SkillsActive programme to boost Welsh Apprenticeships
26/1/12
SkillsActive Wales hopes to see more young people taking up Apprenticeships, following the introduction of SkillsActive’s Sport and Active Leisure Pathways to Apprenticeship (PtA) programme.
Developed by SkillsActive in consultation with leading employers, the programme is designed to attract learners keen for a career in the sport and active leisure industry.
The first group of students begun the programme in September 2011 and will spend their first year studying a combination of core and optional qualifications at Level 2.
The programme supports the strategic approach set out in the Welsh Government ‘Skills That Work for Wales’ strategy. It is being delivered by further education institutions such as Coleg Sir Gar, Ystrad Mynach College, Coleg Llandrillo and Cardiff and Vale College.
To find out how you can get involved please email Sara Hale at
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NI employers to benefit from SSC tourism drive
Active leisure, learning and well-being employers in Northern Ireland stand to benefit from the work of a new initiative developed by Sector Skills Councils (SSCs).
Collaboration groups enable SSCs to collectively lead on partnership activities and common issues that affect more than one sector. SkillsActive has joined three of these ‘cluster groups’, including the Tourism and Hospitality Cluster group.
SkillsActive in Northern Ireland manager Siobhan Weir says many jobs in the Northern Ireland active leisure, learning and wellbeing benefit from the expanding tourism industry.
“The Tourism and Hospitality Cluster group provides an important opportunity for SSCs to collaborate to benefit employers across tourism related sectors in Northern Ireland.
“Our first job is to coordinate the roll-out of World Host, a world-class training programme designed to raise the standard and delivery of customer service, which is 90% funded by the Department for Employment & Learning (DELNI).
“We’ll then move on to developing joint applications for the Skills Collaborative Fund. This is a new fund that DELNI are currently developing and it will be loosely based on the Grant Innovation Fund (GIF) criteria. DELNI will announce details of the application process in January with the intention of projects beginning in April 2012.”
SkillsActive is also actively involved with other tourism related partners and forums in Northern Ireland, such as the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Destination Fermanagh and the Activity Tourism Forum.
Minister: Commonwealth Games legacy workforce on track
SkillsActive in Scotland and its partners are making good progress delivering the workforce for the 2014 Commonwealth Games legacy, according to the Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport.
SkillsActive in Scotland established the Active Scotland Workforce Development Group in 2009 to ensure Scotland had the right workforce to deliver the Commonwealth Games Legacy of a more active Scotland. It consists of a range of sport and physical activity employers, government agencies and training providers.
SkillsActive in Scotland manager Pam Scott says the group recently submitted a Status Report on the progress that the Group was making to Shona Robison, Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport and received a very positive response.
Ms Robison:
• welcomed the progress made in identifying the skills gaps and shortages within the physical activity and sports workforce both paid and voluntary.
• noted sport has an immediate attractiveness for most young people but it is important that we employ the right people with the right skills which will have an impact on their career and more importantly keep them physically active.
• acknowledged that the Development Model works towards meeting the challenges of skilling the workforce and ensuring the appropriate and realistic qualifications are in place to ensure priority areas such as volunteering and coaching are fit for purpose.
Ms Robison then added that it was “important people working in sport and physical activity have a greater knowledge and understanding of health issues relating to specific client groups and is encouraged by the co-operation of employers and training providers in taking this forward”
Pam says Ms Robison set out several next steps for the group, which they will consider at their next meeting on December 9.
Apprenticeships – a step-by-step guide for employers
Explore how your organisation could save £1000s on funded training with Apprenticeships!
Step 1: Do you understand what an apprenticeship involves?
Read our key facts page to find out more about what taking on an apprentice can mean for you business >
Step 2: Discover the options available to you
Each country has different apprenticeship options available.
Employers in England can read more about joining SkillsActive and how our Funding Eligibility Service can help you with apprenticeship funding.
If you are outside of England, contact our regional teams for advice specific to your country.
England only
Step 2a: Register interest in using the Funding Eligibility Service
Register your interest and an account manager will contact you with further details.
Or just skip straight to step 2b!
Step 2b: Sign up to be part of SkillsActive
SkillsActive partnership includes a specific Funding Eligibility form for your organisation!
As well as giving you the opportunity to discover how much funded training your staff could receive when they complete an apprenticeship, SkillsActive membership also offers your organisation access to futher discounts and benefits.
Group Training Association (GTA) networks are also available to support smaller organisations with accessing funding.
Step 2c: SkillsActive can help organise apprenticeship training
We can work with training providers to organise apprenticeships for groups of staff who may be eligible for funded training.
All employers
Step 3: Take on new apprentices!
Once you have seen the benefits of apprenticeship training, SkillsActive can support you to find new apprentices to develop your business even further.
Training and Qualifications
SkillsActive works on behalf of the active leisure, learning and wellbeing sector to develop a framework of qualifications and training that meets employer needs, ensuring the workforce is properly trained and qualified.
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.
Training
Providing training for employees not only helps them develop their skills and knowledge – it’s also a building block to business success.
Qualifications
SkillsActive works with employers and training providers to develop vocational qualifications that enable people to be competent in specific types of work.
Quality Assurance
Discover more about how SkillsActive ensures that quality training is available to those in the sector.
Find quality training
SkillsActive understands that you don't just want the best price on the training you offer your staff. We know that quality is also important, so that you can be sure your employees are the most knowledgable and highly skilled staff.
There are a number of ways SkillsActive can help you find the best training around to ensure you make the most of your investment in training.
Training support
Premium SkillsActive membership offers support from a dedicated account manager who can advise on the best training available.
Approved training providers
Browse our catalogue of quality assured providers, who have all undergone a rigorous approval process.
Apprenticeship frameworks and guidance
SkillsActive has worked with employers to develop a set of Apprenticeship frameworks. These outline the minimum requirements needed to complete the apprenticeship at each level and for each occupation.
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.
Northern Ireland
This section contains Apprenticeship frameworks and guidance documents for Northern Ireland.
Scotland
This section contains Modern Apprenticeship frameworks and guidance documents for Scotland.
Staff Training
SkillsActive's main aim is to support employers with ensuring their staff have the right skills to do their job. Discover more about the many ways we can help you find the right training, at the right price.
Statutory training
Meet your training requirements simply and cost-effectively with our discounted offers.
Find quality training
Browse our catalogue of approved training providers to find quality training for your staff, ensuring you get the best value for money.
Manage your training
SkillsActive can offer you a number of tools to support how you manage your staff training.
Funded training: Employers
SkillsActive works on a number of programmes and projects that could help your organisastion access funding for staff training.
Apprenticeship funding
Many of your staff could be eligible for funded training through Apprenticeships. SkillsActive can help identify how many of your staff could be eligible for funded training and support you with organising this. Covering many common areas of staff training, these can be a great way to save thousands.
Please note that Apprenticeship funding is subject to eligibility requirements.
Discover more about SkillsActive's Funding Eligibility Service >
Discover more about funding to take on an apprentice >
Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund
If your staff live, work or volunteer in London, the Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund, delivered by SkillsActive’s National Skills Academy, provides volunteers with up to 75% off training to deliver a sporting legacy from the 2012 Games.
Discover more about the Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund >
Yorkshire and Humber Coaching Bursary
The Yorkshire and Humber Coaching Bursary, delivered by SkillsActive’s National Skills Academy, provides 60% off UKCC coaching qualifications for new and existing coaches. It is funded by Sport England Yorkshire.
Discover more about the Yorkshire and Humber Coaching Bursary >
Joint Investment Programme
SkillsActive’s Joint Investment Programme helps meet specific skills gaps in the fitness and playwork sectors using training jointly funded by the Government and employers.
Discover more about the Joint Investment Programme for fitness >
Discover more about the Joint Investment Programme for playwork >
Apprenticeships: employers
Apprenticeships are a cost effective way to recruit and train employees. They provide apprentices with the skills, knowledge and work experience they need to become competent active leisure, learning and wellbeing professionals.
You can use apprenticeships to train both new and existing employees.
SkillsActive works with active leisure, learning and wellbeing employers to develop Apprenticeships so the training is directly relevant to your industry. We can help you identify which of your staff is eligible for funded training. We can also broker relationships so small and medium sized businesses can access funding normally only available to larger companies.
Register your interest in discovering more about how Apprenticeships could benefit your business >
Key benefits for employers:
- Access funding for training courses, potentially saving you hundreds of pounds
- Fill your skills gaps with Apprenticeships designed around your business needs
- Gain top quality, motivated staff with up to the minute training in your sector
- Train more people – there are no age constraints on who can do an Apprenticeship and you can train both new and existing employees
- Negotiate training schedules with your apprentice and training provider
Apprenticeship funding
Apprenticeship funding is available from the Skills Funding Agency in England and Wales, Skills Development Scotland in Scotland, and the Department for Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland.
However, the size of the contribution varies depending on your sector and the age of the apprentice.
Funding eligibility made easy
SkillsActive can help employers in England reduce costs and train more people by identifying which of your staff could be eligible for funded training. Our Funding Eligibility Service is a simple, effective way to improve your business performance by making the most of available funding.
Find out more about the Funding Eligibility Service >
Apprenticeships for smaller employers
Apprenticeships aren’t just for big businesses - small to medium sized businesses in England can afford to train Apprenticeships through SkillsActive’s Group Training Association (GTA).
The Group Training Association enables employers in England running small to medium enterprises to take on more new staff as apprentices. It does this by creating partnerships between employers so they can access funding and discounts normally only available to bigger companies.
Email the Group Training Association team This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Types of Apprenticeships
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.
Key facts
Read our Frequently Asked Questions to discover more about Apprenticeships in England >
Apprenticeship frameworks
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, ensuring apprentices develop the skills their employers need.
For information and documents relevant to apprenticeships your country, see Frameworks and Guidance
Updates
Find out about Apprenticeship framework updates and other news relevant to Apprenticeships.
Start offering apprenticeships
To register your interest in offering Apprenticeships at your business email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Register your interest in discovering more about how Apprenticeships could benefit your business >