SkillsActive

29/2/12

SkillsActive, the sector skills council for sport and active leisure, is urging employers to take up a new opportunity to access match funding for training programmes. 

The programme, delivered by Sussex Downs College, in partnership with the FIA, SkillsActive, and the Sport and Fitness Employers Group (SAFE), will teach professionals to learn behavioural change techniques and how to motivate inactive audiences.

Many employers have already signed up to be part of the Joint Investment Programme (JIP) and with 1,300 fitness professionals set to benefit, more businesses have the opportunity to be part of the programme to up-skill the sector.

The programme offers employers (and those who are self-employed) match funding on the following courses:

•        L2 Award in Understanding Health Improvement

•        L3 Award in Adapting Exercise for Older Adults

•        L3 Award in Adapting Physical Activity for Older Adults

•        L2 Award in Community Activation

•        L3 Unit - Enabling Individuals to Change Behaviour and Improve Health and Well-being while working as a Health Trainer

•        L3 Unit - Customer Service in the Sport and Active Leisure Industry

•        L3 Award in Adapting Physical Activity for Ante and Post Natal Participants

•        L3 Award in Adapting Physical Activity for People with Disabilities

•        L4 Certificate for the management of lower back pain

David Stalker, CEO, FIA said: “Through this programme, employers will support us to up-skill over 1,300 fitness professionals to be able to introduce a currently inactive audience to physical activity, helping us achieve a more active nation”.

Suki Kalarai, SkillsActive’s CEO said: “This is a great opportunity for employers to ensure their staff are completely up-to-date with their training without breaking the bank. In these straitened economic times training budgets can often be the first thing to be cut so we’re especially pleased to be able help ensure those working in the fitness industry carry on learning.”

Liz Kemp, Project Delivery Coordinator at Sussex Downs College said: “Sussex Downs College is delighted to be working with the FIA and SkillsActive on such a challenging, high profile national project supporting leisure and fitness employers. We are looking forward to, not only managing the network of high quality training providers that will be delivering the qualifications, but also being part of the main steering group and monitoring the impact the project has on improving the physical activity of the nation.”

Employers and self-employed fitness professionals can register their interest by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

For more information on the programme visit www.skillsactive.com/jip

Follow the programme on Twitter #SkillsFit

Playwork Joint Investment Programme

SkillsActive has successfully bid to the government’s Joint Investment Programme (JIP), releasing £230,000 over two years to match fund employers’ (in England) investment in the Level 3 Award in Transition to Playwork from early years.

In SkillsActive's Playwork People 4 survey over 55% of employers reported a lack of knowledge of the Playwork principles in their current staff while 44% of employees had no playwork specific qualification.  From experience, we know that many employers recruit staff with early years qualifications in order to meet Ofsted registration requirements, but find that they don’t follow the playwork approach to the work.  The JIP Working in the Community (Playwork) project aims to improve knowledge and understanding of the playwork principles and playwork theories for those who have qualified in early years.

The Level 3 Award in Transition to Playwork (from early years) is a short qualification comprising two units: Understand Aspects of Playwork Practice and Understand the Theories Underpinning Playwork Practice.  Learners must already have achieved a level 3 qualification in early years to register; for example, this could be an NVQ in Early Years, Care and Education or in Children’s Care, Learning and Development.  Please note that the new Working with Children and Young People Diploma is not valid as an entry qualification.

Employers will be expected to provide £229 which is 50% of the cost of the qualification and the Skills Funding Agency will match this with an additional £229. 

This programme, developed on behalf of the sector in, has earned much of its success through the support of employers.  However, the opportunity to benefit from this programme still exists for all employers in the sector, including those who originally expressed an interest but did not commit any learner details.

If you are interested in registering staff for this qualification, please complete the survey Click Here.

SkillsActive will be working with the SFA on the final stage of lead provider selection based on the SFA assessment and shortlisting of training providers.  The project will run from October 2011 until the end of July 2013.  You will be contacted when the programme’s training providers have been identified.

As more information becomes available we will post it to this site.

If you have an enquiry regarding this programme, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Funded Training Opportunity for Fitness Professionals

Individuals working in the sector in England could qualify for match-funded training as part of the Government’s Joint Investment Programme.

Supported by SkillsActive, in partnership with the Fitness Industry Association (FIA), the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) and the Sport and Fitness Employers Group (SAFE), specific training courses have been identified to support public health and the delivery of physical activity.

The delivery of the training is being co-ordinated by Sussex Downs College, with the courses being specially identified as filling existing skills-gaps in the fitness sector.Now employers, and those who are self-employed, are being urged to apply for up to 50 per cent funding of the cost of this training.

SkillsActive’s Sport and Fitness Manager Gary Lee says: “The Joint Investment Programme has £278,000 set aside to meet skills gaps in the fitness industry and we now need employers (and those who are self-employed) to apply for access to this training.’’

“This is a great opportunity for fitness professionals to gain highly-valued qualifications at a heavily discounted price. I know from my work with the fitness industry how motivated and keen to learn fitness professionals, are and I’m sure they won’t let an opportunity like this pass.”

The courses available are:

• L2 Award in Understanding Health Improvement

• L3 Award in Adapting Exercise for Older Adults

• L3 Award in Adapting Physical Activity for Older Adults

• L2 Award in Community Activation

• L3 Unit - Enabling Individuals to Change Behaviour and Improve Health and Well-being while working as a Health Trainer

• L2 Unit - Customer Care and Diversity in Active Leisure

• L3 Award in Adapting Physical Activity for Ante and Post Natal Participants

• L3 Award in Adapting Physical Activity for People with Disabilities

• L4 Certificate for the management of lower back pain

Employers will be expected to provide 50% of the cost of the qualification and the Skills Funding Agency will match this commitment.

This programme, developed on behalf of the sector in, has earned much of its success through the support of employers.  However, the opportunity to benefit from this programme still exists for all employers in the sector, including those who originally expressed an interest but did not commit any learner details.

Please visit our short survey at Survey Monkey JIP  to register your interest in the programme.  The information you provide will then be submitted to the lead training provider, Sussex Downs College, who will connect you to the network of providers who will deliver the training. 

Joint Investment Programme 

Welcome to the SkillsActive Joint Investment Programme (JIP) webpage. Through this portal as an employer, or individual you will be able to access information on both the fitness and playwork Joint Investment Programmes.

As part of SkillsActive strategy to access appropriate funding on behalf of the sector, a success application was submitted to Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Growth and Innovation fund in June.

Specifically, SkillsActive applied to the Joint Investment Programme strand of the fund, which matches government funding with that from employers in England to deliver skills in sectors with real business productivity and growth ambitions.

A £278,000 funding boost, matched by employers, will help more than 1300 fitness professionals undertake training become specialist instructors and better respond to clients’ needs. They will gain customer service and behaviour change skills to deliver tailored interventions for inactive people, especially older adults and those with disabilities. Submitted in partnership with the Fitness Industry Association, the fund will support the ambitions of the TwentyTen Commission report and begin the process of accessing skills funding to support sector growth.

SkillsActive has also secured £230,000 match funding to help 1000 playworkers gain their Level 3 Award in Transition to Playwork. At least one staff member in each playwork setting must have a relevant level 3 qualification for Ofsted registration, but many staff have early years qualifications that do not provide the right level of Playwork knowledge. The Level 3 Award equips people who already have a level 3 early years qualification with an understanding of the Playwork approach.

Further information on both opportunities, including survey to register your interest can be accessed via: 

Fitness JIP
playwork JIP

SkillsActive will be working with the SFA on the final stage of lead provider selection based on the SFA assessment and shortlisting of training providers. As soon as this has been confirmed information will be posted on this site.

SkillsActive will also post information on future funding applications to JIP through this page.

For general enquiries please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

SkillsActive delivers several programmes and projects to improve workforce skills in the active leisure, learning and and well-being sector.

Funded programmes

The Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund

The Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund, delivered by SkillsActive’s National Skills Academy, provides London volunteers with up to 75% off training to deliver a sporting legacy from the 2012 Games.

Nancy Ovens Bursary

The annual Nancy Ovens Bursary, sponsored by SkillsActive, provides paid or voluntary coaches and leaders in the sector with up to £2,000 in innovative training to improve skills.

Yorkshire & 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.

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.

Group Training Association

SkillsActive’s Group Training Association enables small to medium sized employers to develop existing employees and recruit and train new personnel, primarily through Apprenticeships.

Activegraduates.com

Activegraduates.com is a free job matching website to help employers find talented, work ready candidates from our pool of successful Future Jobs Fund participants.

Change Gear

Change Gear, delivered by SkillsActive’s National Skills Academy, provides support to those leaving the Armed Forces to ensure they are aware of the opportunities available to them in the sport, fitness, outdoors, playwork and caravans industries.

Training 4 Volunteers

SkillsActive is working with experts from nine Member States on the Training 4 Volunteers project, which aims to investigate volunteering in sport and broaden ideas about education and training. It is funded by the 2010 Preparatory Action on Sport of the European Commission.

Projects

London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics

SkillsActive is leading on several projects to help deliver the competent, qualified workforce the UK needs for a successful London 2012 Games and a sustainable increase in sport and leisure participation.

Consultation

SkillsActive periodically asks for feedback on sector issues to inform the work we do. You can give SkillsActive feedback by post, email or fax before the time specified on the closing date.

Learn more about SkillsActvie's current and past consultations >

Completed programme and projects

SkillsActive has delivered numerous other successful programmes and projects.

Learn more about our Completed Programmes and Projects >