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A year of possibilities, but
not without challenges
Last year was all about relicensing, this year
is about delivering our strategic objectives
A
s we enter a new year, and indeed
a new decade, we are faced with a
number of new possibilities, but
also new challenges.
According to the economists we are
Creative arts is among the sectors to benefit from the scheme entering into phase two of the recession
and the old adage of getting worse
Jobs boost for young people
before it gets better is a real possibility
for us in the skills sector. With a
Government scheme to create jobs in arts and culture
general election fast approaching, there
is a renewed emphasis on squeezing
By Tom Walker More than 140 jobs will be public expenditure. There appears to be
created by English Heritage in a a competition going on between the stephen studd is
Culture secretary Ben Bradshaw bid to help digitise 30,000 political parties on who can cut public chief executive of
has announced that £5m will historic images of Wiltshire for expenditure the most, yet have the skillsActive.
be invested in a range of educational use, while 31 least impact on public services. This
projects to create more than positions will be made available very much puts funding for training
600 new jobs in the cultural, in the London Borough of into the spotlight.
creative and sport sectors Newham working for perform- With that said, we are already in active dialogue with the
through the government's ing arts venues. A further 51 political parties to fight the corner for public funding focused
Future Jobs Fund. jobs are to be created at the on the needs of employers. It is clear that whichever party gets
The Department for Culture, National Association of Clubs in, apprenticeships will be the flagship training programme.
Media and Sport (DCMS) has for Young People. This is good news for a sector built of vocational qualifications.
confirmed funding to help A total of 200 new jobs will There is clear evidence that apprenticeships provide the best
Creative and Cultural Skills also be created across the West route for young people into the industry by giving them
create 200 new positions in Midlands region, co-ordinated structured training and real work experience. They also provide
cultural organisations and by the Skills Partnership and employers with the opportunity to get to know and shape the
community venues, such as contributing towards regional people that they need for the future.
theatres and live music venues. Olympic legacy targets. The good news is that the role of Sector Skills Councils as the
coordinated voice of employers has been reaffirmed by both the
Labour and Conservative parties; and in fact the Conservatives
English universities face £398m cut
see employer leadership as crucial to the continued
rationalisation of the skills landscape. Of course a major weapon
English universities and £270m will have to be shaved in our armoury is our National Skills Academy, set up to bring
higher education institutions off its annual funding award together public, employer and individual investment to achieve
are being encouraged to in addition to previously best value for money and ensure the best training available. We
offer more foundation and announced reductions of are proactively promoting the Academy to politicians as the
"fast-track" degree courses in £180m and £83m. most cost effective way of getting funding into skills delivery
order to help offset a major Mandelson is now urging where it is really needed. Looking forward, the new
funding cut forced on them institutions to move away Qualifications and Curriculum Framework finally becomes the
in 2010-11. from traditional three-year only game in town after the end of this year, enabling employers
In a letter outlining the courses in favour of full-time to access bite sized learning credits.
Higher Education Funding degrees that can be com- So what a year we have in front of us. Last year was all about
Council for England’s budget pleted in two years, as well the relicensing process, this year is about delivering our
for the forthcoming year, as increasing the number of strategic objectives. With that said, we still need employers to
business secretary Lord programmes that are taken engage with us, now more than ever. With your support we can
Mandelson revealed a further "flexibly and part-time". continue to pressure the government to fund the qualifications
and training that are important to our sector.
© Cybertrek 2010 Read Leisure Opportunities online www.leisureopportunities.com/digita l 19
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