There’s a wide variety of Apprenticeships available in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Select a country below to learn more about the types of Apprenticeships available in your area.
The Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE) is SkillsActive's flagship sporting qualification for young people in England and Wales. It is designed for people with the realistic potential to achieve excellent in their sport, either by competing on the world stage or securing a professional contract.
Keep track of the training, qualifications and work experience you accrue during your Apprenticeship with an activepassport™
activepassport™ is a verified online record that enables you to prove to employers you possess the right skills, training, and experience. What’s more, you can convert it into a professional looking CV.|
If you’re an individual, activepassport™ can:
Over 20,000 people in the UK currently have an activepassport™, and more than 40 UK sport and leisure CEOs representing 70% of the workforce have signed a skills protocol, committing they will work towards their employees holding and maintaining an activepassport™ as standard.
To get your activepassport™, simply become an ActiveOnline user.
Learn more about becoming an ActiveOnline user>
SkillsActive can help those looking for an active, rewarding career find the right training programme to get started!
Alternatively, find apprenticeship opportunities in your area by browsing the vacancies section of the National Apprenticeship Service.
Ashley Peake, 21, studied engineering after he finished school and then worked at his father’s business. But his real passion was for the Outdoors and, in his spare time, Ashley volunteered as a climbing instructor for Blackpool Council. It was there that he learned about the apprenticeship scheme at Derwent Hill Outdoor Education Centre in Keswick.
Ashley says: “I’ve always been into climbing and hill walking so I thought, why not make a career out of it?”
Frameworks and quality training provide the right mix of practical and technical skills
SkillsActive, the sector skills council for sport and active leisure, has designed the apprenticeship frameworks to help businesses train employees to a high level of competency and performance. Ashley began his one-year apprenticeship with Derwent Hill in August 2010.
SkillsActive put the Derwent Hill Outdoor Education Centre in touch with Kendal College, part of its network of top quality training providers. Kendal College, which was awarded an outstanding grade from OFSTED in 2011, provided Ashley with practical and theory based qualifications, including Level 2 Activity Leadership, L2 Certificate Working in the Outdoors, Level One Certificate in Coaching Paddlesport and Foundation safety and rescue training.
Ashley acknowledges he could have achieved the same qualifications at a Further Education institution, but says that would only have given him “paperwork knowledge” of the industry.
“I wouldn’t have developed the confidence and the communications skills I have from working with groups week in, week out. Apprenticeships are definitely the way to go if you’re a hands-on, practical minded person. They’re great fun, particularly if you work in the Outdoors, and I’d recommend them to anyone.”
Apprenticeships add value to business
Depending on the day, you can now find Ashley, who lives onsite, planning activities and leading groups of young people on high ropes courses, canoe trips, abseiling or mountain walking.
Long term, he hopes to gain the skills to lead groups on mountain climbing trips abroad; Mt Everest is top of his list: “It was a big decision to leave engineering behind because I liked my old job. But my new job – I love it.”
Ashley’s manager, Andy Morris, says Derwent Hill has a long proud history of sourcing quality staff through apprenticeships.
“Ashley and our other apprentice definitely add value to our business. While they’re training, it means an additional competent staff member to help take sessions. When they’re nearing the end of their placement, and are capable of leading sessions, our apprentices save us money by freeing up fulltime staff.
“Ashley picks up physical skills very quickly; he also has the communications skills to be a very good coach. He has a very bright future in the Outdoors.”
To find out more about Apprenticeships in the sport and active leisure sector see Apprenticeships
Mark says the leisure industry has a steady turnover rate so keeping quality staff is critical. He is committed to the training and development of SCL workforce, with special emphasis on staff recruitment and retention at its seven facilities.
"We have a development plan for everybody at SCL from me down, which is reviewed twice yearly," he says. "It combines training for job specific skills with future development potential. So even if a person doesn't want to progress beyond their current job, they've got the training to stay motivated and energised and improve the way they carry it out."
SCL works with SkillsActive to supply staff with a "menu of relevant, meaningful training" up to NVQ level 4.
"SkillsActive provides a single point of contact for our training needs and requirements. The most junior person benefitting from brokered training is a greeter and the most senior is a centre manager."
Apprenticeships provide the work-ready people we need
Mark says the active leisure industry needs commonsense people with strong intrapersonal skills and practical skills. He believes in career progression through vocational training and is also a firm advocate of apprenticeships.
"Apprenticeships allow people who are more practically focussed to gain the appropriate qualifications to work in our sector. And with the government cut back on spending, and University caps, apprenticeships are more relevant now than ever before."
SCL has provided about six people with apprenticeships in the past year, mainly in leisure attendance and recreation assistant roles.
"In the past we've experienced considerable turnover because people find their way to us by accident as opposed to actually wanting to be involved in the industry. We want people to come to us because they've chosen it as a career, and apprenticeships, which are designed by SkillsActive, are a good way for us to achieve this."
Investing in tomorrow's workforce today
To ensure it has a workforce with the right skills to meet anticipated future growth, the company signed up for the Future Jobs Fund Programme.
The Future Jobs Fund programme, delivered by SkillsActive’s National Skills Academy, provided 5000 young unemployed people with six months training and work experience in the sport and active leisure sector. It was funded by the government and supported by 175 employer partners nationwide.
"They proved very useful to us, and we felt as though we were providing them with meaningful work experience. This gave us the confidence to take on more people."
Activepassport gives employers confidence
By working with SkillsActive's network of recognised training providers, Mark ensures his staff access quality training. But verifying the training completed by prospective staff can be difficult. For this reason, Mark volunteered Sencio to be one of the first companies to trial the activepassport system.
Activepassport is a secure online record of an individual's skills, qualifications and training, which is independently verified. Fourteen staff at Sencio populated their activepassport as part of the trial in mid-2010, and Mark says the system has a lot of potential.
"As an individual, it helps you keep an accurate record of your training and skills. As an employer; it gives you confidence that any prospective candidate has in fact undertaken the quality leisure specific training they claim."
"I would like to see everybody involved in the sector have an activepassport to follow them throughout their career."
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