The Sector Skills Council for the places where we live and work
Careers Advice Line 0800 056 7160
New funding for apprenticeships available in Wales
Asset Skills is calling on employers in Wales to take part in a new project delivering apprenticeships and training in the built environment.
Our last Sector Priorities Fund Pilot (SPFP) project saw 400 employees in facilities management, property and housing, attain apprenticeships and other qualifications.
We are now working again with the Welsh Government to deliver a second SPFP programme with more new apprenticeships and qualifications.
More than 1,000 learner places will be provided.
Our long term aim is to build a sustainable network of training providers who will become 'Centres of Excellence' specialising delivering in the Asset Skills' sector in Wales.
The programme is for new recruits, but also for employees who wish to upskill or gain a qualification in a work role they are already doing. We are looking for employers to register candidates onto the following qualifications:
The apprenticeship training programme is fully-funded and other qualifications are up to 70% funded.
For more information contact Allen Williams, SPFP Project Manager at awilliams@assetskills.org or call 07736 438 047.
The Sector Priorities Fund Pilot (SPFP) Programme is funded by the Welsh Government with additional support from the European Social Fund (ESF).
Prentisiaethau newydd wedi'u hariannu ar gael yng Nghymru
Mae angen cyflogwyr ac ymgeiswyr ar unwaith i gymryd rhan mewn prosiect newydd
Enillodd 400 o ymgeiswyr brentisiaethau a chymwysterau eraill diolch i lwyddiant prosiect SPFP cyntaf Asset Skills (SPFP yw Cynllun Peilot y Gronfa Blaenoriaethau Sector).
Mae Asset Skills yn gweithio gyda Llywodraeth Cymru eto i ddarparu ail brosiect SPFP gyda rhagor o brentisiaethau a chymwysterau newydd.
Bydd y prosiect yma'n darparu lle i fwy na 1,000 o ddysgwyr a bydd yn asesu ac yn sicrhau gwybodaeth am anghenion cyflogwyr ac anghenion y sector wedi 2014.
Ein nod tymor hir yw adeiladu rhwydwaith cynaliadwy o ddarparwyr a ddaw'n 'Ganolfannau Rhagoriaeth' sy'n arbenigo yn sector Asset Skills yng Nghymru.
Rydym yn chwilio am gyflogwyr ac ymgeiswyr i gymryd rhan yn y prosiect erbyn hyn. Dyma'r cymwysterau sy'n cael eu cynnig:
Mae'r Prentisiaethau wedi'u hariannu'n llawn. Mae'r cymwysterau eraill wedi'u hariannu hyd at 70%.
I gael rhagor o wybodaeth am y prosiect neu am unrhyw rai o'r cymwysterau, cysylltwch ag Allen Williams, Rheolwr Prosiect Cynllun Peilot y Gronfa Blaenoriaethau Sector ar awilliams@assetskills.org neu ffoniwch 07736 438 047.
Mae Rhaglen Beilot y Gronfa Blaenoriaethau Sector (SPFP) wedi'i hariannu gan Lywodraeth Cymru gyda chefnogaeth ychwanegol gan Gronfa Gymdeithasol Ewrop (ESF).
Apprenticeship celebration event
More than 200 employers attended an event marking the achievements of young apprentices in housing as part of National Apprenticeship Week (11-15 March).
Asset Skills helped support the event in North East England which was organised by the apprentices themselves.
Speakers included Hayley Taylor, known as televisions "the fairy job mother", who talked to employers about helping get young people into work. The event also heard from Lottie Dexter, a 23-year-old from the Million Jobs Campaign, that urges government to take action on youth unemployment. A drama about the job barriers faced by young people who are leaving school was also performed by a drama group, TRUCE.
Asset Skills was pleased to be able to sponsor an element of this event, while promoting its careers and higher level skills programmes.
Month to go in search for 2013's apprentices and employers
Current apprentices and employers across the country are being encouraged to enter the 2013 National Apprenticeship Awards.
With just a month to go until nominations close (on the 26th April 2013), the Awards demonstrate how Apprenticeships deliver for a whole range of industries, from facilities management, housing and property to the IT, creative and engineering sectors.
This year will see an additional award category for the best Apprenticeship Employer Newcomer. This award will celebrate employers that have recently begun employing apprentices, within the last two years and can show the immediate benefits this has brought to them.
The Awards ceremony will take place at The Skills Show in November, the UK's biggest careers event sponsored by the Edge Foundation and City & Guilds, and for the third year running, the very best employer entries will also feature in the annual Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers list, published in partnership with City & Guilds.
To find out more about how to enter both the National Apprenticeship Awards visit apprenticeships.org.uk/awards.
Entries close on Friday 26 April 2013.
Women and Work celebration at House of Lords
A number of women who received training as part of the Asset Skills Women and Work programme have attended a special event to mark their achievements at the House of Lords.
The Baroness Prosser, one of the original commissioners of the programme, hosted the session which was held to celebrate the candidates, their employers and the training providers.
Many of the 5,250 women who took part were cleaners who were given supervisory skills training. A number of these women have since gone on to climb the management career ladder and their stories of success were featured at the event.
"This programme gave women the opportunity to train for a new job or progress within their company into better paid employment by developing their skills, confidence and career aspirations," said Baroness Prosser.
"Asset Skills did a great job registering so many candidates onto the Women and Work programme. I am a committed supporter of initiatives helping women in the workplace and was delighted to get the chance to show my appreciation of the hard work shown by these women."
The Women and Work Commission was set up to investigate the continuing gender pay and opportunities gap. In 2006 it established the Women and Work Sector Pathways Initiative (WWSPI) to address concerns that far too many women were, particularly post motherhood finding it impossible to develop a work life balance either because of the high cost of childcare and or the lack of job flexibility.
Asset Skills is continuing with projects to help women progress in the workplace through its talent management and higher skills programmes. For more information, contact Catharine Hinton on chinton@assetskills.org or call 07554 452 286.
Green Skills Alliance at key sustainability event
The Green Skills Alliance (GSA) will be attending the 2013 Greenbuild Expo event in Manchester on 8 & 9 May.
The GSA, made up of Asset Skills, SummitSkills and CITB-ConstructionSkills, will be at Stand E13 with information and advice on training for people who want to secure work under the new Green Deal policy, such as energy advisors and installers.
The Green Skills Alliance has recently been nominated for the Green Build Breakthrough Award for its work developing the Green Deal competency framework - training for the built environment workforce.
Greenbuild Expo is the UK's sustainable building and refurbishment exhibition and conference. It is free to attend and offers debates, workshops and seminars, as well as more than 150 exhibitors showcasing the latest green products and solutions.
The 2013 event will also, for the first time, be home to an event dedicated to sustainable transport, CO2t, and will see the return of Ignition, the UK's only woodfuel event.
Following its success last year, the Green Deal/ECO Arena will be giving visitors the chance to hear from key organisations and government departments, including the UK-GBC and DECC, on what this key refurbishment policy means for the built environment.
To register to attend, click here.
Government funding to cease on level 3 Apprenticeships for the over 23s
31st July is the cut-off date
From 1st August 2013, the Advanced Apprenticeship in Housing (Level 3) for anyone aged 24 and over will cease to be subsidised by the government.
What's in the Apprenticeship?
The complete Advanced Apprenticeship course comprises:
Right now, we can secure this price with some of our training providers across England for just £500.
From August this year, the cost of this course will rise significantly. As an example the current price of just the CIH Level 3 Diploma in Housing Practice alone is approximately £1,500.
You still have time to take advantage of the subsidies.
If you have existing or new staff aged 24 or over by 1st August 2013 who wish to study to achieve these qualifications in housing via a subsidised apprenticeship please contact Lisa Lister on 07827 947 524.
Provided the employee starts the apprenticeship course on or before the 31st July 2013, the current heavily-subsidised rate will still apply.
Summary of the basic facts
London event hears of talent plan behind British athletes' success
Experts in talent management outlined their top tips to employers at an event held by Asset Skills.
Delegates at the 'Inspiring talent - getting the most from your workforce' conference in London heard from a key figure behind the success of the British athletes who achieved such success this summer.
Dr Stewart Laing talked to employers about the talent development plan used by UK Sport to nurture athletes over an eight-year cycle.
He said: "We try and ensure a seamless transition as they go from school to club to regional to national and into world class sport. Our development programme evolves to meet their changing needs as they go through this process. We look at our elite performer and start with the end in mind, then work backwards."
Sarah Bentley, Chief Executive of Asset Skills, said: "It's never enough simply to attract individuals with high potential. Developing, managing and retaining those people as part of a planned strategy for talent is equally important, as well as adopting systems to measure the return on this investment. It was great to be able to hear from such fantastic speakers about their expertise in identifying and nurturing talent, managing teams and motivating the workforce."
The conference also heard from management experts Alison Love, Hazel Langley, Carole Miller, Jane Rawden and Mary Sisson.
The Asset Skills Talent Management programme has received co-investment from the UK Commission for Employment and Skills through the Employer Investment Fund.
The next event is scheduled for the 4 July 2013.
For more information contact Catharine Hinton at chinton@assetskills.org or call 07554 452 286.
Falkirk Council leads the way with housing apprentices
Falkirk Council in Scotland is helping young people gain employment through the Modern Apprenticeship in Housing.
The level 2 training programme was developed by Asset Skills in conjunction with employers. It includes the SVQ in Housing and the CIH Level 2 Certificate in Housing Practice or Housing Maintenance.
The combination of qualifications means that the apprentices' learning in the workplace is being assessed through the achievement of the SVQ whilst the CIH qualification, delivered through a course of classroom teaching, provides academic underpinning to the Apprenticeship.
With funding from Skills Development Scotland, Falkirk Council is among the first employers to recognise the opportunities that the new framework in housing offers to expand apprenticeship programmes to young people.
The council is working with Glasgow-based training provider SHARE to take on six young people aged 17 to 19 as housing apprentices.
They are working in the council's housing offices, learning about all aspects of housing management, from repairs to lettings and tenancy managements.
Their roles include providing administrative support , dealing with tenants and applicants, preparing paperwork, amending details on the databases, etc. But they all seem to agree that the best bit of the work is going out with the neighbourhood officers on their tenancy visits.
Every month the apprentices have the opportunity to spend a week with another specialist team within the housing department.
Falkirk Council is investing money and time in their young people, but they're also developing their future supply of trained and qualified housing staff. The combination of genuine workplace experience underpinned by academic study provides the perfect balance.
For more information about the housing apprenticeship, contact Tim Pogson, Head of Asset Skills Scotland, on tpogson@assetskills.org or call 0131 667 2448.
Low carbon 'skills roadmap' to launch in Northern Ireland
A key 'skills roadmap' to help the built environment workforce meet low carbon targets is to launch in Northern Ireland.
The Build Up Skills Roadmap is a comprehensive research report into the new skills and training needed to help the UK meet strict European energy efficiency targets by 2020.
The final recommendations of the report, and an update on energy efficiency and sustainability issues for Northern Ireland, will also be given at the event on 12 April.
Delegates will hear from Dr Stephen Farry, Minister for Employment and Learning, Northern Ireland Executive and there will be workshops and an opportunity to question a panel of industry experts.
Event details:
For more or to register click here: http://busuknorthernirelandendorsement.eventbrite.co.uk
Interserve gains BIFM recognition
Interserve has become the first FM services employer to become a BIFM Recognised Centre delivering the BIFM qualifications in facilities management.
The company now plans to start delivering BIFM qualifications through their own in-house programmes.
Executive Director Bruce Melizan commented: "We are extremely proud to become a BIFM Recognised Centre. The endorsement highlights not only the importance skills development and training plays in our organisation but also the level and credibility this training provides for our employees. The ability to offer all our employees access to a wider range of courses and opportunities is in no small part due to the support of BIFM. It is also especially important that we can provide our apprentices, graduates and new recruits to the industry a chance to develop their careers with us."
Speaking about the achievement, BIFM Chairman, Ismena Clout, encouraged other organisations to follow in Interserve's footsteps: "It's really important for employers to invest in training and development for their staff because, as we all know, your staff are your best asset; so by taking the time to invest in them and to develop them, you are helping them to become the best they can be. They will help you as a company to deliver best in-class service and develop you as a brand."
Wage incentives now extended nationally through Jobcentre Plus
Businesses across Britain are benefiting from Youth Contract wage incentives to take on a young person and help their business thrive.
The scheme has been extended - recruit an eligible, unemployed young person through Jobcentre Plus across England, Scotland and Wales and you can now claim up to £2,275.
Recruiting a new member of staff can be a big commitment but if you employ an eligible 18 to 24 year old then you can get financial help that more than covers the cost of a year's national insurance contributions.
If you take someone on full-time - for 30 hours or more a week - you'll be able to claim the top rate of £2,275. Recruit someone part time - between 16 and 29 hours a week - and you'll get £1,137.50. (The job must last at least 26 weeks.)
Think about it - helping a young person get their foot on the job ladder makes great business sense. Where employers have taken on young people they have found them open to new ideas and different ways of working. They bring a fresh perspective and offer the business a unique chance to train tomorrow's talent and build future potential.
Take advantage of a cash incentive and you'll be giving an eager young person the chance to get off benefits and into work. At the same time you'll be helping your community by creating opportunities and developing the skills of young people in your area.
Applying for a wage incentive is simple. To find out more talk to Jobcentre Plus - they will give you advice on eligibility and support to find the right person for the job.
Visit www.dwp.gov.uk/wageincentives or call 0845 601 2001 (option 2). Textphone 0845 601 2002 for people with speech or hearing impairments.
The wage incentive is still available if you take on a young person from the Work Programme, delivered by the private, public and voluntary sector to help individuals at risk of becoming long-term unemployed find work. Recruiting a young disabled person from the Work Choice programme also attracts a wage incentive.
For information about wage incentives available through the Work Programme or Work Choice go to: www.gov.uk/jobcentre-plus-help-for-recruiters/other-employment-schemes
Training the housing workforce
Asset Skills works in partnership with Upkeep Training, a specialist provider delivering training for the housing workforce. In April, Upkeep's new course on welfare reform is launched (more details below). How prepared are you and your staff for the biggest changes to face housing associations in a generation?
There is also a programme on lone worker safety, equipping people with the skills needed for working alone. Plus there's the usual range of building maintenance courses, such as:
Facing the challenges of welfare reform: Upkeep's latest addition is the course on welfare reform, developed in response to concerns that housing organisations will need new knowledge and skills to ensure they can cope with the forthcoming changes. How prepared are you and your colleagues?
The welfare reform programme covers everything housing staff need to know, from the overall benefit cap and bedroom tax to Universal Credit and options for supporting tenants.
Welfare reform is complex and its impact on tenants will be far-reaching. There is already concern and confusion among tenants as to what it means for them.
Housing organisations that fail to communicate the changes clearly will create further misunderstanding and increasing levels of customer dissatisfaction. In some cases tenants are already blaming social landlords for the changes. Housing teams will need new training in as much of the legislation as possible to sufficiently advise and inform residents.
Fail to prepare and prepare to fail. Act now to address the welfare reform knowledge gap; get your workforce the right skills with Upkeep Training.
For more on Upkeep Training visit www.upkeep.org.uk or call 0844 874 7494.
Click here for details of our welfare reform course.
Click here for a full list of courses offered by Upkeep Training.
