The Sector Skills Council for the places where we live and work
Careers Advice Line 0800 056 7160
Expand your learning through the Asset Skills UK Academy
Asset Skills, in partnership with Learn Direct, is making it that much easier to expand your knowledge, or that of your workforce, through a huge number of discounted qualifications and courses.
These are flexible and designed to fit around an individual learner's needs. Whatever the reason for learning, we can help you or your staff build your skills through a nationally-recognised qualification.
All the courses are available online so learning can take place at home in the evening or at weekends, or in the workplace during lunch breaks or quiet periods.
The courses are available to everyone and there is a discount for members of our UK Academy. The academy provides employers in business services, housing and property with hands-on, practical assistance on training and staff development issues. For a modest fee you could end up saving a significant sum.
Find out more about the benefits of academy membership here or for more information contact Tom Orton, UK Academy Coordinator, on 0844 822 2525 or email ukacademy@assetskills.org
To view the available courses and discounts, click here: http://www.assetskills.org/onlinelearning/elearninghome.aspx
If you are interested in a course please click to complete our online form. Alternatively, email us at ukacademy@assetskills.org or call 0844 822 2525.
Feasibility questionnaire for apprenticeships in energy assessment and advice
Asset Skills has launched a feasibility questionnaire to test the demand for an apprenticeship in energy assessment and advice.
Two QCF qualifications currently exist for energy functions at Level 3: Certificate in Domestic Energy Assessment and the Certificate in Energy Advice (Home).
Traditionally, these roles have been seen as requiring a considerable degree of knowledge of building fabric and service operations as well as experience of making energy assessments linked to Energy Performance Certificates. The Government's Green Deal initiative will enhance the role of energy adviser.
The survey is designed to establish if there is a market for a level 3 apprenticeship framework.
We would be grateful if you could spend some time answering the brief questionnaire to enable us to establish the viability of such an apprenticeship.
Full details of the current qualifications and the online questionnaire can be found at: http://www.assetskills.org/QualificationsAndStandards/Consultations/EnergyApprenticeshipFeasibilityJune11.aspx
Asset Skills builds towards qualifications in commercial energy advice
Asset Skills is developing qualifications in commercial energy advice and is calling for informed employers working in the commercial property, facilities management or energy efficiency sectors to click on the following link and have their say: http://questionnaire.stratagia.co.uk/asset-skills-ceaqcf.
Following the completion of the National Occupation Standards (NOS) in Commercial Energy Advice, Asset Skills is consulting on proposals for qualifications and units based on these standards.
The consultation is available online until the 30th June 2011, when it will be finalised to form the basis of new Commercial Energy Advice qualifications.
The emergence of Commercial Energy Advice NOS and qualifications will offer individuals the chance to gain the skills to provide Energy Advice and help reduce energy costs and cut the carbon emissions within the commercial sector.
Furthermore, the Commercial Energy Advice NOS will form the foundation for the skills needed to work as a Commercial Energy Advisor within the government's Green Deal, due to launch next year.
For further information contact David Bell at dbell@assetskills.org or Philip Stott at pstott@assetskills.org or call 0845 645 2 888.
The prisons competition helping ex-offenders secure employment
An awards ceremony has taken place to mark the achievements of prisoners who took part in a national cleaning skills competition, the Team Clean Challenge.
The event, now in its fourth year, is run by Asset Skills. It aims to demonstrate the high quality training that takes place in prisons as part of preparing offenders with work skills to help their rehabilitation on release.
Richard Beamish, Chief Executive of Asset Skills, said:
"This contest has been extremely successful in promoting jobs in cleaning to prisoners. There are now 50 ex-offenders working in the cleaning industry as a result of the competition. Getting a job is a key factor in helping ex-prisoners settle back into society and in cutting re-offending rates. It helps save the UK taxpayer millions each year."
Despite the economic downturn, there is still a shortage of cleaners and more employers are recognising the benefits of hiring a well-trained ex-offender, who will have been vetted and sees the job as a chance to start a new life. There are clear career paths in cleaning and it can offer a rewarding and worthwhile job.
The Team Clean Challenge is an opportunity for offenders to show the skills they have acquired through their training in prison and meet employers who may be able to help them find work on their release. The competition also operates an 'open strand' in which cleaning companies across the UK enter teams of their staff. The skills competition seeks to raise the profile of cleaning and instil pride in those who do such an essential job.
The 2011 awards ceremony to mark the participants' achievements took place at the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham on 22 June. The prisons challenge ran in several categories. Winners included: HMP Erlestoke for Best Prison; HMP Feltham for Best Young Offenders Institute; Christopher Burgan, HMP Hewell for Best Supervisor; and Mike Linker from HMP Erlestoke for Best Operative.
For a full list of winners, click here.
For more information about the Team Clean Challenge, contact Tina Pickles at Asset Skills at tpickles@assetskills.org or call 0845 678 2 888.
Housing NOS Project Questionnaire
Asset Skills is undertaking a review of the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for the housing sector. NOS are currently available to underpin qualifications at levels 2, 3 and 4. This project will use the occupational and functional analysis upon which the NOS are based to ensure full coverage of the functions performed within the sector.
There will also be research into whether there is a requirement for NOS and qualifications at Level 5.
A further project to develop qualification units and structures will then be undertaken based on these NOS to ensure that the qualifications available in the sector meet employer needs.
Project outputs and timelines
The project is expected to produce the following outputs:
The project is due to start in April 2011 and end in January 2012.
What we need from you
If you are interested in contributing throughout the process please contact Vikki Williams vwilliams@assetskills.org who will be able to assist you in getting involved.
We are currently undertaking an initial survey to gauge the usefulness of the current NOS and identify any areas for potential further development
Click here to be taken to the survey: http://www.assetskills.org/QualificationsAndStandards/Consultations/HousingNationalOccupationalStandardsReview.aspx
This survey will be open until July 15th.
The Asset Skills Property Tracker provides a consolidated view of the property market in England and across the UK as a whole, drawing on key industry surveys to provide up-to-date information on a number of key areas and any skills implications that changes in these areas may have for property professionals.
The tracker can be accessed here: http://www.assetskills.org/Research/LabourMarketInformation/LabourMarket.aspx
Latest Barometer findings. The Research team have produced new Barometer reports for each of the Asset Skills sectors. Separate reports for England and Scotland are also now available. The reports include responses gathered from employers in the last six months.
The reports can be accessed here: http://www.assetskills.org/Research/Projects/Barometer_Article.aspx
International profile of the property industry intelligence paper (issue 14).To gain a clearer picture of how the UK property industry is performing, this paper will consider the state of the industry across a number of different regions including Asia, Europe and the Middle East. This paper examines a number of key issues such as the impact of the global financial crisis, variation in skills demand and how these factors influence property salaries and bonuses.
The paper can be accessed here: http://www.assetskills.org/Research/LabourMarketInformation/IntelligencePapers.aspx
The updated sector and sector by nation factsheets are now available on the Asset Skills website. The sector factsheets provide up-to-date Labour Market Information on the facilities management, property, housing, cleaning and parking industries. Whilst the sector by nation factsheets provide up-to-date Labour Market Information on the facilities management, property, housing and cleaning industries in each of the four nations.
The factsheets can be accessed here: http://www.assetskills.org/Research/LabourMarketInformation/LabourMarket.aspx
For more information on any of the above publications, please contact the research department on 0845 678 2888.
First person completes SPFP training in Wales
A 23-year-old estate agent has become the first person to complete training under the Welsh Sector Priorities Fund Pilot (SPFP) programme.
Sian Martin, a Sales and Lettings Negotiator for Caerphilly property firm Homehunters, spent seven months studying the NFoPP Sale of Residential Property Award.
Her employer applied for the funding through Asset Skills, as part of the Welsh Assembly Government's SPFP programme.
"The course covered all sorts of interesting things such as structural side of property like what suspended floors are and the different types of windows as well as in-depth information on the legal and legislation side. I feel much more confident in what I'm doing now - when I say things I have the knowledge to back it up."
Sian graduated from university in 2009 having studied French and ancient history. Initially she wanted to work in museum curating but after three months searching for work, she found a job in estate agency. She was pleased to discover part of her new job involved looking at interesting old relics.
"I do really enjoy this work and love seeing the different aged properties and their construction and style. I also like valuing properties and the interaction with people, as well as the day-to-day tasks."
Sian, who lives in Merthyr Tydfil, studied for the award with 14 other learners from different estate agents. Her course involved two hours a week in evening classes held at the Ystrad Mynach College and the rest she did in her own time with her NFoPP learning manual. She took the exam in March and has now started the NFoPP Award in Lettings.
The SPFP programme is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government through the European Social Fund. A further 230 candidates working in facilities management, property and housing are studying for various training programmes with SPFP funding.
"I liked the way the course was taught in an informal way - I think it helped aid the learning. The teacher would read through something and we would discuss it. Everyone chimed in with their own experience which added to the material. It was tiring, but well worth it."
Y person cyntaf yng Nghymru'n cwblhau hyfforddiant SPFP
Mae asiant tai 23 oed wedi cwblhau hyfforddiant o dan y rhaglen Cynllun Peilot y Gronfa Blaenoriaethau Sector (SPFP) a hi yw'r gyntaf yng Nghymru.
Bu Sian Martin, Trafodwr Gwerthiannau a Gosodiadau i'r cwmni eiddo o Gaerffili, Homehunters, yn treulio saith mis yn astudio ar gyfer Dyfarniad Gwerthu Eiddo Preswyl yr NFoPP (Ffederasiwn Cenedlaethol y Gweithwyr ym maes Eiddo).
Gwnaeth ei chyflogwr gais am yr arian drwy Asset Skills, yn rhan o raglen SPFP Llywodraeth Cymru.
"Roedd y cwrs yn ymdrin â phob mathau o bethau diddorol, megis ochr strwythurol eiddo, er enghraifft beth yw lloriau crog a'r gwahanol fathau o ffenestri a gewch chi. Roedd hefyd yn rhoi gwybodaeth fanwl i chi am yr ochr gyfreithiol a deddfwriaethol. Rwy'n teimlo'n llawer mwy hyderus am yr hyn a wnaf erbyn hyn - pan fyddaf i'n dweud pethau mae gen i'r wybodaeth i gefnogi'r ffeithiau."
Graddiodd Sian o'r brifysgol yn 2009 ar ôl astudio Ffrangeg a hanes y cynfyd. I ddechrau roedd hi eisiau bod yn guradur mewn amgueddfa ond ar ôl tri mis o chwilio am swydd, cafodd waith gydag asiant ystadau. Roedd hi wrth ei bodd bod rhan o'i swydd newydd yn gofyn edrych ar hen greiriau diddorol.
"Dw i'n mwynhau'r math yma o waith yn fawr ac wrth fy modd yn gweld eiddo o wahanol oed a'r ffordd maent wedi'u hadeiladu a'u steil. Rwyf hefyd yn mwynhau rhoi pris ar eiddo a siarad gyda phobl, yn ogystal â'r tasgau pob dydd."
Bu Sian, sy'n byw ym Merthyr Tudful, yn astudio ar gyfer y dyfarniad gydag 14 o ddysgwyr eraill o wahanol gwmnïau gwerthu tai. Roedd ei chwrs yn gofyn treulio dwy awr yr wythnos mewn dosbarthiadau nos yng Ngholeg Ystrad Mynach a gwnaeth y gweddill yn ei hamser ei hun gyda'i llyfryn dysgu NFoPP. Cafodd yr arholiad ym mis Mawrth ac mae hi wedi dechrau'r Ddyfarniad NFoPP mewn Gosodiadau erbyn hyn.
Mae'r rhaglen SPFP wedi'i chyllido gan Lywodraeth Cymru drwy Gronfa Gymdeithasol Ewrop. Mae 230 o ymgeiswyr pellach sy'n gweithio mewn rheoli cyfleusterau, eiddo a thai yn astudio ar wahanol raglenni hyfforddiant gydag arian SPFP.
"Roeddwn i'n hoffi'r ffordd anffurfiol o ddysgu'r cwrs - dw i'n meddwl bod hynny wedi helpu gyda'r dysgu. Byddai'r athro'n darllen drwy rywbeth a byddem yn ei drafod. Roedd pawb yn cyfrannu eu profiadau eu hunain ac roedd hyn yn ychwanegu at y defnydd. Roedd yn flinedig ond roedd werth pob munud."
Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Leadership for Northern Ireland
Housing professionals in Northern Ireland have embarked on an Institute of Leadership and Management Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management.
This programme was pioneered by housing association Ark Housing, and promoted to Housing Associations throughout Northern Ireland.
The first group of ten senior housing professionals from various housing associations have signed up to the 18 month programme. It is delivered in a flexible manner and addresses the leadership skills needed and strategic changes in the province.
The programme will be delivered with experienced tutors as well as guest speakers from senior executives from the public and private sectors.
UK takes the two top spots in the Global FM Awards
The UK took the two top spots at the Global FM Awards for Excellence in Facilities Management; which highlight the best practice in FM from around the world and recognise the strategic importance and value of facilities management.
The winners were announced on the second annual World FM Day, 23 June 2011, at events to celebrate and raise the profile of the FM profession. The event was a resounding success as groups across five continents marked the day with activities from panel discussions to site visits, a river cruise to a Lego building competition.
For the full list of winners, click here.
For more information, contact Karen Weeks, BIFM Communications Executive at karen.weeks@bifm.org.uk or 0845 058 1356.
The Asset Skills careers advice service has added a direct email service.
We find the email facility gives people the chance to digest a lot of information more easily than via an initial conversation. Often people chose to receive the information via email and then back it up with a phone conversation to address any of the issues that arise from the email.
Anyone wishing to use the email service can do so from careers@assetskills.org
Careers advice for advisers - London
This event was aimed at advising careers advisers about jobs in our sector. It was successful and well attended with over 40 careers advisers interested in broadening their knowledge.
Andrew Hulbert from Rollright Facilities Ltd gave an excellent presentation about his own career path into FM, and demonstrated the huge opportunities that the sector can offer bright, enthusiastic, young people.
The next event will be later in the year in Bristol.
For more information about any aspects of careers advice contact Cathy Lindsey-Carl at clindsay-carl@assetskills.org
Women and Work project to continue
Asset Skills is pleased to have been successful in bidding for funding to enable them to continue supporting employers and employees through their Women and Work provision.
This provision is focused on women working in the FM and cleaning sector.
Over the last four years the focus has been entirely on employees working in England, this has now changed to a UK wide provision. This enables Asset Skills to support employees through their employers in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
If you would like to get involved or need more information contact Carol Shillito at cshillito@assetskills.org or call 07769 713221.
