training
news & jobs at www.leisureopportunities.co.uk
Apprenticeships are the
key to future success
Employers need greater encouragement to
take on young workers in an apprentice role
L
ast week (1-5 February) was
National Apprenticeships Week in
England and once again we
brought together key industry
stakeholders, employers and decision
The scheme helped a Birmingham casino to recruit two croupiers makers to demonstrate the crucial role
apprenticeships play within our sector.
Routes into Work plan launched
It is vital we show ministers and key
stakeholders what our sector can do
New government scheme to benefit leisure operators
given the right support, and with 50
employers and more than 100
By Pete Hayman part of the initiative to promote apprentices under one roof, our event
vacancies to young candidates at Lord's cricket ground in London
Leisure operators are being who have been able to benefit showcased how our sector embraced
encouraged to take advantage from the skills training. the apprenticeship programme and the STEPHEN STUDD is
of a new government initiative, Firms will also be able to value we place on it. chief executive of
which guarantees the offer of a benefit from a risk-free 'work It is no secret that traditionally, we SkillsActive. Lei-
job, training or work experi- trial', which enables a young have been a fragmented sector with no sure Opportunites
ence for each unemployed jobseeker to start work while established qualification route, but is the official
young person across the UK. continuing to receive benefits, things have changed dramatically. We reruitment maga-
Routes into Work has been and a subsidy from £1,000 for have developed a programme of choice zine for Spring-
established by Jobcentre Plus each candidate recruited. for employers and young people board UK
with training providers to offer Routes into Work will create wanting to work in the sector by
eight-week schemes designed up to 70,000 pre-employment engaging with the apprenticeship
to equip young people with places as part of the Young programme, and developing the right frameworks in
relevant skills. Person's Guarantee, which has partnership with our employers.
Industry employers are now been developed by the More employers have to be helped and supported in working
being offered the chance to government with employers with apprenticeships and that's one of our key challenges. This
work with Jobcentre Plus as and sector skills councils. is why we set up our National Skills Academy; we can help
small employers to access the programme by finding them
quality providers and helping them to access funding. This is
RFL unveils new coaching initiative
crucial with so much emphasis being placed on apprenticeships
as a key driver to coming out of the recession, as well as our
A new initiative has been tion to working with adult efforts to demonstrate that apprenticeships work for us in the
launched in a bid to and junior teams. sport and active leisure sector, just as well as they work in
encourage more members of Cliff Simms, a sports plumbing, engineering and manufacturing.
black and minority ethnic consultant with Sporting We need employers to step forward and take the leap into
(BME) and faith communities Equals, said: "We want to employing an apprentice, whether that's a coach, fitness
to sign up to rugby league engage and promote positive instructor or playworker. We need to continue to demonstrate
coaching courses. initiatives to tackle race and the depth of our sector, and the fact that not all of our
The Rugby Football League faith inequalities, change apprentices can be employed from day one of starting the
has teamed up with Sporting attitudes and cultures to programme. And we need to ensure that our apprenticeship
Equals in order to offer the participation in all sports and frameworks are fit for purpose, and are reviewed and refreshed
new Level One certificate in develop a fair and represen- to keep up with an ever evolving sector.
Coaching Rugby League, tative sporting nation." Apprenticeships in our sector are highly regarded and hugely
which aims to provide The course will take place beneficial. They are a great way to enter and begin a career in a
participants with an introduc- on 27 March and 10 April. vibrant, exciting and public-focused sector that continues to
gain profile, and really is at the heart of society as a whole.
© Cybertrek 2010 Read Leisure Opportunities online www.leisureopportunities.com/digita l 23
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