The Sector Skills Council for the places where we live and work
Careers Advice Line 0800 056 7160
Staff in facilities management, property and housing are playing an increasingly important role in environmental issues such as controlling carbon emissions.
Asset Skills is working closely with the government to ensure that these staff have the right skills and qualifications to meet challenges set by the coalition government’s new environmental policy the Green Deal.
A series of low carbon learning events is being held by Asset Skills in conjunction with Bournemouth University and Universities South West.
The events will provide six hours of concentrated learning and will feature presentations and workshops focusing on carbon reduction within the commercial environment. They will also focus on the role of renewable technologies.
All attendees will be given a Certificate of Professional Development. The events cost £95 per delegate (including lunch) and will be held at:
Taunton - Friday 26 November 2010, Genesis Centre, Somerset College, Wellington Road, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 5AX.
Bristol - Friday 10 December 2010, Redwood Hotel & Country Club, Beggar Bush Lane, Failand, Bristol, BS8 3TG.
Plymouth - Tuesday 25 January 2011, Novotel, Marsh Mills, Plymouth, PL6 8NH.
If you are interested in attending please contact Philip Stott at pstott@assetskills.org or call 01392 456 825.
Asset Skills is working to help deliver new training in areas of low carbon for employers in the Scottish built environment.
A total of 650 new training places, to be delivered through Skills Development Scotland, are being funded with the support of the European Social Fund to enable employers to train employees in low carbon technologies as part of the Scottish Government's drive to maximise the economic benefits of greener business.
Damien Yeates, Chief Executive, Skills Development Scotland said:
"The low carbon skills fund will provide businesses with access to sector specific training to help improve their performance, efficiency and improvement processes around low carbon. By developing a highly skilled, more confident workforce Scotland will be able to maximise the benefits of its natural resources in these vital emerging sectors."
The Scottish Government, with the support of European Social Fund money, has invested £585,000 to fund these training places this year.
The fund will be open to all private sector, voluntary and community-not-for-profit organisations, employing less than 250 staff, whose current or intended business activity is in energy efficiency, carbon reduction and/or renewable energy. The initial focus will be on the skills needs in the built environment.
To qualify for the funded training places, businesses must demonstrate their work fits with the following:
- Increasing energy efficiency of products and/or the built environment
- Increasing energy efficiency relating to process improvements
- Installing lower carbon products or renewable energy resources
Specifically Asset Skills is working with employers and training providers in its housing, property and facilities management sectors to address current training needs. Opportunities exist to learn more about the potentially huge contribution employers in these sectors can make towards an energy efficient built environment, whether through building more energy efficient houses, installing, using and maintaining energy efficient and/or micro-renewable technologies or influencing the energy behaviours of building users.
For more information about opportunities for Asset Skills' employers, contact Tim Pogson on 0131 667 2448 or scotland@assetskills.org.
North East launch event
A new Apprenticeship in Facilities Management, the first of its kind for the industry, is being rolled out in the North East.
The level 3 apprenticeship is being trialled across England by the new Asset Skills Virtual Academy for Business Services and has just been launched in Newcastle.
The training has been developed by Asset Skills in partnership with employers and will play an essential role in developing the highly skilled workforce needed for an early and lasting recovery from challenging economic conditions.
Delegates to the event were able to:
• learn about the benefits of the apprenticeship programme
• hear about other useful FM qualifications
• gather details of available funding
• discover the additional services the Asset Skills Virtual Academy for Business Services can offer.
For more on the Facilities Management Apprenticeship programme and the regional launch events visit the Virtual Academy for Business Services website at www.assetskills.org/virtualacademy or phone 0844 822 2525 (local rate call).
Academy UK (AUK) is working with the Asset Skills Virtual Academy for Business Services. They are currently piloting their online Legionella Awareness programme at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust and would like to offer a similar opportunity to members of the Virtual Academy.
The hazards arising from legionella have been recently highlighted in the legionnaires’ disease outbreak in South Wales.
The AUK programme is suitable for facilities managers and supervisory and support staff working in any environment where awareness of legionella needs to be increased.
This training is available to Academy members at special rates which can be as low as £50 for a full year’s access to the materials.
Details and a demonstration of the course can be accessed from our website at www.assetskills.org/Legionella/
A number of employers from the Welsh built environment including facilities management, property, housing and cleaning are registering candidates onto new apprenticeship and qualifications programmes.
It follows the launch in Cardiff by Lesley Griffiths, Deputy Minister for Science, Innovation and Skills of an Asset Skills led project which will receive almost £840,000 of training funds through the Welsh Assembly Government's Sector Priorities Fund Pilot (SPFP) Programme.
The SPFP programme, which was announced earlier this year is backed by the European Social Fund (ESF).
"This programme will greatly benefit employers in our sector," said Steven Proudfoot, UK Operations Director at Asset Skills. "Rarely will a training offer of this nature be available to businesses in this area. We are delighted with the response from employers now signing up."
It will help businesses in the built environment train their workforce in a number of new apprenticeships and qualifications which have previously not been available. They include:
One of the new candidates to take up the training is Kevin Rees, a Property Services Officer at the Swansea based Family Housing Association (Wales) Ltd.
He has been in his job for three years and until now has not been able to take any qualifications in facilities management, which is what his job involves. Through Asset Skills Cymru, Kevin registered onto the new Advanced Apprenticeship in Facilities Management, a vocational programme developed by Asset Skills with FM employers.
"The fact that it is an accredited qualification was a key factor in my decision to enrol onto the course. It can be tailored to fit around my current job role and carried out within my own working environment, thus minimising disruption to my day-to-day workload.
"This apprenticeship will help me develop professionally and further enhance my career. Having a written acknowledgement of achievements will be a major addition to my CV."
Employers from FM, housing, property or cleaning are encouraged to find out more by contacting Allen Williams by email at awilliams@assetskills.org or phone on 07736 438 047.
The Sector Priorities Fund Pilot provides funding to pilot strategic projects with Sector Skills Councils, which ultimately make skills delivery more responsive and aligned to the needs of employers. It is supported by the European Social Fund
A range of projects are running between now and 31st December 2011 , many involving Apprenticeships or other skills initiatives. For more details on the Sector Priorities Fund Pilot contact Chris Perrin on 01443 663719 or email sectorprioritiesfundpilot@wales.gsi.gov.uk
Mae nifer o gyflogwyr ym maes adeiledig Cymru, gan gynnwys rheoli cyfleusterau, eiddo, tai a glanhau, yn cofrestru ymgeiswyr er mwyn iddynt ymuno â rhaglenni prentisiaeth a chymwysterau newydd.
Mae hyn yn digwydd yn sgil lansio prosiect a fydd yn cael ei arwain gan Asset Skills. Cynhaliwyd y digwyddiad lansio yng Nghaerdydd gan Lesley Griffiths, y Dirprwy Weinidog dros Wyddoniaeth, Arloesi a Sgiliau, a bydd y prosiect yn derbyn bron £840,000 o gyllid hyfforddiant trwy gyfrwng Rhaglen Beilot Cronfa Blaenoriaethu Sector (SPFP) Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru.
Cafodd rhaglen SPFP ei chyhoeddi yn gynharach eleni ac fe gaiff ei chefnogi gan Gronfa Gymdeithasol Ewrop (CGE).
"Bydd y rhaglen hon o fantais aruthrol i gyflogwyr yn ein sector," meddai Steven Proudfoot, Cyfarwyddwr Gweithrediadau'r DU yn Asset Skills. "Anaml iawn y bydd cyfle hyfforddi fel hwn ar gael i fusnesau yn y maes hwn. Rydym yn hynod falch o'r ymateb a gawsom gan y cyflogwyr hynny sydd bellach yn ymuno â'r rhaglen."
Bydd yn cynorthwyo busnesau yn y maes adeiledig i hyfforddi eu gweithwyr mewn nifer o brentisiaethau a chymwysterau newydd nad oeddent ar gael o'r blaen. Maent yn cynnwys:
Un o'r ymgeiswyr newydd a fydd yn manteisio ar yr hyfforddiant yw Kevin Rees, Swyddog Gwasanaethau Eiddo sy'n gweithio i Gymdeithas Tai Teulu (Cymru) Cyf. a leolir yn Abertawe.
Bu e'n gwneud y swydd hon ers tair blynedd bellach a hyd yn hyn nid yw ef wedi gallu ennill unrhyw gymwysterau mewn rheoli cyfleusterau; wrth gwrs rheoli cyfleusterau yw holl ddiben ei swydd. Trwy gyfrwng Asset Skills Cymru, fe wnaeth Kevin gofrestru er mwyn ymuno ag Uwch Brentisiaeth newydd mewn Rheoli Cyfleusterau, rhaglen alwedigaethol a luniwyd gan Asset Skills gyda chyflogwyr ym maes Rheoli Cyfleusterau.
"Mae e'n gymhwyster achrededig ac fe wnaeth hynny gael dylanwad mawr ar y penderfyniad a wnes i gofrestru er mwyn ymuno â'r cwrs. Gellir ei addasu'n bwrpasol er mwyn iddo gyd-fynd yn hwylus â'm swydd bresennol a gall ddigwydd yn fy man gwaith fy hunan. Felly ni fydd yn amharu fawr ddim ar fy llwyth gwaith o ddydd i ddydd.
"Bydd y brentisiaeth hon yn fy nghynorthwyo i ddatblygu'n broffesiynol a hybu rhagor ar fy ngyrfa. Bydd cael cydnabyddiaeth ysgrifenedig o'r hyn yr wyf wedi'i gyflawni hyd yma, yn rhywbeth gwerth chweil i'w gynnwys yn fy CV."
Mae cyflogwyr ym meysydd Rheoli Cyfleusterau, tai, eiddo, neu lanhau yn cael eu hannog i gael rhagor o wybodaeth trwy gysylltu ag Allen Williams gydag e-bost yn awilliams@assetskills.org neu ar y ffôn ar 07736 438 047.
Mae Rhaglen Beilot Cronfa Blaenoriaethau Sector yn rhoi cyllid er mwyn rhagbrofi prosiectau strategol gyda'r Cynghorau Sgiliau Sector. Yn y pen draw bydd hynny'n sicrhau bod sgiliau'n cael eu meithrin mewn modd i ac yn cyd-fynd rhagor ag anghenion y cyflogwyr ac sy'n fwy ymatebol i hynny. Caiff ei chefnogi gan Gronfa Gymdeithasol Ewrop.
Cynhelir amrywiaeth o brosiectau rhwng y presennol a Rhagfyr 31ain 2011, a bydd llawer ohonynt yn ymwneud â Phrentisiaethau neu fentrau sgiliau eraill. I gael rhagor o fanylion ynghylch Rhaglen Beilot Cronfa Blaenoriaethau Sector ffoniwch Chris Perrin ar 01443 663719 neu anfonwch e-bost at sectorprioritiesfundpilot@wales.gsi.gov.uk
Asset Skills was greatly encouraged by the response to the Skills Cymru event held in September.
Over 20,000 visitors turned up to the three day event which was aimed primarily at 14-19 year olds in Wales. There were also plenty of older visitors looking for inspiration or a change of career.
Asset Skills took a number of enquiries ranging from entry level queries to graduate level.
Film footage of the event is available to view at: http://www.youtube.com/user/skillscymru2010#p/a/f/1/Fh5uIN6hUqY
Asset Skills also attended a careers event in Yorkshire and The Humber where another 8,000 students had the opportunity to explore a variety of careers in the sector.
“Events such as this are extremely valuable for Asset Skills, they give us the opportunity to talk to young people and find out what they think about jobs and careers in our footprint and make sure that the correct information is being distributed to the employees of the future” said Cathy Lindsay-Carl, Skills Development Manager, Asset Skills.
For more information contact Cathy Lindsay-Carl at clindsay-carl@assetskills.org or call 0845 678 2888 (local rate call).
A new Enhanced Leadership & Management Skills (ELMS) programme, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and European Social Fund, is available for employers in Wales.
The programme gives access to training, workshops and funding and includes:
A Leadership and Management Workshop Programme
Training providers have been contracted by the Assembly Government to deliver this highly specialised strategic training to more than 23,000 people. The subsidised courses can be tailored to the needs of individual businesses with content ranging from skills for first line managers to strategic leadership for senior managers and owners.
Workforce Development Programme Discretionary Funding
Organisations that wish to choose their own Leadership and Management providers and delivery method will be able to do so by making applications for Discretionary funding under the Workforce Development programme.
Sector Leadership Fund
This part of the programme will provide funding to Sector Skills councils to deliver sector specific Leadership and Management solutions where a specific need is identified.
Management Diagnostic Programme
This will provide a tool for businesses to be able to diagnose the Leadership and Management development areas of their organisation.
Training for Coaching and Mentoring Skills
A pilot programme to train mentors and coaches will provide an opportunity for individuals within businesses to gain skills and achieve a relevant qualification.
For more information, visit http://www.lmw.org.uk/en/elms-programme
Ariennir y rhaglen Sgiliau Arwain a Rheoli Uwch (ELMS) newydd gan Lywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru a Chronfa Gymdeithasol Ewrop a gall eich helpu i wella sgiliau eich rheolwyr a'ch gweithlu.
Mae'r rhaglen ELMS yn cynnwys dull chwe ffordd o gynyddu'r galw a'r cyflenwad o ran datblygu Arwain a Rheoli yng Nghymru, sef:
Y Rhaglen Gweithdai Arwain a Rheoli
Contractiwyd darparwyr hyfforddiant gan Lywodraeth y Cynulliad i ddarparu'r hyfforddiant strategol arbenigol iawn hwn i fwy na 23,000 o bobl. Gellir teilwra'r cyrsiau, a gynigir ar ostyngiad, i anghenion busnesau unigol gyda'r cynnwys yn amrywio o sgiliau i reolwyr rheng gyntaf i arweinyddiaeth strategol i uwch reolwyr a pherchnogion.
Grantiau Arian Dewisol y Rhaglen Datblygu'r Gweithlu
Gall sefydliadau sydd am ddewis eu darparwyr Arwain a Rheoli a'u dull darparu eu hunain wneud hynny drwy wneud ceisiadau am arian dewisol o dan y rhaglen Datblygu'r Gweithlu.
Cronfa Arweinyddiaeth Sector
Bydd y rhan hon o'r rhaglen yn darparu arian i gynghorau Sgiliau Sector i ddarparu atebion Arwain a Rheoli sector penodol mewn achosion lle nodir angen penodol.
Rhaglen Ddiagnostig Rheoli
Bydd hon yn fodd i fusnesau allu dadansoddi'r meysydd Arwain a Rheoli i'w datblygu yn eu sefydliad.
Hyfforddiant ar gyfer Sgiliau Hyfforddi a Mentora
Rhaglen beilot i hyfforddi mentoriaid a hyfforddwyr a fydd yn rhoi cyfle i unigolion mewn busnesau feithrin sgiliau ac ennill cymhwyster perthnasol.
Y Ganolfan Rhagoriaeth ar gyfer Sgiliau Arwain a Rheoli yng Nghymru
Ac mae ein ARC ni yn rhan ganolog o'r rhaglen ELMS.
Ceir rhagor o wybodaeth am bob rhan o'r rhaglen ELMS ar wefan ARC drwy glicio ar y ddolen ganlynol: http://www.lmw.org.uk/cy/elms-programme
An awards ceremony has taken place to mark the achievements of cleaners, supervisors and managers who took part in a national cleaning skills competition, the Team Clean Challenge.
The event, now in its third year, is run by Asset Skills, the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for cleaning. It aims to highlight the good quality training that takes place in the industry and to show that cleaning is a skilled job that requires solid technical knowledge and leadership.
Richard Beamish, Chief Executive of Asset Skills, said:
“The Team Clean Challenge is a competition held every year for employers in the cleaning industry. The contest is very popular with employers because it highlights the good quality training that staff at all levels undertake.
“The competition seeks to show the importance cleaning plays to a healthy, functioning society – and how crucial it is to have skilled staff who know how to manage the environment and have the right skills to control bacteria and other biohazards properly.”
The winner of the Best Cleaner Award was Dolce Ricardo from Indigo Cleaning & Support Services, and Best Manager went to Chris Hunt from OCS Bristol (full list of winners below).
The open strand heats have been held across 2010 in a number of places including London Bristol and Edinburgh, with the final taking place in London.
Each year the competition tasks change. The competition structure for 2011 is available for viewing on www.assetskills.org and also on www.worldskillsuk.org.
For more information on the Team Clean Challenge contest contact Tina Pickles at tpickles@assetskills.org or call 01604 824 115.
Award winners of open contest
Best Cleaning Operative Dolce Ricardo from Indigo Cleaning & Support Services
Best Supervisor Antonio Rodrigues from Indigo Cleaning & Support Services
Best Manager Chris Hunt from OCS Bristol
Runner Up Silver Place Team Rentokil Initial Scotland
Joint Winning Teams OCS Bristol & Indigo Cleaning & Support Services
Chris Cracknell, Chief Executive of OCS Group and Chair of Asset Skills, has talked about the importance of training in a climate of austerity at the British Cleaning Council’s inaugural conference.
The event, Profiting from the Recovery, was held in London on 5 October, and covered issues such as youth unemployment, rebalancing the economy and sustainability.
It was attended by 165 delegates with content designed for managers and chief executives to act as a catalyst as they seek innovative responses to the challenges thrown up by the recession.
The speaker line up included a mix of leading figures from business, and high-profile figures from the world of politics and media. Other speakers outlined their experience of attracting young people to a career in cleaning and facilities management.
Former Cabinet Minister, Michael Portillo, also spoke – giving his thoughts on the coalition government and offering some reflections from his career in politics.
A Newcastle training provider, DCS Training, has signed up ten employees working for Stockton on Tees Borough Council to the new Skills for Supporting Public Services qualification.
The council has a good performance rating in terms of staff training and delivery of services.
Many of the candidates who have registered onto the new level 2 SSPS award work in the community and it is felt the training will enhance their skills when dealing with the public.
For more information on the new SSPS developed by Asset Skills please email info@assetskills.org or call 0845 678 2888 (local rate call).
A housing law conference is taking place to explore what the coalition government will expect of housing providers in the future.
It is being co-hosted by the University of Chester and Whiteheads Solicitors on the Wednesday 10 November 2010.
The event will bring together current and future housing students with academics and some of the housing sector’s leading organisations and people.
The aim of the conference is to share experiences and good practice.
The programme features some key speakers in the field of housing law, including Linda Collier, Head of Service User Relations at the Housing Ombudsman Service; Joanne Kent-Smith, Senior Policy & Practice Advisor, CIH (Joanne also heads up the CIH ASB working group) and Michael Singleton, Barrister, St Ives Chambers.
For more information or to book a place please contact Neil Whitehead at info@whiteheadsols.co.uk
A new e-learning package produced by the Health & Safety Executive could prove useful for employers in the cleaning industry.
STEP stands for the Slips and Trips E-Learning Package, which seeks to reduce accidents in the workplace caused by a number of hazards including poor cleaning practices.
The package is suitable for employees, managers and specialists and aims to help them learn how slips and trips are caused, how to spot hazards and why preventing them is so important.
The HSE is also discussing the use of STEP within wider vocational training and has been in discussions with key awarding bodies.
See this link for information about STEP http://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/step/index.htm and for the STEP tool itself http://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/step/start.htm
