Case studies

In this section are a number of case studies outlining our work across the active leisure and learning sector. The case studies give real world examples of how organisations and individuals working within the sector are utilising training and development opportunities to create a highly skilled and competent workforce. SkillsActive has produced a number of careers case studies for the sector, to access them visit: www.skillsactive.com/careers.

Innovation Awards celebrate outstanding achievement

SkillsActive was delighted to sponsor the award for innovative delivery of a 14-19 curriculum in sport and leisure at the 2008 Youth Sport Trust’s sports college conference.

Lawn Tennis Association use AASE to develop top players and coaches

Young sportsmen and women who have the talent and drive to take their performance to a higher level often face that old dilemma – should they go all out to achieve their dreams, and in doing so put their education on the back burner, or should they take a more realistic approach, put their education first and hope they can make time to pursue their sporting dream?

County sports partnership at work in the English regions

The role of the county sports partnership (CSP) is to provide a coherent and structured approach to the development of sport and physical activity across each of the nine regions in England through a collaboration of the public, private and voluntary sectors. Integral to the partnership are all those involved in sport and physical activity across a region, but principally the local authorities, school sports partnerships and national governing bodies of sport.

SkillsActive celebrates the success of NVQs

SkillsActive is celebrating the 100,000th national vocational qualification (NVQ) across the active leisure and learning sector since the qualifications began around 15 years ago.

New qualifications signal latest chapter for caravan industry

Work on the development of new national vocational qualifications (NVQs) for repair and servicing technicians in touring caravan and motorhome workshops is gathering pace, and workshop managers met in Coventry in October 2007 to discuss and contribute to the process.

Sport Leaders qualification in the local community

The Sports Leaders Award level 1 programme was set up in 2005 to target local young people living in the most deprived areas of Renfrewshire. The main aim of the project is to provide opportunities for young people aged 14 years plus to become involved in sport leadership and coaching in their local area whilst at the same time making a contribution to the well being of their local community.

Training and development; why it's worth the investment

SkillsActive has been promoting the benefits of training and staff development for some time now, but do employers think this investment is paying off and has the sector learnt anything new?

Employers in the South West see benefits of work based learning

Many employers are waking up to the potential gains of fully engaging with educational programmes and in particular offering work experience.

Employability – Wales faces the task ahead

Employers in Wales have been voicing the same concerns as those in the rest of the UK in that they know they need more skilled staff but find that graduates are often under equipped to enter the working world. The challenge was to understand these skills gaps and how they can be narrowed given the array of training options employers can choose from.

The outdoors offers fresh career path for young Scots

As those in the outdoors sector will recognise, recruitment and retention are issues that affect the industry across the UK. In Scotland, work experience schemes have been piloted to highlight the career options available within the outdoors industry to young people.

Coaching funds develop coaches for Olympics and beyond

In May 2007 SkillsActive announced a £100,000 investment by the Learning and Skills Council and Sport England to support coaching excellence by subsidising coaching qualifications in the South West. Managed by SkillsActive, this bursary has already seen over 300 coaches embark on gaining UK Coaching Certificate recognized qualifications at Levels 1 to 3, with over a hundred more to have started by the end of the year.

The caravan industry demonstrates its commitment

The caravan business, already worth £3 billion a year to the UK economy, is booming. Caravanning is also becoming trendy, with many young people realising the potential of a caravan holiday for participating in adventure sports. To help the industry continue its growth, SkillsActive is working with Caravan Industry Training Limited (CITO) to improve training and its supply.

Rawthorpe amateur boxing club

Professional sportsmen and women know that their career could be cut short due to injury, particularly in boxing, so a Yorkshire boxing club has taken the initiative to equip their members with new skills while they are still fit to pursue boxing careers.

Women into higher level sports coaching in the North West

At the beginning of March, 150 women in the North West began the Women into Higher Level Sports Coaching programme, designed to support them in their progression into sports coaching and leadership, develop as higher level coaches and gain employment within the sporting workforce.

The Sprint Project

As part of the Sector Skills Agreement process SkillsActive held a number of focus groups to discuss challenges facing employers from the public, private and voluntary and community sector which uncovered a number of skills gaps. These issues were addressed in the development of the Sprint Project, funded by the LDA and delivered by the London Community Sports network.

Employer engagement with foundation degrees

Newcastle City Council, as an employer in the health and physical activity sector, had reported for some time that there was a local skills gap at Level 3 and above among fitness instructors and others working in the sector so worked with a local education provider, Newcastle College, to develop a new and innovative foundation degree programme.

Building skills in the voluntary sports sector

Employers in the voluntary sports sector in West Yorkshire faced problems in developing the skills of their organisations. SkillsActive worked with West Yorkshire Sport and came up with a workforce development plan that identified gaps in provision, and set out the skills that needed developing.

Graduate Apprenticeship Programme in Outdoor Learning

Although outdoor centres are used to training young people on the job, there has never been a structured, recognised training or career route for graduates wishing to enter this sector. SkillsActive, working with a number of partners, have developed a Graduate Apprenticeship Programme in Outdoor Learning to bridge the gaps in skills, experience and knowledge, and meet the needs of these employers.

Yoga and pilates standards

Standards for yoga and pilates were two particular areas which were in need of development and SkillsActive have been responsible for driving changes forward.

David Lloyd Leisure

David Lloyd Leisure were concerned that only half their employees had a current qualification as a gym instructor along with poor levels of staff rentention. They realised that paying more attention to training was the only answer and worked with SkillsActive and other partners to give all their instructors support and training throughout their careers.

Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence: Golf

The Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence is aimed at young people who have the potential to achieve excellence in their sport and are seeking to perform at the highest level as their main career goal.

Graduate Apprenticeship in the Outdoor Sector

St Martins College, Cumbria run a Graduate Apprenticeship programme which provides a structured pathway for employment in the Outdoor Sector.

Apprenticeship for elite athletes is big success with football clubs

The Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE) programme was launched in 2004 and since then, 82 of the 92 Premiership and Football League clubs in England and Wales, including top names such as Manchester United, Arsenal and Cardiff City have taken it up.