SkillsActive respond to Scottish Government’s Commonwealth Games legacy consultation.

Will Pickering, SkillsActive – 14/05/2008

Although welcoming the consultation SkillsActive has stressed that we should not lose sight of the sport and health legacy within the wider picture.  A legacy in human resources is essential if we are not to be left with unused buildings and empty sports facilities. We feel that a modest investment in human resources would bring about real change.

SkillsActive has a strong presence in Scotland with good employer engagement including an Employers’ Executive Committee and three committees of employers representing our sub-sectors.  Employer engagement is key because employers are the people who know what skills they need for their workforce and how both employees and volunteers can best be trained. 

SkillsActive would emphasise priorities within “Reaching Higher – building on the success of Sport 21” of strong organisations and well trained people.  Unfortunately, employers of paid staff report various skills gaps and shortages.  They advise that on completion of various qualifications students are not employable as they have no vocational skills, and they express frustration that public funding for training is mostly channelled into Universities and Colleges, which is often not appropriate, not to employers. 

Employers and de-ployers of volunteers report anxiety that the disclosure requirements are off-putting for volunteers.  While we fully support the need to protect children, we need a system that is fit for purpose and is not providing barriers for volunteers becoming involved.

SkillsActive would suggest that we need to look to more inventive ways of helping young people achieve a career as a sports performer and where possible combining their talent in sport with learning. This way when their sporting career ends they have the opportunity to pursue other positive destinations.  It would be helpful if there was more dialogue about articulation between sports careers and access to flexible learning that would “count” towards a second career option.

Pam Scott, SkillsActive National Manager Scotland said, “For Scotland to be able to respond to an increased interest in physical activity and sport following the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014, we need to plan ahead for a strong workforce that is confident, competent and committed to delivering the legacy and that has sufficient flexibility that they can move between roles and jobs in sport, recreation, physical activity and event management.”

For more information on SkillsActive’s work in Scotland, please contact:

Pam Scott
SkillsActive National Manager Scotland - Sport and Recreation
Tel: 0131 226 6618
Email: pam.scott@skillsactive.com