training
news & jobs at www.leisureopportunities.co.uk
The year ends on a
government skills pledge
New white paper puts skills at the heart of
efforts to bring Britain out of recession
A
s the year draws to a close, the
government – under Lord
Mandelson's leadership – has
published its new skills white paper,
Skills for Growth.
Funding will help support people looking for a career in heritage The paper, which outlines plans to
address skills issues as part of Britain's
HLF unveils Skills for the Future
bid to grow out of the recession, has
been produced in the context of the UK
£5m programme to support traditional skills training
Commission for Employment and Skills'
(UKCES) Ambition 2020 skills document.
By Pete Hayman over a five-year period. The Around 90 per cent of the UKCES'
closing date for applications is recommendations can be found in the Stephen Studd is
A £5m grant scheme, designed 19 March 2010, with awards white paper, giving momentum to some chief executive of
to provide up to 1,000 paid being made in May 2010. of the proposals outlined. SkillsActive
training opportunities deliver- Dame Jenny Abramsky, HLF One problem, however, is that this is
ing traditional conservation chair, said: "More than ever in an overarching strategy and, despite
skills to people across the UK, these difficult times, HLF wants referencing Sector Skills Councils, doesn't reflect any sector-
has been launched by the to focus on offering people specific differences. The government recognises that 'it is as
Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). skills that will give them a valuable for a young person to gain a good technical
Skills for the Future will future career and meet the qualification through an apprenticeship as it is to go directly
support organisations offering needs of the sector. into university', and I agree. But if this approach is to have an
vocational learning, as well as "This £5m commitment will impact, apprenticeship legislation needs to support the
the use of new media and ensure our heritage is protect- development of frameworks that work for our sector.
technology for people looking ed for the future and repre- Equally, it is encouraging that the government 'set a bold new
for a career in heritage. sents a hugely exciting chance ambition for the higher education and skills systems – that
Organisations can apply for to attract people who might three quarters of young people should participate in higher
grants between £100,000 and not usually consider a career in education or complete an Advanced Apprenticeship or
£1m to provide traineeships the heritage sector." equivalent technician level course by the age of 30'. It reaffirms
the need to develop high level skills as we come out of a
recession, but we would question the benefit in such a large
LA Fitness joins forces with IQL
number of individuals studying for degrees without courses
appropriately preparing graduates as 'job-ready'. Our sector
An LA Fitness health club in Tara Dillon, executive doesn't necessarily need a degree as an entry level requirement.
Derby is to become an director of the IQL, said: "The It's the technical, job-ready skills that employers want.
Institute of Qualified training is especially great Other challenges include the move toward a digital Britain
Lifeguards (IQL)-approved for us as it means more and a low carbon economy as a means of taking us out of the
training centre. lifeguards can be qualified recession. This in itself poses us a challenge. We must continue
The designation is part of a in the future as the demand to demonstrate the vital role our sector plays in the economy,
deal between LA Fitness and for our qualifications the physical activity agenda, and the health and well-being of
IQL, which will see IQL train continues to grow." the nation, and not get overlooked within this new approach.
more than 500 LA Fitness The IQL has also launched The commitments outlined in the paper are a start, as long
staff in the Emergency a training scheme, designed as the government continues to recognise that a sector
Response Qualification and a to qualify a team of trainer approach to tackling skills challenges is the right one. One
select number of staff in the assessors in a bid to ensure thing is sure; as we approach a general election, the white
NPLQ (National Pool the ongoing lifeguard paper puts skills firmly at the centre of political debate. This
Lifeguarding Qualification). programme is sustainable. recognises their importance to the future of the UK. 2010
promises to be an interesting year.
© Cybertrek 2009 Read Leisure Opportunities online www.leisureopportunities.com/digita l 21
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32