training Boost for heritage sector skills projects


The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has announced addi- tional funding worth £13.6m for 51 skills projects through its Skills for the Future and Training Bursaries schemes. Nearly 790 new placements


are to be delivered as a result of the funding, representing 700 years’ worth of paid train- ing opportunities for those looking to enter the sector. Among the projects set


to benefit from the latest investment are the digitising of archives and the conser- vation of historic gardens, supporting both traditional and contemporary skills. Skills for the Future, which offers work-based


Te funding boost will create opportunities across the heritage sector


training in a range of areas, received £9.5m of funding to support 43 projects across the UK.


Meanwhile, Training Bursaries – providing on- the-job accredited training in 50 skillsets – has secured £4.1m for eight projects. Details: http://lei.sr?a=F6O7c


SkillsActive launches ActiveAmbition


SkillsActive has launched its new ActiveAmbition initiative to drive growth by profession- alising the active leisure sector and improving standards. Te initiative also aims to


raise the aspirations of current and prospective employers and employees through effec- tive skills development. ActiveAmbition has been


part-funded by the UK Commission for Employment and Ski l ls through the Employer Investment Fund. It will see SkillsActive work with employers, trade associations and stakeholders over the next two years. Te new scheme will expand on the work


Continuing to build on recent successes


ian taylor is the new chief executive officer of SkillsActive


I


t gives me great pleasure to write this as the new SkillsActive CEO at what is an exciting time as Olympic fever grips us all! SkillsActive is evolving


into a more tenacious and resourceful com- pany, while remaining true to our goal of a better skilled workforce. I sincerely thank my colleagues for their sustained efforts. We can be very proud of our many recent


achievements, not least Te Mayor’s Legacy project – completed in March with more than 8,000 people receiving e-learning intervention for disability training and more than 13,000 training places completed. ActiveAmbition (see right) will help to


drive business growth by professionalis- ing the sector. It will connect more than 170 leading employers to solutions through activepassport and a network of approved training providers, all within a single qual- ifications framework. SkillsActive will continue to work with employers, trade associations and stakeholders to create and maintain appropriate skills protocols. We will continue to represent the entire


Te programme aims to improve standards in the UK’s leisure industry “ActiveAmbition represents a framework


undertaken on the skills protocol within leisure. James Emmett, head of employer engagement at SkillsActive, said: “It is widely recognised that upskilling existing and new employees is vital to the growth of the sector.


to provide improved skills delivery for the industry, building on the work undertaken by operators during 2011 to create the Skills Protocol and the subsequent report by the Skills Protocol Employer Leadership Group.” Details: http://lei.sr/?a=C8D4z


Luxury hotel introduces ‘customerize’ training scheme Te training will offer staff the tools to adapt


Independently-owned boutique resort Te Vineyard at Stockross in Berkshire has introduced a new training initiative called Customerize. Te scheme is based on ‘cus- tomer psychology’ – the understanding of guest behaviour and the mind-set of guests.


© CYBERTREK 2012


and maximise their personal effectiveness, while increasing secondary spend and repeat visits through the creation of customer experi- ences and customer service in all areas. Details: http://lei.sr?a=W6c0l


Twitter: @leisureopps


sector and lobby on its behalf. A recent example of this is evident in the petitioning of government by our caravanning sector colleagues, who fought to reduce VAT on caravan holiday homes. MPs responded quickly, enabling the industry to continue its invaluable work for British tourism. More than 25 Awarding Organisations


have offered their commitment to work with us to ensure all qualifications meet the needs of the sector. With this contin- ued support and new initiatives waiting in the wings, I am confident that SkillsActive will enable the sectors in which we operate to go from strength to strength. No doubt the road ahead won’t always be


smooth. But by working with all our stake- holders, we can add value to employers and employees alike and help our sectors capi- talise on the skills agenda to create vibrant and essential parts of our economy. Finally, as the “Greatest Show on Earth”


arrives in London, I wish Team GB all they, and a nation, hope for and dream of.


Read Leisure Opportunities online: www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/digital 17


image: candybox images/shutterstock.com


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