training and qualifi cations
THE AGE OF the apprentice
With unemployment rates running high and the price of a degree rising to as much as £9,000, the spotlight is on alternative training programmes to deliver fresh talent to employers. Following George Osborne’s recent pledge to create 40,000 extra apprenticeship programmes, Nicki Petitt asks the fitness industry what apprenticeships can bring to the sector, and how programmes have evolved to meet the changing needs of employers
“B
efore the introduction of apprenticeships, the industry lacked training programmes that equipped
individuals with transferable skills and industry-wide qualifications,” says Stephen Studd, chief executive of the SkillsActive Group. “Today, employers and training providers are able to work closely together in the development and delivery of apprenticeship programmes, communicating the key needs of the industry and translating these needs into course syllabuses.” Studd continues: “It’s encouraging that
the coalition government is continuing to back apprenticeships; the sector benefited greatly from the recently scrapped Future Jobs Fund and will have delivered 4,700 individuals into the sport and active leisure industry by September this year – a significant achievement in a year when the nation is facing such high unemployment rates.”
evolving role In working closely with employers, training providers play a key role in delivering courses that effectively cater for the needs of the industry as a whole. What many providers are finding is that the role of the apprentice within health clubs is expanding; government-funded course options must therefore cover a range of additional skills, as well as traditional technical qualifications. Nigel Wallace, director of training at
Lifetime, says: “It’s a well-known fact that the leisure industry is a fast-paced and ever-changing market. To be able to successfully operate and compete in this environment, employers need to recruit and retain a multi-skilled workforce. Apprenticeship programmes offer operators just that: with a unique blend of vocational training to complement the more technical qualifications, individuals come work-ready and equipped to operate in customer-facing roles.” Craig Jones, operations director
Backing: The Future Jobs Fund delivered thousands of people into the industry, and the government continues to back apprenticeships
at Fit For Sport, says: “Fit For Sport offers both accredited training and employment opportunities to apprentices, so we can address the requirements of apprenticeship programmes both from the training provider and employer perspectives. “The health and fitness industry is an
attractive industry for young people, and they can learn valuable, role-relevant skills through an apprenticeship. Rather than spending hours in the classroom, they can benefit from learning real-life
“Gaining the right qualifi cations in sport or active leisure offers a young person the chance to turn a hobby or passion into a career, while fi lling a skills gap”
june 2011 © cybertrek 2011
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