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New year, new opportunities


ian taylor is chief executive of SkillsActive


Gym Group up for Sunday Times prize


Budget health club opera- tor Gym Group has been recognised as among the UK’s top employers by Best Companies, the organisation behind the annual Sunday Times Top 100 Companies to Work For List. Gym Group has been


involved in leisure activities. By working with our employer groups we can ensure that these fresh faces stick around and con- tinue to benefit from our industry. This year we are launching six gov-


T


ernment-backed and employer-driven professional registers. Te aim of these reg- isters is three-fold. Tey will help employers professionalise their business; present employees with a clear and structured career path; and offer the public a competent and fully trained workforce. The government funded Employer


Ownership of Skills Fund presents our industry with further opportunities for workforce development. Employers are invited to work alongside SkillsActive in developing proposals that raise skills, cre- ate jobs, and drive economic growth. Via the fund, the UK Commission for Employment and Skills will match fund proposals put forward by an employer or consortium of employers that meet their criteria. Proposals that pledge to invest in skills


and aim to bring long-term benefits to the UK are highly sought after. SkillsActive has extensive experience working with employers, helping them to engage with the government in accessing funding. We are always keen to hear new ideas


and work with new employers, so if you’re interested in bidding into the Employer Ownership of Skills pilot then please con- tact us at employerenquiries@skillsactive. com. By investing in skills we can ensure that talented individuals continue to work and enjoy working in our industry. Tis will in turn benefit the fresh faces


that may be joining a gym for first time whilst also assuring long term customers that the facilities they are using are staffed by professional and competent individuals. For more information on the fund


itself visit the UKCES website at www.ukces.org.uk/employerownership


16


he New Year is an exciting time for our industry; as we all strive to fulfil our resolutions, many choose to join gyms and get


granted three stars under the organisation’s accredita- tion scheme, which is based on workplace engagement and determined through an organisation questionnaire and employee survey. Gym Group chief executive


John Treharne, CEO, said the company treats staff as a ‘key asset’


John Treharne said: “Te staff are absolutely our key asset and we work hard to ensure we provide all the support and development they need to feel happy, content and rewarded in their roles.”


Te Sunday Times Top 100 Companies to


Work For List will be announced at a London awards ceremony on 27 February and will be made public on the Sunday Times website in March. Details: http://lei.sr?a=6a7J5


Glasgow 2014 launches volunteer search


The process of selecting 15,000 volunteers for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, is under- way with applications officially opened on 14 January. Roles are open to those


over the age of 16, eligible to work in the UK and avail- able between 23 July and 3 August 2014. In November a volunteer centre was offi- cially launched in Glasgow’s Merchant City, which, when interviews open in April, is expected to screen 1,000 vol- unteer applicants a week. Fiona McEwan, vice chair Commonwealth


Organisers of the 2014 Games are looking to hire 15,000 volunteers


Games Scotland, said Scots are hospitable and have a good sense of humour - qualities that make a strong volunteer force. “From the technical officials who ensure


that the sport competitions run smoothly, to the drivers who help athletes and officials


get seamlessly around the city, to the people welcoming athletes into the dining room, a friendly and flexible attitude turns a good Games into a great and memorable Games.” Chair of Glasgow 2014 Lord Smith said one


of his lasting memories of London 2012 was the contribution made by up to 70,000 volun- teers. Details: http://lei.sr?a=X8X7I


Premier Training records 12 per cent revenue increase


Premier Training International has described its 2012 financial results as “recession-busting” with a 14 per cent increase in turnover on the previous year. For the year ending September the company had a turnover of £10m and revenues up 10


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


per cent, consolidating its upward growth in 2011. Chief executive Debra Stuart said: “We knew that we had had a great year in terms of expanding the size and scope of the Group’s business, but it’s fantastic to see the figures reflect that success so unequivocally.”


Twitter: @leisureopps © Cybertrek 2013


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