The Sector Skills Council for the places where we live and work
Careers Advice Line 0800 056 7160
April 2011
Asset Skills has added another date to its events programme of subsidised low carbon training because of high demand.
The sessions cover renewable technologies, funding and the government's green agenda. Each one offers a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) certificate to delegates and is aimed at people working in facilities management (FM), housing and property.
"Our low carbon training workshops have been extremely popular," said Richard Beamish, Chief Executive of Asset Skills, the Sector Skills Council for the above industries.
"Our first two events were well-attended by people from various career backgrounds in the built environment. There is a clear need for training and skills development in this area. We are adding an extra date to the programme to take account of the increasing demand."
The events are run by Asset Skills in partnership with Universities South West. The new date is 18 May at the innovative Genesis Centre in Taunton, and will cost delegates £25.
Elsewhere, Asset Skills is recruiting candidates for energy advice training in Wales and South West England, and delivering the programme in Northern Ireland.
All the training is based around the level 3 Energy Advice (Home) certificate, offered by the Awarding Body of the Built Environment (ABBE).
In Wales the course will pilot domestic (and later commercial) energy advice training as part of the Welsh Assembly Government's (WAG) Sector Priorities Fund Pilot (more in Background Notes below). This programme includes additional learning on other low carbon WAG initiatives and begins this month with 75 learners.
In South West England
In Northern Ireland Asset Skills is delivering the level 3 certificate to 30 domestic energy assessors, plus the level 4 renewables award. It is the first time the programme has been delivered in the province and is running in Belfast Metropolitan College and North West Regional College, supported by the Department for Employment and Learning, Northern Ireland.
For more information on any of the above low carbon training projects, contact Philip Stott at pstott@assetskills.org or call 01392 456 825.
Sector Priorities Fund Pilot
Funding for new apprenticeships and qualifications in the Welsh built environment were announced by Lesley Griffiths, Wales's Deputy Minister for Science, Innovation and Skills in September 2010.
The funding comes from the Welsh Assembly Government's Sector Priorities Fund Pilot (SPFP) Programme and is backed by the European Social Fund (ESF).
The SPFP is designed to pilot strategic project activity with Sector Skills Councils (SSCs). This is in order to inform recommendations for, and effect a smooth transition to the 2011 Sector Priorities Fund identified in "Skills that Work for Wales". It will ensure the delivery of post-16 skills provision that is more responsive and aligned to the needs of employers.
Asset Skills successfully bid for almost £840,000 of SPFP funding to help employers in FM, housing, property and cleaning train their workforce. The programme is delivering a range of new training where none currently exists. The qualifications covered include:
The 2011 Sector Priorities Fund essentially ring-fences a proportion of the annual recurrent funding allocated by WAG for post-16 learning. This ring-fenced budget will then be used to target those qualifications and courses deemed as being of most value to employers in developing the skills of their workforce. SSCs have been asked to play a key role in identifying value-adding qualifications and courses, underpinned by the intelligence gained through their Sector Qualifications Strategies (SQS) and Sector Skills Agreement (SSA).
The pilot programme will end in December 2011 and it is hoped that it will assist and engage with more than 2,400 participants, more than 600 employers, and generate a number of research studies to contribute to policy development. For further information please email sectorprioritiesfundpilot@wales.gsi.gov.uk
Joint Investment Programme 2011
The Joint Investment Programme (JIP) is a co-investment approach with a 50-50 split of public and private sector investment into skills development and training to support economic recovery and future growth in emerging industries.
The programme is being delivered through Sector Skills Councils who will work with training organisations and employers to deliver relevant skills and training.
The Skills Funding Agency leads on the Joint Investment Programme (JIP) strand. The funding is directed specifically at those qualifications and units of qualifications identified as solutions to specific skills needs. Successful applicants will play a leading role when working with approved Skills Funding Agency colleges and training organisations to develop an employer/provider partnership which delivers the specific sectoral provision which includes to long-term capability and a capacity with committed investment.
JIP represents a new challenge for sector and employer bodies requiring them to work together and in partnership with us to lead on sector initiatives that will raise ambition for skills and overcome blockages to growth.
The Growth and Innovation Fund Prospectus gives full details including eligibility criteria, timescales and application forms and protocol. It can be found here http://www.ukces.org.uk/gif/
The key elements being looked for in applications are:
The JIP 2011 is open to applications from Sector Skills Councils, Industry Training Bodies, formally constituted Sector Bodies, National Skills Academies, Employer Associations, Trade Associations and Professional Bodies. This does not include training organisations or colleges.
The closing date for applications is 3 June 2011. Applicants are advised to read the Growth Innovation Fund Prospectus thoroughly.
