National Skills Academy for sport and active leisure: Designed by the industry for the industry

Jessica Benson, SkillsActive - 08/05/2008

The Academy aims to bring clarity to a confused training picture, by offering one single point of access for industry employers to gain access to training for their workforce. For the first time there will be an opportunity to have a single, coherent qualification and delivery structure nationwide that is tailored to the needs of both employers and employees.

The Academy will mark the end of fragmented training - it will be highly personalised and prioritised to address our industry’s most pressing skills issues. We can look forward to developing a clearer and simpler skills framework, more affordable and more relevant skills training, local delivery at regional level where employers really need it, and an innovative ‘virtual platform’ to revolutionise learner access.

Research commissioned by SkillsActive found that only 5% of employers think that new recruits have ‘the right kind of skills’ for their business. The problem is exacerbated by hundreds of different training programs and qualifications being offered by over 80 awarding bodies. Many employers believe that too many courses lack relevance and don’t always equip new entrants with the skills that will help them to progress their careers. One of the principal aims of the National Skills Academy will be to provide employers with a one-stop-service that will enable them to access the best quality training that is most relevant to their needs. In order for training providers to be selected and endorsed by the Academy, they will need to achieve an Academy approved ‘New Standard’ quality mark and also pay a membership fee.

Easy access to workforce development tools will be available via the Academy. Two of SkillsActive’s recently launched products – the activepassport and Analyser – track and monitor organisational and individual skills and training needs electronically and will be major features of the site assisting employers in recruiting, training and retaining staff. 

There will be a central easy to use website supported by regional office hubs, ensuring tailored addressing of specific regional needs. This will encourage development of innovative learning programmes and training products that are ‘nationally directed, locally delivered’.

Most of the Academy’s income will be generated from membership subscriptions. There will be two types of memberships aimed at training providers and employers, respectively. For training providers, the membership fee will depend on the size of the organisation. Employers will be offered a range of flexible membership packages that include membership to the Academy and SkillsActive and a bundle of training-related products and services. The packages will extend from basic bronze deals, aimed at employers with fewer than 10 employees, to platinum packages designed for larger employers with more than 250 employees.

Hundreds of employers in the industry have engaged with SkillsActive to develop the skills academy which has been desperately needed to address the pressing skills needs in the sector. This week marks a new era for skills and training in our sector and industry employers can look forward to more professional and easily accessible advice on all their workforce development needs.