SkillsActive

Salary: Circa £42,000 per annum

Based: Home Working 

SkillsActive is a highly respected, dynamic employer body tailoring solutions to meet needs of industry; a catalyst for change across the UK sport, active leisure and wellbeing industry. Partner with government, sector employers, national agencies, and trade bodies to facilitate business change via people and skills development.

You will work with employers in our sectors, throughout Scotland and develop strong collaborative partnerships with the Scottish government and its agencies to shape and influence policy direction and achieve the demand-led education and training system that meets the needs of employers.

Your knowledge of the current employment and skills agenda in Scotland and high level negotiation and influencing skills will enable you to work with sector employers, national agencies, committees and trade association to enhance employer engagement and determine a skills protocol for employers in Scotland.

Empowering employers to develop their workforce through workforce development planning and managing projects as a result of funding from the Employer Innovation Fund is a key part of your role.

You will have excellent interpersonal and networking skills, and an interest in improving employment and skills opportunities for people in our Sector. Ability to travel across the UK and regular visits to our head office in Central London is essential.

For more information on this role see the:

Job Description and Person Specification

To apply for this role:

Fill out the application form and attach your CV and send your application to:

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Closing date for applications is Midday, Tuesday 5th June 2012

Unfortunately we are not able to respond to all applicants, if you have not heard from us within 2 weeks of the closing date please assume your application was not successful. 

1/5/12

Adam Coffman of Haringey has won the Volunteer of the Year Award, sponsored by SkillsActive, at the PRO-ACTIVE London Awards for Sport & Physical Activity.

Adam has made a massive impact in his local community in Haringey through three key projects.

First, Adam played a key role in the complete regeneration of Fairlands Park, which resulted in a new play and sports area. He was then successful in securing funding to run regular tennis sessions at the facility.

His second project was to develop a primary schools cricket programme, which involved a series of cricket coaching sessions and a primary schools Cricket tournament.

His final project has been the establishment of a Sunday ‘Family Activities Programme’, resulting in regular family events and activities, such as cycle rides, family days out, cycle workshops and training courses.

Head of National Partnerships Stephen Mitchell says: “Whether they be a coach, official or club treasurer, volunteers play a vital role in encouraging and supporting people to get involved, and stay involved, in sport and active leisure. SkillsActive is really pleased to acknowledge Adam's wide ranging efforts in his community.”

Over 500 nominations were received for the PRO-ACTIVE London 2012 awards on 27 April - the only regional awards which celebrate the contribution of thousands of people, the majority of whom are volunteers, who make it possible for so many people to take part. Other winners include:

•    Outstanding Contribution to Sport – Alex Welsh (Multi boroughs)

•    Young Volunteer of the Year - Jordan Sargeant (Havering)

•    Coach / Instructor of the Year – Pierre Aghabala (Croydon/Wandsworth)

•    Project of the Year – BMX Legacy Project (Greenwich, Newham, Waltham Forest, Hackney, Tower Hamlets)

•    Club of the Year - Waltham Forest Hockey Club (Waltham Forest)

For more information on the past and present awards and the nominations please visit www.pro-activelondonawards.org

1/5/12

SkillsActive took part in a conference about the impact and opportunities the London 2012 Olympic Games offer Northern Ireland on Wednesday 25 April.

The 'Moving The Nation: Working Together To Get More People Active' event in Craigavon aimed to bring together a number of key experts and agencies to share information relevant to the promotion of physical activity and a healthier lifestyle among the local population, during this summer of sport.

SkillsActive Northern Ireland manager Siobhan Weir (pictured with other delegates) says: “This event was an excellent example of private and public sector organisations coming together to explore how they can all work better together to stop the obesity epidemic. This is a particular issue for NI where one in five adults classified as obese.”

Health Minister Edwin Poots told the conference: “All Departments, agencies, groups and individuals have a responsibility to ensure that the decisions which are made and the actions taken, work in the best interests of the population of Northern Ireland. We cannot work in isolation. Physical activity is a vital part of maintaining and promoting good personal health. Being active is as important as having a nutritious diet when it comes to helping maintain a healthy weight. Participating in physical activity, either for sport or a leisure activity, such as walking or gardening, can also help promote good mental health and wellbeing.”

Dr Hassan from the Ulster Sports Academy discussed the defining features of the Games, a critical interpretation of the much-vaunted concept of ‘legacy’ and the political implication of hosting the summer Olympics in the UK for the first time in over 60 years.

Dr Conor McClean spoke about modern trends in public health such as the increase in chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. The development of these conditions is, in many cases, linked to lifestyle factors as poor diet and physical inactivity.

Conference organiser, Richie Smith of Unify Global Sport, an organisation specialising in community sport festivals, added: “Increased levels of physical activity of the population will not only relieve the financial burden on the health service, but it will also increase and maximise productivity and the performance of Northern Ireland’s workforce. In this Olympic year we have a great opportunity to encourage more people to engage in physical exercise which will enhance the local economy and the life of local communities.”

20/4/12

British Water Ski & Wakeboard is using SkillsActive’s activepassport to maintain an accurate record of the hours coaches’ give to the sport, provide an extra incentive for volunteers and – eventually – report on its Sport England targets.

British Water Ski & Wakeboard is the National Governing Body for water skiing and wakeboarding in Great Britain and, as such, is responsible for developing the sport throughout Britain from grassroots level to elite for its 10,000 + members.

National Development Officer Rachel Tallon says the NGB is a strong advocate of providing CPD for staff, but recording and verifying this can be a challenge. It was therefore quick to join the trial for SkillsActive’s activepassport, a verified online record of an individual's training, qualifications and personal and professional achievements, when approached in mid-2011.

Rachel says: “The activepassport appealed to us because it gives individuals the power to log their qualifications, and coaching and volunteering hours, and communicate them to us quickly and efficiently.”

The NGB trialled the technology with 11 coaches; they were provided with an activepassport to log their new and exiting qualifications and coaching hours after successfully completing their level 2 coaching qualification. The NGB was so impressed with the technology that, following the trial, it incorporated the activepassport into its volunteer recognition scheme.

Read more>

British Water Ski & Wakeboard is using SkillsActive’s activepassport to maintain an accurate record of the hours coaches’ give to the sport, provide an extra incentive for volunteers and – eventually – report on its Sport England targets.

British Water Ski & Wakeboard is the National Governing Body for water skiing and wakeboarding in Great Britain and, as such, is responsible for developing the sport throughout Britain from grassroots level to elite for its 10,000 + members.

National Development Officer Rachel Tallon says the NGB is a strong advocate of providing CPD for staff, but recording and verifying this can be a challenge. It was therefore quick to join the trial for SkillsActive’s activepassport, a verified online record of an individual's training, qualifications and personal and professional achievements, when approached in mid-2011.

Rachel says: “The activepassport appealed to us because it gives individuals the power to log their qualifications, and coaching and volunteering hours, and communicate them to us quickly and efficiently.”

The NGB trialled the technology with 11 coaches; they were provided with an activepassport to log their new and exiting qualifications and coaching hours after successfully completing their level 2 coaching qualification. The NGB was so impressed with the technology that, following the trial, it incorporated the activepassport into its volunteer recognition scheme.

“Volunteers can be hard to attract and retain so offering something like this to record their volunteering hours is a huge benefit, and will be useful to them in their other careers as well.”

It is also considering extending the activepassport for officials, who are required to demonstrate they have officiated at a certain number of events to maintain their qualifications.

In future, Rachel hopes to use the technology to report on British Water Ski & Wakeboard’s Sport England volunteering targets.

“The main benefit I see is being able to use the activepassport to demonstrate to partners and funding bodies like Sport England and the Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund that our coaches have completed the required number of volunteering hours, and the evidence is easily accessed online - not filed away in someone’s attic!”

Discover more about activepassport>

20/4/12

The British Judo Association has achieved SkillsActive endorsement for its new Judofit programme and promoted the concept to several leisure operators, thanks to support from SkillsActive.

In early 2011, the British Judo Association approached SkillsActive requesting help with the development of its new Judofit programme. SkillsActive is funded by Sport England to support national governing bodies of sport to deliver the workforce development commitments in their current plans.

British Judo Association Development Director Mark Beecher says: “Judofit uses the core training principles of the Olympic sport of Judo to provide a fun and exciting fitness class that tones and strengthen the entire body.”

SkillsActive worked with the NGB throughout 2011 to help design the course and compile all the necessary evidence for the SkillsActive endorsement application, including policies and procedures and tutor and learner resources.

SkillsActive endorsement ensures the quality of the course and its relevance to the sector. It also provides learners with Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) recognised CPD points. All REPs instructors have to log a total of 24 CPD points over a two year period to maintain their membership.

Mark says: “In October 2011, SkillsActive approved our course first time, allocating it the maximum REPs CPD points available, which is a fantastic result. This means instructors can now learn to deliver the programme by attending a one day course with the British Judo Association, and also accrue eight CPD points towards the 24 they need to stay on the Register.”

Read more>

An international training provider is using SkillsActive endorsement to demonstrate the quality of its courses to learners and save money registering new courses.

Intelligent Training Systems Ltd, which provides evidence-based education, design and consultancy services, began working with SkillsActive to strengthen its training provision in 2007.

CEO Martin Haines says: “SkillsActive endorsement was important to us because we don't fit in a currently defined educational mould. The process ensures we met the industry criteria needed for endorsement while retaining our own unique information.”

SkillsActive’s strategic lead for endorsement recommended Intelligent Training Systems Ltd apply for a course training provider licence for its Level 2 and 3 training CPD courses to demonstrate the quality of its provision to learners and employers and increase its customer base.

The license enables training providers to offer unlimited endorsed courses for up to two years without having to submit each individual course for evaluation every time. Training providers are also included on the REPs list of approved training providers, which is viewed REPs’ 28,000 members, as well as quality assurance support and key market information to improve delivery.

Martin says: “The process was simple. From the initial submission document through to the evaluation visit, everything was well laid out and we knew exactly what we needed to do at each stage and our course was approved first time.”
Intelligent Training Systems Ltd also submitted and had approved a Level 4 course (Level 4 Award in Lower Back Pain) for endorsement. An independent panel evaluates these courses using criteria clearly outlined on the SkillsActive website.

Martin says endorsement gives the company a competitive edge over other providers in the fitness sector.

“Endorsement gives us credibility. Students can attend our courses knowing that they are attending a course that has been subject to a vigorous quality process and, as the criteria becomes standardised internationally, it will help us save costs registering our courses in new territories.

“Becoming endorsed is important for the fitness industry because, as educators, we shape the future of the industry. We need to have our courses continually assessed to be confident we’re taking the industry forward with evidence based practice.

“Endorsement will help you sell your course and improve it.”

SkillsActive now has ready made templates to support new organisations looking to gain endorsement. To find out more about how endorsement can improve your training provision visit www.skillsactive.com/endorsement or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

19/4/12

An international training provider is using SkillsActive endorsement to demonstrate the quality of its courses to learners and save money registering new courses.

Intelligent Training Systems Ltd, which provides evidence-based education, design and consultancy services, began working with SkillsActive to strengthen its training provision in 2007.

CEO Martin Haines says: “SkillsActive endorsement was important to us because we don't fit in a currently defined educational mould. The process ensures we met the industry criteria needed for endorsement while retaining our own unique information.”
SkillsActive’s strategic lead for endorsement recommended Intelligent Training Systems Ltd apply for a course training provider licence for its Level 2 and 3 training CPD courses to demonstrate the quality of its provision to learners and employers and increase its customer base.

The license enables training providers to offer unlimited endorsed courses for up to two years without having to submit each individual course for evaluation every time. Training providers are also included on the REPs list of approved training providers, which is viewed REPs’ 28,000 members, as well as quality assurance support and key market information to improve delivery.

Read more>

12/4/12

The Spring issue of SkillsActive’s flagship publication, ActiveInsight, is out now!

Highlights include:

• Nancy Ovens Bursary funds learning outside the box
• Q&A with Lauren Taylor, AASE Apprentice and BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year 2011
• CITOs’ 2012 Best Park Apprentice, Tom Wilson-Croome
• Playwork qualifications offer goes live
• New match funding opportunity to activate the inactive
• Take the lead with Apprenticeships
• Surge in qualified sports coaches in Yorkshire and Humber

Download ActiveInsight>

2/3/12

Leading UK fitness equipment supplier Life Fitness is to launch its very own range of CPD courses after achieving SkillsActive endorsement.

Life Fitness, which manufactures and sells strength and cardiovascular equipment, is the latest fitness equipment supplier in the UK to be granted a license from SkillsActive, the sector skills council for active leisure, learning and wellbeing. This enables Life Fitness to not only deliver but actually create new, accredited CPD (Continuing Professional Development) courses and workshops to customers and trainers.

SkillsActive endorsement officer for fitness Claire Darlow says: “We are really delighted to see fitness suppliers like Life Fitness branching into the training market and sharing their expertise and training research.  It’s a great vote of confidence that Life Fitness see the value of the SkillsActive training provider licence for endorsement after recently gaining approval for the full course licence, and we look forward to working more closely with them.”

Life Fitness Education Solutions Manager EMEA Nick Mennell says: “We are thrilled to now have our own CPD license as this means that we can really cater for the wants and needs of our customers, providing the best training solution for their business.”

SkillsActive's training provider licence enables providers to offer unlimited endorsed courses for up to two years. It is ideal for training providers that want to develop and deliver multiple training courses, which are recognised as endorsed training for CPD, without having to submit each individual course for evaluation every time.

SkillsActive now has ready made templates to support new organisations looking to gain endorsement, a valuable resource that can strengthen delivery, and help develop or maintain a strong brand. To find out more about fitness endorsement please see Fitness Endorsement or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Source: Life Fitness