SkillsActive is working with a new grouping of outdoor sector stakeholders with a mutual focus on delivering appropriate transitional accreditation arrangements in advance of the removal of statutory licensing.

Following last year’s announcement to repeal the Activity Centres (Young Person’s Safety) Act 1995 (in England at least), the group initially formed as a part of a working group to offer guidance to the Health & Safety Executive on post-repeal arrangements. Significant concerns have galvanised the sector to continue this initial work through the newly named UK Accreditation Transition Group (UKATG). These concerns include:

• - the possibility of differing accreditation arrangements over the four UK nations;
• - the absence of a robust voluntary accreditation scheme incorporating independent assessment which covers all aspects of the sector.

It is critical that users (local authorities, schools, parents, families, customers) can have confidence in the provision of adventurous activities across the UK. Safety and the perception of safety to outsiders are critical to the sector. In turn confidence, or more importantly the lack of it, can have a dramatic impact upon participation and take-up. The outcomes of this would be detrimental to society, education, the economy and to the long term health of the population.

So far, the group has met twice in 2012 with efforts to date concentrating on:

• - identifying a suitable body to adopt the group’s role in the longer term;
• - developing plans for a regime of voluntary third party inspections & an associated register;
• - communication activity to address the mixed levels of understanding about post-AALA arrangements.

The group’s membership is drawn from a range of stakeholder organisations with coverage of the diverse range of variables that make up the UK outdoors including the four home nations:

• - Adventure Activities Industry Advisory Committee;
• - Association of Heads of Outdoor Education Centres;
• - British Activity Provider Association;
• - English Outdoor Council;
• - Institute for Outdoor Learning;
• - Mountain Leader Training UK;
• - National Union for Teachers;
• - Outdoor Education Advisors’ Panel (English & Welsh representation);
• - Prince's Trust;
• - Royal Yachting Association;
• - Outdoor Employers’ Group;
• - Scottish Advisory Panel Outdoor Education;
• - SportNI;
• - SkillsActive (the sector skills council for the UK outdoor sector).

Please check this page regularly for updates on the group’s work.

29/2/12

SkillsActive’s UK Strategic Lead for the Outdoors, Peter Thompson, was interviewed at the 2012 Outdoors Show in London in January about post-licensing and registers.

The debate highlights the possibility of registration in a central "Register" replacing the AALA licensing scheme as well as the alternative independent schemes that are being considered by different interest groups within the outdoors community.

The forum was attended by outdoor employers and practitioners from all over the UK.

View Peter's video interview

23/2/12

Northern Ireland outdoor providers can access discount customer care training in preparation for the busy summer season thanks to a special offer from SkillsActive, the sector skills council for active leisure, learning and wellbeing, in partnership with NITB and People 1st.

The two day WorldHost customer service training is developed by NITB and People 1st, the sector skills council for hospitality, passenger transport, travel and tourism, and designed for people working in any industry where the quality of front-line customer service is key to business success.

If you are currently employed in a private organisation in Northern Ireland within the tourism sector, then the cost of WorldHost customer service package could be as little as £20. This is thanks to funding from the Department for Employment in Learning in Northern Ireland negotiated by SkillsActive Northern Ireland.

The programme includes:

• WorldHost Principles of Customer Service 1 day programme
• WorldHost Ambassadors Workshop ½ day programme. To include Northern Ireland Product Knowledge tailored to the specific area of delivery
• Familiarisation tour of the specific area of delivery. This could be a walking tour or bus tour depending on the area
• Level 2 accredited qualifications for both programmes
• All materials
• Certificates and WorldHost pin badges

The support is available to a limited number of applicants for training received until the end of March 2012.

For more information on the WorldHost programme please visit www.worldhostni.com or contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 7/2/12

The number of apprentices in the sport and active leisure sector has increased 600% in the past five years, according to statistics released in time for England’s National Apprenticeship Week (6-12 February).

SkillsActive, the Sector Skills Council for Sport and Active Leisure, issued 9,342 Apprenticeship certificates in the year ending September 2011- up from 1,271 in 2006.

SkillsActive interim CEO Suki Kalirai says the figures show more employers in sport, fitness, caravans, playwork and the outdoors are realising the value of Apprenticeships.

“By using Apprenticeships to train new and existing staff, these employers are reducing business costs, investing in their future workforce and helping alleviate the nation’s unemployment crisis.”

Fit for Sport training manager Jack Shakespeare says 15% of the organisation’s 70 permanent staff train through Apprenticeship programmes; by 2013, he expects that figure to reach 50 per cent.

“Apprenticeships are, in our experience, the most successful way to recruit, develop and retain effective employees,” Jack says. “We are using Apprenticeship programmes to build a well-trained, motivated and loyal workforce which will help us grow and develop our business.”

Outdoor education provider PGL has 180 apprentices across its operations in the UK and France.

PGL Apprenticeship programme manager, Jo Mortimer says: “Apprenticeships are a cost-effective way to provide staff who may not have travelled the academic route with the skills and qualifications we require. Many of our apprentices have developed their management skills and gone on to work at higher levels within the business.”

Apprenticeships are a package of on-the-job training and qualifications which take between one and four years to complete. There are 13 Apprenticeship frameworks available in the sport and active leisure sector in England, covering job roles as diverse as activity leadership, playwork and spectator safety. SkillsActive has designed each framework in consultation with sector employers, to ensure they provide the skills businesses need.

Suki explains that Apprenticeship programmes are not just suited to large employers; small and medium sized businesses now have the opportunity to access funded training through SkillsActive’s Group Training Association.

“Our Group Training Association enables employers running small to medium enterprises to group together and access funded training that would otherwise be out of their reach. This training is delivered through SkillsActive’s network of approved National Skills Academy training providers.

“I encourage all employers, whatever their size, to talk to one of our account managers about how Apprenticeships could work for them.”

To celebrate National Apprenticeship Week 2012, SkillsActive is offering a FREE training package to the first 25 employers to register their interest in Apprenticeship funding on our website.

To learn more about Apprenticeships in the sport and active leisure sector, and how your business can benefit, please visit www.skillsactive.com/takethelead

Back to back Apprenticeships have helped Lexine McAuley scale her way to a manager role in the Outdoors.

After finishing school, Lexine, 26, toyed with a career in hospitality “but was interested in doing something a bit more active”.

“I was keen to work with young people and gain some different experience,” she says.

In 2006, Lexine began working at PGL, the UK's leading outdoor education provider, in Surrey as a group leader but wanted to continue learning. So when she was offered the chance to complete a level 2 Apprenticeship in Sport and Recreation with the company, she grabbed it.

“The Apprenticeship offered me the chance to gain qualifications while still progressing in my career at PGL,” she says.

Lexine completed her first Apprenticeship in just nine months, fitting her course work around her hours of work.

She enjoyed the experience so much that in 2010, Lexine - who by then had been promoted to assistant central operations manager – decided to take up a level 3 Apprenticeship in Sport and Recreation. She is on track to complete the Apprenticeship by April 2012.

With the help of Apprenticeships, Lexine has risen from activity instructor to assistant chief instructor, chief instructor , house manager and central operations manager.

“If you're passionate about an industry, capable and keen to progress, there's no reason not to take up an Apprenticeship,” she says.

PGL Apprenticeship Programme Manager Jo Mortimer says PGL's 180 current apprentices have helped the organisation achieve a more flexible and qualified staff base.

“Apprenticeships provide those who may not have travelled the academic route with the skills and qualifications we require. They show new and prospective staff the development opportunities on offer.”

Many of PGL's apprentices, like Lexine, have developed their management skills and gone on to work at higher levels within the organisation.

“In future, PGL would like to be able to offer every member of staff the possibility of doing an Apprenticeship - even those at management level.”

To find out more about Apprenticeships in the sport and active leisure sector please see Apprenticeships

 27/1/12

The Scottish Government has launched a public consultation into plans for the development of a new safety system for adventure activities such as caving, trekking and watersports.

It follows proposals from the UK government to replace the Adventures Activities Licensing Authority (AALA) - set up in 1995 after four people died while canoeing in Dorset.

After the Common Sense, Common Safety report of 2010, the UK government has committed to abolishing the 17 year old legislation. This forms the basis of the statutory licensing requirement of outdoor adventure providers who are commercial and who operate with children and young people.

This decision was taken following a UK-wide consultation on the issue which closed last September. SkillsActive and its Outdoor Employers Group (OEG) submitted a response to this consultation which can be viewed here: Consultation response

However, the Scottish Government believes that the outdoors licensing issue is a ‘devolved’ one. It has just launched a consultation of the development of safety systems for the outdoor adventure sector specifically in Scotland.  The consultation and response document can be viewed here: Scottish consultation . The consultation closes on 30 March 2012. SkillsActive will be responding to the consultation

The consultation will look at, and compare, three options for Scotland, including the UK government's planned new voluntary code of practice and would remove costs associated with licensing, a non-statutory, voluntary accreditation scheme and a statutory scheme.

The Scottish consultation was formally launched by Commonwealth Games and sport minister Shona Robison.

Robison said: "Any safety system developed for adventure activities in Scotland would need to meet the needs of Scottish providers and users whilst being robust and proportionate.

"That's why I want to hear views on whether a statutory inspection and licensing regime should be maintained or if a new approach should be adopted."

Regional consultation events have been planned for Tuesday 7th February at Atlantic Quay, Glasgow, Thursday 16 February at DG One Leisure Centre, Dumfries and Thursday 1 March at Lochaber High School, Fort William. All three will take place from 7-9pm. To register your proposed attendance at any of the above events please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

There is one type of Apprenticeship available in the active leisure, learning and wellbeing sector in Northern Ireland:

• Apprenticeship in Active Leisure and Learning
  This Apprenticeship provides apprentices with a mix of practical and technical skills to develop at work and progress to further education. It is available at level 2 QCF and level 3 QCF. Individuals can pursue the Apprenticeship through one of three different pathways: Exercise and Fitness, Playwork and Operations/Outdoors. The choice of Apprenticeship framework will depend on the individual's experience and job role.

Frameworks and guidance

For information and documents relevant to Apprenticeships in Northern Ireland see Frameworks and Guidance for Northern Ireland.

Frameworks and Guidance for Northern Ireland>

Hair and Beauty

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.

HABIA website>

Apprenticeships in other sectors

For more information on apprenticeships in Northern Ireland see the Department for Employment and Learning website.

Department for Employment and Learning website>

More information

For more information on Apprenticeships in Northern Ireland please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.