24/11/11
Delegates were able to choose from a range of practical workshops sessions on exercise for ultimate fat loss, speed training, social media, cardiac rehabilitation, ViPR, studio powerbag conditioning, creating and maintaining motivation, integrated back training, mental health issues, muscle testing and physiology, and strength and conditioning, earning them four CPD points.
They also heard from keynote speaker and weight loss guru Pete Cohen, REPs Registrar Jean-Ann Marnoch, and SkillsActive’s activepassport manager Claire Westrop.
Jean-Ann said: “Our conventions always have a good vibe but this was one of the best yet. Our members are passionate about the work they do and en masse that enthusiasm and drive is incredible to see.
“As ever our practical workshops were hugely popular and everyone left feeling tired but inspired!”
The next REPs convention will be held in Cardiff on February 8 2012. This will be followed by the South East convention planned for May 10 2012 and a new bumper National convention to coincide with Leisure Industry Week in late September.
Grantfinder - 16/11/11
Funding expected to create at least 4,000 jobs and unlock around £500 million of new investment by small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) has been announced by the Prime Minister, David Cameron.
Hundreds of small businesses will benefit from government investment of £95 million to help boost growth and rebalance the economy.
The £95 million is part of the Government's Regional Growth Fund, which is a £1.4 billion fund supporting projects that can create jobs, are based in areas dependent on the public sector and are supported by private sector investment. The Fund has been primarily targeted at larger firms, with a minimum grant threshold of £1 million.
RBS, NatWest and HSBC have agreed to facilitate the distribution of the £95 million. RBS and NatWest will facilitate £70 million and HSBC will facilitate £25 million. The banks will not profit financially from the administration of these schemes.
The new schemes will provide grants to support SMEs considering investing in new capital assets and creating new employment.
The key features of the RBS, NatWest and HSBC schemes are as follows:
Business Minister Mark Prisk said: "These schemes will directly help SMEs that want to invest and create new jobs. They will deliver a shot in the arm to local communities and help small businesses drive local growth.
"100 per cent of the RGF funding will be provided as grants to small businesses with the banks employing their regional networks to administer the schemes for free."
For Further information see the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills website.
Our National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure works with the best training providers in our sector to deliver cost-effective, quality assured training solutions.
Providing training for employees not only helps them develop their skills and knowledge – it’s also a building block to business success.
SkillsActive works with employers and training providers to develop vocational qualifications that enable people to be competent in specific types of work.
Discover more about how SkillsActive ensures that quality training is available to those in the sector.
SkillsActive helps improve business skills in our sector through a range of training initiatives and resources.
The ability to read, write and do maths opens up the number of career opportunities in the active leisure, learning and wellbeing industry. SkillsActive helps improve adult literacy, language and numeracy skills in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland through a range of training initiatives.
Find out more about these initiatives >
It takes special skills to lead a team - both on and off the field. Train your staff or improve your skills anywhere, at any time with SkillsActive’s selection of quick, simple and cost efficient online courses from quality training providers.
There are two types of Apprenticeships available in the active leisure, learning and wellbeing sector sector in England:
For information and documents relevant to apprenticeships in England see Frameworks and Guidance for England.
Frameworks and Guidance for England>
SkillsActive manages the Hair and Beauty Apprenticeship frameworks in partnership with Habia, the sector body for the hair, beauty, nails and spa sector.
For Hair and Beauty Apprenticeship frameworks see the HABIA website.
For more information on apprenticeships in England see the National Apprenticeship Service website.
National Apprenticeship Service website>
Register your interest in discovering more about how Apprenticeships could benefit your business >
Apprenticeships are available in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. However, each country has a slightly different approach.
Select a country below to learn more about the frameworks available in your area.
This section contains Apprenticeship frameworks and guidance documents for Northern Ireland.
This section contains Modern Apprenticeship frameworks and guidance documents for Scotland.
Distinct from other parts of the UK, England has its own requirements for training areas such as Apprenticeships. These could offer funded training for employees.
Discover more about apprenticeships >
SkillsActive membership is a great way for employers to access benefits and discounts, as well as gaining support to access Apprenticeship funding. Premium membership includes your own dedicated account manager to provide one-on-one support to your business.
Discover more about ther benefits of SkillsActive membership >
SkillsActive is also setting up a Group Training Association (GTA), which will take the form of a number of membership networks around England, aiming to provide training support for specific areas. For more information about the Group Training Association and how it could support your business, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
SkillsActive's National Skills Academy delivers a number of projects in England, many of which offer funding for training. Our national network of approved training providers allows you to find quality training in your area.
Discover more about the work of the National Skills Academy >
Browse our training provider catalogue >
Employers with further enquiries about how SkillsActive can support their business should email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Meet your training requirements simply and cost-effectively with our discounted offers.
Browse our catalogue of approved training providers to find quality training for your staff, ensuring you get the best value for money.
SkillsActive can offer you a number of tools to support how you manage your staff training.
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.
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