training & qualifi cations


“Employers can tailor the content


of courses to refl ect the real world operational pressures and balance learners’ study time with on-the-job training. Using a training provider or a mentor with sector experience also adds value to the training.” He continues: “The consistent


message SkillsActive receives from employers is the need to improve the


‘soft’ skills of both new entrants and those already working in the sector. “Much of the training for key roles


rightly concentrates on statutory and health and safety requirements, or the technical aspects of service provision. While this training meets the needs of delivering a safe and effective workforce, it’s the personal experience of the customer that the operators are striving to improve. “Central to this is the way employees


interact with customers – especially their communication and listening skills.


42


This can only be effectively taught and improved in the working environment with real customers, and this is where operators can add particular value to the learning process. “In addition, funding for training


is increasingly being channelled to providers who can demonstrate a positive impact on their learners’ employability. Operators are therefore in a great position to capitalise on their natural advantage when it comes to delivering training.” Debra Stuart, CEO of Active IQ,


adds: “Offering employers the chance to take control of the delivery of funded training means they can tailor the training to meet the specifi c needs of both the employees and the business, as well as boosting the budget that is allocated to training by removing the need to outsource. “Active IQ provides a wide range of vocational qualifi cations and can


Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital


offer help and guidance to employers who are interested in delivering their own training. Alternatively, if employers already have their own in-house training that matches National Occupational Standards, we can accredit this, allowing them to deliver their own branded, nationally recognised qualifi cations. A successful example of this is Spirit Health Clubs (see p41), which worked together with Active IQ to accredit its own in-house leisure management qualifi cation. “We’ve seen some great success


stories working with employers who’ve taken a ‘bull by the horns’ approach and accessed government funding to boost their own training budget: this has allowed them to deliver training that supports the business objectives.”


WAY OF THE FUTURE


These are interesting times, and perhaps more operators will in future be taking


november/december 2011 © cybertrek 2011


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