The Sector Skills Council for the places where we live and work
Careers Advice Line 0800 056 7160
Message from the Chief Executive
The General Election has come and gone and, as a result, we can publish material that would be considered too political during the election period. This is why we have three research papers available, covering migrant workers, the economy and technology. They are part of a series of papers offering useful information and guidance to employers in the industries we cover.
At the time of writing we have heard the Chancellor’s announcement of over £6 billion worth of cuts in public funding. As an licensed organisation that is owned by employers but receives a substantial proportion of our income from central government, we have already seen a large fall in core funding. Our strength lies in acting as a conduit to training solutions for employers, guiding them through the maze of qualifications and training programmes. So we are part of the solution rather than the problem.
Nonetheless, none of us can rest on our laurels and we are working with other Sector Skills Councils to ensure continuing support for employers. And we continue to be innovative, with the launch of the employer funded Virtual Academy for Business Services when others are cutting programmes.
This newsletter touches on just of a few of our services and activities. Feel free to contact me on rbeamish@assetskills.org if you would like further information.
Best wishes
Richard Beamish
New Virtual Academy pilot to raise skills across facilities management
A new project is set to alter the training landscape in facilities management (FM) by bringing employers together to collaborate on raising the skills of the workforce.
The employer funded Virtual Academy in Business Services pilot was launched by Asset Skills at the Facilities Show in Birmingham earlier this month.
There are a number of companies in support of this already and we are calling on more to get involved as the pilot develops.
“This project has the potential to have a far reaching impact on the way vocational training is delivered across facilities management,” said Chris Cracknell, Chair of Asset Skills and Chief Executive of international facilities firm OCS Group Limited.
“To ensure its success we need full industry backing. As a fellow employer, I would appeal to facilities companies to participate in this venture as I believe it will be of huge benefit to our sector now and in the future.”
The Virtual Academy will act as a link between business and training providers, offering practical assistance on training issues. The term virtual was chosen because it was not the intention to create a new facility, but to harness existing structures and use technology to aid communication.
“We all have the same issues and the same challenges in developing the levels of skills in our workforce,” said Helen Jeffery, National Skills Manager at Interserve. “By coming together, we can learn from each other and raise the standard of training in the sector as a whole.”
The Academy is not part of the National Skills Academy network and is pioneering in the world of skills training, in that it draws little on the public purse. Instead, a modest subscription will be charged to members.
Facilities management falls within Business Services, identified by the government in the National Strategic Skills Audit 2010 as one of six key growth industries. Raising skills in this area has been cited as a priority if the sector is to meet the expected future growth.
Find out more about how the Virtual Academy works in practice, visit www.assetskills.org/virtualacademy email virtualacademy@assetskills.org or call 0844 822 2525. Alternatively, visit www.youtube.com/assetskills to hear what FM employers think.
New FM Apprenticeship scheme - early evening network event in London
One of the Virtual Academy’s first projects is to trial six Facilities Management Apprenticeship schemes in England, the first in London and the South East.
The FM Apprenticeship level 3 is a brand new training programme which will have a big impact on raising skills in the FM workforce.
The programme will start in the autumn and Asset Skills will outline more details at an early evening network event for employers on 22 June at Westminster Kingsway College in London.
There is no cost to employers to attend. Information on funding criteria and other FM accredited programmes will also be provided.
To find out more, contact Tom Orton by emailing virtualacademy@assetskills.org or call the Virtual Academy on 0844 822 2525 (local rate call). To register for the event, visit www.regonline.co.uk/FMApprenticeships
Asset Skills industry research available
Intelligence Papers
As a way of continually improving and extending the Labour Market Intelligence (LMI) offer to stakeholders, Asset Skills has produced a series of Intelligence Papers. These are in-depth intelligence driven reports, that focus on the ‘hot topics’ facing employers within the footprint. The papers cover:
Issue 1 – Migrant Workers
It is generally accepted that migrant workers now play a significant role in the UK economy across a number of different industries. This paper focuses on migrant workers who entered the UK at working age. It examines their profile and discusses the role they have played across the footprint. The paper also looks at issues such as what they bring to the workforce and the problems they both solve and create for employers.
Issue 2 – The Impact of the Economy
The UK recession officially ended in 2009 after 18 months, and was the longest UK economic downturn on record. The industries that make up the Asset Skills footprint are still feeling the effect of the tough economic conditions, and significant challenges are expected to remain due to the public sector cuts. The impact the recession has had on each industry and on skills and training issues is also considered.
Issue 3 – Technology
Technology plays a crucial role in the majority of industries across the UK. This paper examines the role that technology plays within the industries represented by Asset Skills. It focuses on issues such as the impact technology has had on working practices, the problems it has solved for employers and staff, and the skills demands that it has created.
Upcoming editions
It is intended that there will be at least one new paper released each month. Upcoming topics include:
• Employability and ex-offenders
• Employability and graduates
• Low carbon and sustainability in the housing and property sectors
• Low carbon and sustainability in the facilities management and cleaning sectors
• Horizon scanning – future trends and industry drivers
• Management and leadership
Sectoral Labour Market Intelligence PowerPoint Presentations available
Another part of our effort to improve our LMI offering includes the creation of a series of PowerPoint presentations for each of the core Asset Skills industries. The purpose is to allow our stakeholders to access our LMI in ways that will suit them.
The presentations take a standard format and contain approximately 15 slides, and are intended to present the most up to date labour market intelligence available. Headings include:
• Headlines – to remain competitive the [industry] needs to;
• Headlines - Skills needed;
• Profile of the industry;
• Profile of the workforce;
• The operating environment;
• PESTLE (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental) analysis – Key industry drivers;
• PESTLE Analysis – Skills implications;
• Current skills and qualifications;
• Skills gaps;
• The future – summary of key themes; and
• Reports of interest – directing the reader to further Asset Skills research on the sector.
Regional factsheets
Asset Skills has recently produced factsheets for each of the nine English regions. These contain the most up to date labour market intelligence, including data on companies and the workforce.
Furthermore, new industry-specific labour market intelligence factsheets are now available for each of the home nations.
For more information on any of the above papers, please contact Michelle Jay at mjay@assetskills.org or phone 0845 678 2 888 (local rate call).
First set of occupational standards for residential landlords
Asset Skills is developing the first ever set of National Occupational Standards (NOS) for Residential Landlords, which will form a separate strand within the property suite of standards. Once developed this will provide a set of consistent standards for the UK which can assist with:
Developing and Evaluating Training: NOS can be used to shape the content of training as they specify in detail what constitutes good practice. They can also be used to evaluate training by defining the expected outcomes.
Benchmarking: The NOS provide an excellent basis from which to develop bench marking exercises.
Self assessment: Landlords can use the NOS to undertake a self-assessment of their competencies against the standards.
Mapping provision: Existing landlord organisations and training providers can map their current courses and workshops against the relevant NOS. This enables providers to identify gaps in provision and can highlight where there is a need to update material to include new areas or to remove materials which are out of date; it also ensures a national standard.
Any landlord, landlords’ group or interested party can help with the development of the NOS - either by taking part in a working group or a virtual group.
Interested parties should contact Liz Black at lblack@assetskills.org or Vikki Williams at vwilliams@assetskills.org or phone 0845 678 2 888 (local rate call).
Awards event celebrates cleaning skills contest held inside prisons
An awards ceremony has taken place to mark the achievements of prisoners who took part in a cleaning skills competition, the Team Clean Challenge.
The event, now in its third year, is run by Asset Skills to showcase the high quality training that takes place within prisons as part of preparing offenders with work skills to help their rehabilitation on release.
The Team Clean Challenge is the only skills competition taking place inside prisons.
The winners of the prisons challenge in England were awarded their trophies at the ceremony in London. They included: HMP Lindholme for Best Prison; Rochester for Best Young Offenders Institute; Amy Boorman from HMP Holloway for Best Manager; Adam Marsh from Wormwood Scrubs for Best Supervisor; and Samantha Bradley from HMP Bronzefield for Best Operative.
Team Clean Challenge Scotland
Elsewhere, the winner of the prison strand of the Team Clean Challenge Scotland has been announced.
Participants in the contest included HMP Dumfries, HMP Barlinnie and HM Young Offenders Institute Polmont, who all entered highly motivated and skilled cleaning teams.
The 2010 winner is HMP Dumfries who took the trophy from last year's winner HMP Barlinnie.
Asset Skills thanks everyone who took part in the competition and all those who pledged their support.
Diploma provides an excellent route into a professional career
Promotional events for the Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment (C&BE) are continuing around the country.
Asset Skills, along with the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Plymouth consortia (a group of employers and education providers who help deliver the Diploma), teamed up for a two day event encouraging Construction and the Built Environment students to explore ways in which the environment can influence learning.
A key message was that the Diploma opens many doors to careers that young people may not have thought about before.
Recently Harper Adams University in the West Midlands hosted 70 students for a ‘sustainability day’. A video and further information can be viewed here Asset Skills is working to ensure that the Diploma becomes part of the Welsh Baccalaureate qualification. Teaching is due to begin in two pilot schools in September 2010.
Careers
There is a range of careers information now available on the Asset Skills website. New additions include progression routes, case studies and job profiles.
Our latest labour market information document, designed to support careers advisers, delivers accurate advice about the jobs in our sectors, is now available in the Research pages of the website.
Asset Skills is continuing to look for people to support our careers work, either by offering time to support the diploma, or by providing information that we can use to create new and accurate job profiles and case studies, which help people with career decisions.
If you would like to get involved, please contact Cathy Lindsay-Carl, Careers and Education Manager at clindsay-carl@assetskills.org or call 0845 678 2 888 (local rate call).
Employers offered cash incentive to recruit redundant workers in Wales
The Welsh Assembly Government is offering employers up to £3,080 towards the cost of wages and training if they recruit a redundant person.
For more call 0845 606 6160 and confirm that the person you are hiring has been made redundant in the last six months.
For more information email info@reactwales.co.uk or search online for ‘ReAct at Welsh Assembly Government’.
Cynigion ariannol i gyflogwyr sy'n penodi gweithwyr di-waith yng Nghymru
Mae Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru'n cynnig hyd at £3,080 i gyflogwyr i'w helpu i dalu'r costau cyflogau a hyfforddi os ânt ati i benodi person a ddiswyddwyd.
I gael rhagor o wybodaeth ffoniwch 0845 606 6160 a chadarnhewch fod y person rydych yn ei benodi wedi colli ei swydd yn ystod y chwe mis diwethaf.
I gael rhagor o wybodaeth e-bostiwch info@reactwales.co.uk neu chwiliwch ar-lein am ‘ReAct yn Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru’.
Welsh businesses encouraged to help graduates
GO Wales, an organisation that helps Welsh graduates into careers, is offering a range of activities to enable businesses in Wales, especially small to medium-sized enterprises, to access and develop graduate-level skills.
The GO Wales programme is funded by the European Union and the Welsh Assembly Government and delivered by the universities and colleges of higher education in Wales.
The initiatives offer a range of services to help businesses recruit, retain and develop graduate staff.
For more information visit GO Wales Graduate Skills for Business at www.gowales.co.uk or contact info@gowales.co.uk or 0845 225 60 50.
Anogaeth i fusnesau Cymru helpu graddedigion
Mae GO Wales, sef sefydliad sy'n helpu graddedigion Cymru i ganfod gyrfaoedd, yn cynnig ystod o weithgareddau i alluogi busnesau yng Nghymru, yn arbennig mentrau bach a chanolig eu maint, i ddysgu a datblygu sgiliau graddedigion.
Mae'r rhaglen GO Wales wedi'i hariannu gan yr Undeb Ewropeaidd a Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru a chaiff ei darparu gan brifysgolion a cholegau addysg uwch yng Nghymru.
Mae'r mentrau'n cynnig ystod o wasanaethau i helpu busnesau i recriwtio, cadw a datblygu staff sy'n raddedigion. I gael rhagor o wybodaeth edrychwch ar Sgiliau Graddedigion i Fusnes GO Wales ar www.gowales.co.uk neu cysylltwch â info@gowales.co.uk neu ffoniwch 0845 225 60 50.
New website promotes diversity in Welsh housing
A new website has been launched to promote diversity in housing associations in north Wales.
The website – www.nwrep.co.uk – aims to help raise awareness of race equality issues among housing association staff and residents.
Run by the North Wales Registered Social Landlord Equality Partnership (NWREP), the site also seeks to establish a joint approach towards tackling racial discrimination and harassment.
The NWREP comprises a number of housing groups, including Cymdeithas Tai Eryri, Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd, Clwyd Alyn Housing Association, North Wales Housing Association and Wales & West Housing Association.
Each organisation has a board member elected as their Diversity Champion and a special Board Diversity Champions’ awareness session was held to mark the website launch.
Gwefan newydd yn hybu amrywiaeth yng nghartrefi Cymru
Mae gwefan newydd wedi'i lansio i hybu amrywiaeth mewn cymdeithasau tai yng Ngogledd Cymru.
Pwrpas y wefan – www.cydraddoldebmewntai.co.uk – yw helpu i wneud pobl yn fwy ymwybodol o faterion yn ymwneud â chydraddoldeb hiliol ymysg staff a thrigolion cymdeithasau tai.
Mae'r wefan, a redir gan Bartneriaeth Cydraddoldeb LCC Gogledd Cymru (NWREP), hefyd yn ceisio sefydlu dull ar y cyd o ymdrin â gwahaniaethu ac aflonyddu hiliol.
Mae NWREP yn cynnwys nifer o grwpiau tai, gan gynnwys Cymdeithas Tai Eryri, Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd, Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd Alyn, Cymdeithas Tai Gogledd Cymru a Chymdeithas Tai Wales & West.
Mae gan bob sefydliad aelod o'u bwrdd sydd wedi'i ethol fel Hyrwyddwr Amrywiaeth a chynhaliodd y Bwrdd sesiwn ymwybyddiaeth arbennig yr Hyrwyddwyr Amrywiaeth i ddathlu lansio'r wefan.
Bridging the gap between learning and working in Scotland
Asset Skills Scotland has held the first meeting bringing together housing employers from across Scotland with colleges and universities which deliver housing education.
The meeting was attended by seven Scottish housing education centres, including all three universities, representatives from the biggest housing employers in Scotland and other partners such as the Chartered Institute of Housing and the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations.
The event was so well-received that we are looking at ways of bringing this group together on a more regular basis.
If you’re a Scottish housing employer or education provider and you’d like to get involved, contact Tim Pogson at tpogson@assetskills.org or call 0131 667 2448.
Supporting staff in Scottish local government
Sector Skills Councils representing the local government workforce in Scotland are coming together to promote skills and staff development.
It follows concerns that there is relatively little emphasis on such issues within local government employment.
Asset Skills Scotland, working with the Improvement Service (the advice agency for Scottish local authorities) and the Alliance of Sector Skills Councils, organised the first joint meeting of SSCs which represent a significant workforce in local government.
If you work in local government in Scotland and would like to get involved, contact Tim Pogson at tpogson@assetskills.org or call 0131 667 2448.
More awarding bodies offer new public sector qualification
The new Skills for Supporting Public Services (SSPS) qualification is now being offered through awarding organisations NOCN and NCFE, with other bodies expected on board soon.
This level 2 certificate focuses on customer service skills and is aimed at support staff in the public sector such as school cleaners or hospital porters. It will benefit a large number of staff either employed directly by these places or by outsourced private contractors who provide key support services to the public sector.
There is also a database of training providers interested in offering this award, available through Asset Skills. Please visit www.assetskills.org/pssf for further details and in order to download a copy of the Resource Manual.
Candidates taking the SSPS could be eligible for public funding, subject to availability. For more information, email pssf@assetskills.org or call 0845 678 2 888 (local rate number).
Alternatively, visit the websites of the above mentioned awarding bodies at www.nocn.org.uk or www.ncfe.org.uk
Women & Work extended for another year
Asset Skills and ten other Sector Skills Councils have been granted a further year of funding for the Women and Work programme.
It was set up in 2006 to tackle the under representation of women in traditionally male-dominated industries. In the cleaning sector few women were progressing into management roles.
In the three years running the scheme in the cleaning industry, Asset Skills has helped more than 3,500 women cleaners find rewarding career paths through leadership training.
For more information please contact Vicki Bowring on vbowring@assetskills.org or call 0845 645 2 888 (Local rate call).
Built environment in the East Midlands
Asset Skills is jointly hosting an event in the East Midlands to promote employer funding opportunities for training.
The East Midlands Centre for Constructing the Built Environment will raise awareness of the benefits of skills development and introduction of new technologies into business.
The breakfast event is being held on:
22 June 2010 (8.00am – 11.30am) at the Walkers Stadium, Leicester City Football Club, LE2 7FL
Asset Skills will be on hand to offer help and advice to employers on vocational qualifications. For more, contact Sam Dignan at Asset Skills at sdignan@assetskills.org or phone 0845 678 2 888 (local rate call) or Louise Saxton at louise.saxton@emcbe.com or phone 01509 225 800.
