The Sector Skills Council for the places where we live and work
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Asset Skills Appoints New Chief Executive
Former Joint Managing Director of the Centre for Enterprise Sarah Bentley is to take over as Chief Executive of Asset Skills when Richard Beamish retires next year.
Sarah Bentley will join the organisation as Chief Executive Designate at the end of November and will become CEO when Beamish leaves in the spring.
Current UK Operations Director Steven Proudfoot will become the organisation's Chief Operating Officer.
Sarah Bentley has experience of working with both employers and government on skills issues. Her career has taken her through a variety of senior roles, including at the Learning and Skills Council (now the Skills Funding Agency), the East Midlands, Regional Skills Partnership, OCR Examinations, Calcom and the Centre for Enterprise.
It was at the Centre for Enterprise that she took on the role of Joint Managing Director, increasing the organisation's income stream. Her work with Calcom has included working with international and global businesses to develop effective integrated customer service strategies, and leading on the design and implementation of major programmes for multinational organisations.
Chris Cracknell, Chair of Asset Skills said: "I am delighted that we have, in Sarah, the ideal person to build on the impressive achievements of Asset Skills under Richard Beamish's leadership, and to take us to the next level in a world where skills are becoming more important than ever to business success".
Richard Beamish, Chief Executive of Asset Skills, said: "Sarah's knowledge, ability to work with people and her strategic approach mean that, not only is Asset Skills is safe hands, it can also look to a challenging future with real confidence, making a real difference in the sector.
"The combination of Sarah as CEO and Steven Proudfoot as Chief Operating Officer means we can continue to reflect employer needs and skills and deliver meaningful solutions".
For more information, contact Asset Skills at info@assetskills.org or call 0845 678 2888.
Spaces fill up fast for Green Deal skills events
More than 100 people attended the first Green Deal Connections event held in Peterborough to raise awareness of the skills required under the Green Deal, the government's flagship policy for improving the energy efficiency of buildings.
The series of nine seminars are being organised with around more than 900 delegates registering from the fields of energy assessment, energy installation, property and housing. Training providers are also welcome to attend the events which are UK-wide and free.
They are being organised by the Green Deal Alliance (GDSA) partnership made up of three Sector Skills Councils - Asset Skills, ConstructionSkills and SummitSkills.
The GDSA is developing and implementing the Green Deal Competency Framework, which aims to produce common standards and qualifications that sit across all aspects of Green Deal assessment, advice and installation.
The events include presentations on the Green Deal, by the Department for Energy and Climate Change (or the relevant government department in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland).
There are also question and answer sessions and breakout groups looking at the specific energy advice, installation and environmental technologies sectors.
They are also offering paid exhibitor space with a sliding scale of cost depending on the number of spaces booked.
To register for an event please click here or to book exhibitor space please email greendeal@assetskills.org.
Please note that registration for the London and Belfast events will be live by mid-November. If you would like to attend please email the above address with your details or call 0845 678 2888.
Home Energy Awareness training, Wales
Asset Skills is launching a new subsidised pilot programme in Home Energy Awareness training in Wales and is inviting employers and candidates to take part.
The course is a three day energy awareness qualification suitable for employees giving energy advice face-to-face or by phone. Candidates will receive training and achieve the NEA (National Energy Action) City & Guilds Energy Awareness 6281-01 qualification, (previously 6176-01).
The programme is funded by the Welsh Government's Sector Priorities Fund Pilot Programme, which receives additional support from the European Social Fund.
There is an employer contribution towards course costs of 30% for SMEs (companies 249 employees and less) and 50% for larger companies (over 250 employees).
As this is a pilot project the course will only be available in South Wales at venues still to be confirmed.
Places are limited therefore recruitment is taking place now.
For further details on course costs and delivery locations contact Gail Fleming on 01887 829 171, gfleming@assetskills.org or Jan Holdaway on 01685 387 914 / 07734 981 376 jholdaway@assetskills.org.
Hyfforddiant Mewn Ymwybyddiaeth Am Ynni Cartref
Mae Asset Skills yn lansio rhaglen beilot newydd gyda chymhorthdal i gynnig hyfforddant mewn Ymwybyddiaeth am Ynni Cartref yng Nghymru ac mae'n gwahodd cyflogwyr ac ymgeiswyr i gymryd rhan.
Mae'r cwrs tri diwrnod yn darparu cymhwyster ymwybyddiaeth am ynni i weithwyr sy'n rhoi cyngor am ynni wyneb yn wyneb neu ar y ffôn. Bydd yr ymgeiswyr yn derbyn hyfforddiant ac yn ennill y cymhwyster NEA (National Energy Action) City & Guilds Energy Awareness 6281-01 (6176-01 gynt).
Mae'r rhaglen hon wedi'i hariannu gan Raglen Beilot Cronfa Flaenoriaethau'r Sector Llywodraeth Cymru, sy'n derbyn cefnogaeth ychwanegol gan Gronfa Gymdeithasol Ewrop.
Mae'r cyflogwr yn cyfrannu tuag at gostau'r cwrs - 30% ar gyfer BBACh (cwmnïau gyda 249 o weithwyr a llai) a 50% i gwmnïau mwy (dros 250 o weithwyr).
Am fod hwn yn brosiect peilot, dim ond yn Ne Cymru y bydd y cwrs ar gael ac nid yw'r union leoliadau wedi'u cadarnhau eto.
Cysylltwch ag Asset Skills i gael rhagor o fanylion am gostau'r cwrs a'r lleoliadau darparu os gwelwch yn dda.
Mae'r lleoedd yn gyfyngedig felly rydym yn cymryd enwau yn awr. Os oes gennych chi neu eich sefydliad ddiddordeb mewn cymryd rhan cysylltwch â Gail Fleming ar 01887 829171 neu e-bostiwch gfleming@assetskills.org neu Jan Holdaway ar 01685 387914 / 07734 981376 neu e-bostiwch jholdaway@assetskills.org
Apprenticeships, training and UK Academy launch for Wales
Asset Skills Cymru invites you to an event to mark the achievements of our new Apprenticeships and Training Programme for the Welsh Built Environment and launch of the new Asset Skills UK Academy, Wales.
When: Wednesday 23rd November, 9.45am-11.30am (Registration / refreshments and breakfast from 9.15am)
Where: Wales Millennium Centre (WMC), Cardiff Bay, CF10 5AL
Speaker: Jeff Cuthbert AM, Deputy Minister for Skills
To register visit http://www.assetskills.org/Wales/CymruEvents/WelshBuiltEnvironmentAppEvent.aspx.
Employers are invited to bring along up to two of their employees who have been involved in the SPF programme to the event.
What is the Apprenticeships and Training Programme? The Apprenticeships and Training Programme has changed the training landscape for industries in the Welsh built environment. It has delivered hundreds of new apprenticeships and qualifications in facilities management, cleaning, property, planning and housing. The training is part of the Sector Priorities Fund Pilot programme, funded by the Welsh Government with additional support from the European Social Fund. The event will be an opportunity to hear about the benefits employers and staff have gained through involvement in the programme. Asset Skills will also outline plans to help meet future training needs through the launch of its UK Academy in Wales.
Parking is available next to the WMC please see http://www.wmc.org.uk/yourVisit/Parking for details. For more contact Tina Pickles, Events Coordinator on 01604 824115 or tpickles@assetskills.org
Places are limited so please book early.
Y cefndir
Hoffai Asset Skills Cymru eich gwahodd i ddod i ddathlu cyflawniadau ein Rhaglen Hyfforddiant a Phrentisiaethau newydd ar gyfer Amgylchedd Adeiledig Cymru a lansiad Academi DU newydd Asset Skills Cymru
Pryd: Dydd Mercher, 23 Tachwedd, 9.45am-11.30am (Cofrestru / lluniaeth ysgafn a brecwast o 9.15am)
Ymhle: Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru (CMC), Bae Caerdydd, CF10 5AL
Siaradwr: Jeff Cuthbert AC, Dirprwy Weinidog Sgiliau
Mae lle parcio ar gael drws nesaf i'r CMC, gwelwch http://www.wmc.org.uk/yourVisit/Parking i gael manylion.
I gael rhagor o wybodaeth, cysylltwch â Tina Pickles, Cydlynydd Digwyddiadau os gwelwch yn dda Ffôn: 01604 824115, E-bost: tpickles@assetskills.org
Cliciwch yma i gofrestru http://www.assetskills.org/Wales/CymruEvents/WelshBuiltEnvironmentAppEvent.aspx.
Gwahoddir cyflogwyr i ddod â hyd at ddau o'u gweithwyr gyda nhw i'r digwyddiad sydd wedi cymryd rhan yn rhaglen y Gronfa Blaenoriaethau Sector (SPF).
Y cefndir: Mae'r Rhaglen Prentisiaethau a Hyfforddiant wedi newid y tirlun hyfforddiant i ddiwydiannau yn amgylchedd adeiledig Cymru. Mae wedi darparu cannoedd o brentisiaethau a chymwysterau newydd mewn rheoli cyfleusterau, glanhau, eiddo, cynllunio a thai.
Mae'r hyfforddiant yn rhan o raglen Beilot Cronfa Flaenoriaethau'r Sector, wedi'i ariannu gan Lywodraeth Cymru gyda chefnogaeth ychwanegol gan Gronfa Gymdeithasol Ewrop. Bydd y digwyddiad yn gyfle i glywed am y manteision y mae cyflogwyr a staff wedi'u mwynhau drwy gymryd rhan yn y rhaglen. Bydd Asset Skills hefyd yn amlinellu cynlluniau i helpu i gwrdd ag anghenion hyfforddi'r dyfodol drwy lansio ei Academi'r DU yng Nghymru.
Mae'r lleoedd yn gyfyngedig felly cofrestrwch yn fuan.
'Change Management in Housing' - new qualification development
A new management and leadership qualification to support housing associations deal with change and change management is to be developed and piloted by Asset Skills.
Asset Skills Cymru is now looking for housing employers in Wales to get involved in helping shape the new qualification.
The project is funded by the Welsh Government's Sector Leadership Fund with additional support from the European Social Fund.
It will produce a level 4 / 5 qualification (about foundation degree level). It will take around six months to complete on a part time basis.
We are looking for employers to join the project steering group that will:
To take this forward, the Asset Skills UK Academy in Wales is holding a meeting to discuss the qualification with interested employers. It is being held on 4 November (10:30-2:30, including lunch) and will be hosted by Wales & West Housing Association Ltd.
If you are a housing organisation or social landlord in Wales, why not join us to find out more? Please email us at ukacademy@assetskills.org or call 0844 822 2525 to register to attend the meeting.
Meeting details:
Where: Wales & West Housing Association Ltd, 3 Alexandra Gate, Ffordd Pengam, Tremorfa, Cardiff, CF24 2UD
When: 10.30am - 2.30pm
Further information: To contact the Asset Skills UK Academy for Housing, please email ukacademy@asseskills.org or call 0845 822 2525.
Rheoli Newid mewn Tai
Cyfarfod: Dydd Gwener, 4 Tachwedd 2011, 10:30am - 2:30pm (gan gynnwys cinio)
Mae cymhwyster newydd mewn rheoli ac arweiniad i helpu cymdeithasau tai i ddelio â newid a rheoli newyd i gael ei ddatblygu a'i roi ar waith fel cynllun peilot gan Asset Skills, y Cyngor Sgiliau Sector i dai, rheoli cyfleusterau (FM), eiddo a glanhau. Mae'r prosiect wedi'i gyllido gan Gronfa Arweiniad Sector Llywodraeth Cymru gyda chefnogaeth ychwanegol gan Gronfa Gymdeithasol Ewrop a bydd yn cynhyrchu cymhwyster lefel 4 / 5 (oddeutu lefel gradd sylfaen), sy'n cymryd oddeutu 6 mis i'w gwblhau yn rhan amser.
Rydym yn chwilio am gyflogwyr i ymuno â grŵp llywio'r prosiect a fydd yn:
Felly, bydd cangen Cymru o Academi'r DU Asset Skills yn cynnal cyfarfod ar Dachwedd 4ydd, wedi'i gynnal gan Gymdeithas Tai Wales & West Cyf., i drafod y cymhwyster gyda chyflogwyr sydd â diddordeb.
Os ydych yn gwmni tai neu'n landlord cymdeithasol yng Nghymru, beth am ymuno â ni i ganfod rhagor? Ebostiwch ni ar ukacademy@assetskills.org neu ffoniwch 0844 822 2525 i gofrestru i fynd i'r cyfarfod.
Manylion yr achlysur:
Ymhle: Cymdeithas Tai Wales & West Cyf., 3 Alexandra Gate, Ffordd Pengam, Tremorfa, Caerdydd, CF24 2UD
Pryd: 10.30am - 2.30pm
Rhagor o wybodaeth: I gysylltu ag Academi Tai'r DU Asset Skills, anfonwch e-bost i ukacademy@assetskills.org neu ffoniwch 0844 822 2525
Online learning - course of the month
An 'Introduction to health and safety' is our 'learndirect course of the month' for October, with good discounts available for members of the Asset Skills UK Academy.
Learndirect eCourses are widely recognised as a benchmark in online learning and have already helped more than three million people gain new knowledge, life skills and qualifications.
Asset Skills is able to offer over 300 such courses that might interest employers or their staff and which could really help your organisation.
The 'Introduction to health and safety' is a compact course that should take learners just 50 minutes to work through, giving a basic understanding of current health and safety requirements in the workplace. Subjects include how to identify risks, manual handling, slips and trips, fire safety, using display screen equipment and what to do in the event of an accident, are all covered in easily digestible modules. Real life examples are featured and learners will gain from expert advice and tips on how to apply the learning in the real world. There is also a glossary to help with understanding unfamiliar words used.
Health and safety is an essential and integral part of any employer's operations. A course such as this could be particularly useful in ensuring newly appointed staff are aware of their responsibilities.
This course is available from us at the standard price of just £19.99 plus VAT. Asset Skills UK Academy members receive discount of around 15% but if ordering for 50 or more staff, the price would fall to £15.00 plus VAT, a saving of around 25%. The discount rate varies but applies to all our Learndirect course titles.
For more on this course and other learndirect titles available, or on UK Academy membership, email us on ukacademy@assetskills.org or call 0844 822 2525.
To view the course catalogue visit http://www.assetskills.org/OnlineLearning/ElearningHome.aspx
Women and Work comes to Northern Ireland
The Women and Work programme has been extended into Northern Ireland where cleaning employers are putting women through funded supervisory training.
This is the first opportunity for the cleaning sector to benefit from this government-funded training programme.
A total of 30 women cleaners are the first group to see workplace development provided by training providers Belfast Metropolitan and BICS, and in-house training providers have launched the various programmes meeting company and individual needs.
Facilities Manager Stephen Brownlee, from Morlee Building Services, said: "This is an excellent opportunity for our existing female staff to gain a range of new skills to develop their potential for our small company."
For more contact Adrian Watson at awatson@assetskills.org or call 02894 466 828 or 07843 211 488.
Awards event in Scotland celebrates cleaning skills contest
A triple awards ceremony has taken place to mark the achievements of cleaning staff who took part in the cleaning skills competition, the Team Clean Challenge.
The event, now in its fourth year, is run by Asset Skills, the Sector Skills Council for cleaning and is supported by all UK governments.
It aims to celebrate the best trained cleaners, supervisors and managers within private companies (the open strand) and the prisons sector.
The ceremony took place in Glasgow to mark winners of the open strands in Scotland and England, and the prisons strand in Scotland.
This year's awards were dominated by Scottish winners - most notably Fife Council, which won in several categories.
"This competition expects high standards of cleaning to be demonstrated by all the teams," said Richard Beamish, Chief Executive of Asset Skills.
"We have been extremely impressed by the calibre of teams who entered the 2011 contest. The event is an opportunity for employers to showcase the skilled cleaning teams they have and to raise the profile of the industry."
The award for Best Prison Team in Scotland went to HMP Dumfries whose training manager reported raised morale as a result of the contest, which has also helped a number of their ex-offenders find employment as cleaners.
"Asset Skills would like to thank the partners and supporters, employers, colleges, professional bodies and awarding organisations who have contributed to the success of the competition," said Richard Beamish.
For more information on the Team Clean Challenge contact Tina Pickles on tpickles@assetskills.org or call 0845 678 2 888.
October has been a busy month for careers fairs and Asset Skills has attended the What Next? event in Nottingham and the Skills Yorkshire & Humber and Skills Cornwall events.
Between the three events around 16,000 young people passed through the doors to explore career options and we were able to pass on information about jobs and careers in our sectors.
We also attended evening sessions where young people visited with their parents - as well as supporting their offspring, many parents themselves were interested in a career change.
A number of adults had queries about facilities management, indicating this is an area of growing significance. The young people were open minded about their options and we were well placed to pass on information. Several hundred careers libraries should now be stocked with our job profile packs.
Careers information to suit you
An additional method of obtaining careers information is now available from Asset Skills.
We now have a new function on the Asset Skills website which allows users to submit career enquiries via the site. The page will allow users to choose how they are receive the information, either by phone call or email, and we aim to respond within two working days.
Please visit http://www.assetskills.org/CareersandTraining/CareersAdvice.aspx
Alternatively, enquiries can still be made by email at careers@assetskills.org or by calling 0845 678 2888.
Employer views sought on a UK Academy for Parking
Asset Skills would like to gauge if there is sufficient employer demand for a UK Academy for Parking and would like to hear from employers.
It follows a presentation by the Asset Skills Chief Operating Officer Steven Proudfoot at the BPA's annual conference in September on the potential benefits to the sector.
The Asset Skills UK Academy network offers direct practical account management services to employers in business services, property and housing (see more at www.assetskills.org/ukacademy). It aims to simplify the staff training process and achieve economies of scale through fostering collaboration between employers.
If you would like to know more or become involved in developing the UK Academy for Parking please contact Julie Freemantle, Business Development Manager for Asset Skills by email at jfreementle@assetskills.org or Steven Proudfoot by email at sproudfoot@assetskills.org
Training for 50 support service staff
A pre-employment training programme for 50 people in cleaning and support services has started in South East England.
The candidates are taking the course as part of a scheme run by training provider Romney Resource Centre in conjunction with Dungeness Power Station in Kent.
The programme aims to identify their skills levels, improve their job-search skills and encourage their competence within the workplace.
The aim for many of these people is to be employed in support services - particularly cleaning and maintenance.
The power station will not be looking to offer new job posts until the New Year, so many of those on the programme will be looking for employment sooner.
The benefits for you as employers are:
If there are potential employers who might consider discussing vacancies with the candidates, Romney Resource Centre would like to hear from you.
In addition, the centre can offer existing staff a range of courses designed to provide improved performance and efficiency within the workplace. These include Improved Numeracy and Literacy courses, Keyboard Skills and NVQs in Business Administration, IT and Customer Service. It is also looking at offering new industry-specific qualifications such as the Level 2 Certificate in Cleaning & Support Services in the New Year.
Much of the training is accessed online, so if candidates have access to the internet, they won't always have to leave the workplace to study.
If you would like to know more about any of these opportunities please contact Adam Limbrey, Business Partnership Manager at Romney Resource Centre on 07967 752 618 or email adam@romney-resource.co.uk.
