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THE SKILLS PROTOCOL Working to establish a single skills and qualification framework

THE LEGACY SO FAR Delivering a grassroots sporting legacy for 2012

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF SKILLSACTIVE SUMMER 2011

HOWARD WEBBon the new national occupational standards for officiating

The Transformat ion Issue

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activepassportTM is a verified online record of an individual’s training, volunteering, CPD, qualifications, and achievements. Unlike a standard CV, the qualifications and experience have been validated, ensuring candidates possess the right skills, training, and experience.

Over 20,000 people in the UK currently have an activepassportTM, and more than 40 UK sport and leisure CEOs representing 70% of the workforce have now signed a Skills Protocol, committing they will work towards their employees holding and maintaining an activepassportTM

as standard.

For an organisation activepassportTM can:

• Identify skill gaps in your organisation via standardised reports, so you can see if any skills are missing

• Link with existing HR systems, giving you full visibility of your employees’ experience and skills

• Ensure compliance to official job role requirements, helping you match candidates to jobs quickly and efficiently

• Protect you against litigation, ensuring you are on top of training programmes and other professional obligations.

For individuals activepassportTM can:

• Provide you with a recognised online record of qualifications, personal achievements, professional achievements, training courses attended, and any voluntary work

• Create a professional CV that will be tailored to every job you apply for

• Identify training opportunities and potential career pathways

• Help you achieve your goals with its built-in ‘Personal Development Planner’

• Remind you about skills and qualifications that are expiring or need updating.

For a training provider activepassportTM can:

• Give an overview of your client’s skills, qualifications and competencies

• Identify missing mandatory CPD and compliance requirements

• Target individuals with specific courses, meeting your needs as highlighted in either career paths or qualifications

• Gain access to an extensive captive market, increasing sales and reducing marketing costs

• Allow you to offer your clients a powerful tool for maintaining their own records.

We are offering all ActiveInsightreaders a FREE demo.Simply quote ‘ACTIVEINSIGHT’ when you contact us at...E activepassport@skillsactive.com

T 020 7632 2000 www.sportactivensa.co.uk/activepassport

Your Passport to Success!

4 New beginnings 6 The Skills Protocol 8 Officiating NOS

WELCOME TO ACTIVEINSIGHT WHAT’S ON

10 The Legacy so far

Welcome to the summer issue of ActiveInsight – the Transformation Issue.

This theme doesn’t just refer to the new, fresh look of the magazine. It’s also timely as we prepare for the launch of a new look SkillsActive on October 1.

We’ve responded to challenges from the sector and the government by reorganising some of our business priorities and how we deliver our service, whilst ensuring we are supporting employer needs and sector demands.

One of the key drivers for this change was the outcome of the Skills Protocol Employer Leadership Group (SPELG) Skills Protocol report. The report delivers a real commitment from industry to take the lead in addressing the skills issues facing the sector.

It also outlines a number of ‘asks’ of Government, the newly launched Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (IMSPA), and SkillsActive.

These issues are explored in greater detail in chief executive Stephen Studd’s column and the Ask the Expert section, where key SPELG members discuss how they think the Protocol will transform the sector for the better.

This issue of ActiveInsight also explores the importance of the new national occupational standards for officiating, and the National Skills Academy’s role in creating a grassroots sporting legacy for 2012.

We hope you enjoy the read.

– SkillsActive

4 From our CEO– New beginnings

5 Ask the expert– GLL’s Jeff Lynch on the single qualifications framework

6 The Skills Protocol – Working to establish a single skills and qualification framework

8 Officiating NOS – Round table interview with industry leaders on the new national occupational standards for officiating

10 The Legacy so far – Delivering a grassroots sporting legacy for 2012

12 Online – Online shop and careers site

14 Updates– activepassport, HE Endorsement and consultancy

15 SkillsActive case study – Patrick helps cover all bases at BSUK

>> August

18 Raising your Game in Customer Service – London

22 Higher Education Endorsement for Sports Development and Sport/Leisure Management: An event for Higher Education Institutions – London

25 Leadership Development Workshop – London

6 – 8 BASES Conference 2011 – Essex

7 Submission Training Day – London

20 – 22 Leisure Industry Week (LIW) – NEC Birmingham

22 REPs National Convention – NEC Birmingham

23 Higher Education Endorsement for Sports Coach Education: An event for National Governing Bodies – London

>> September

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Find out more at www.skillsactive.com/events

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F RO M O U R C E O

STEPHEN STUDD,CEO AT SKILLSACTIVE

Following the launch of the Skills Protocol in January 2010, the SkillsActive Group has taken the opportunity over the past 12 months to review its priorities and realign them with ever-changing sector needs. With the publication of the full Employer Skills Protocol for the Leisure Industry report, Group CEO Stephen Studd reflects on the changing environment and the future of the SkillsActive Group.

1 October 2011 will see the birth of a new SkillsActive. It will be the result of a number of factors coming together and it will present both opportunities and challenges.

All organisations working with the government and in the public sector in this current financial climate have faced significant changes in their relationships. We have had to react to this over the past 12 months, which has meant reorganising some of our business priorities and how we deliver our service, whilst ensuring we are supporting employer needs and sector demands.

Other challenges we have faced include the outcomes from the work of the Skills Protocol Employer Leadership Group (SPELG) and other individuals involved in publishing the Skills Protocol report. There has been a big commitment to the skills and training from employers, which has been emphasised by the publication of the report, and as a result, employers are turning to SkillsActive and our National Skills Academy for support, guidance and leadership. We are keen to respond to these requests both in terms of governance and service to the sector. We also want to support the delivery of the recommendations in the report and help identify what is required by employers so the sector can grow and flourish.

Our National Skills Academy is also coming to the end of its development phase. This has given us an opportunity to review our internal structure and deliver a new model that is best going to support sector employers whilst delivering our business plan.

More broadly, it is a consequential time for the sector. Never before has it been more important for the industry to present itself in a coherent way, publicly to its customers and on a political level. We need to present ourselves as a

sector of choice for our customers, as a sector with a clear career structure, including entry and progression routes, and as a sector of choice for government priorities. Only those that can demonstrate ambition and capacity to grow and contribute to economy will be given the opportunity to work with the Government.

The sector has come a long way; it is young and vibrant and has grown rapidly. It is a unique mix of public, not-for-profit and private organisations in every community. And it has an established customer base with regular committed participants, which has been crucial in enabling it to better weather the recession when it’s suffered from cuts in consumer spending. This is further evidence that people value our ‘product’ more. However, we’ve reached a plateau both in sport and physical activity and the future lies in growth.

Growth is dependant on the skills of the workforce and the sector must offer new and better services to broaden customer base and to embed physical activity as a must have part of daily life.

Success will depend on whether the sector focuses its energies on its employees, it has to attract and retain the best. Our aim through SkillsActive, on the back

of the protocol, is to establish a one-stop-shop for those seeking a career with clear entry routes and career progression opportunities that are supported by employers, and delivered by the best training providers. The commitment of employers through the protocol to the single qualification framework, which is professionally recognised through our activepassport initiative, is central to this. The focal point of this new service and proposition is our new Memorandum of Understanding with the new Institute (IMSPA). This provides the basis for the sector to develop its own professional development programme and enables people to aspire to the highest levels in their career, whilst staying in the sector.

Going forward, and outlined in the skills report, we need demonstrable commitment to professionalisation of the workforce from employers. We have a real opportunity here, and now is the perfect time for SkillsActive to present the sector to Government as a key strategic partner in improving health, contributing to the economy and, as always, tackling social inequalities.

To find out about the changes to the SkillsActive Group, visit www.skillsactive.com over the coming months.

For some time, sector employers have requested a simple entry route for people wanting to start a career in the sector, and clear career pathways available to those wanting to progress within it. With the historically large number of qualifications, courses and training available, up until now it has been unclear as what courses young people should choose to study that employers recognise and value.

Working closely with employers, training providers and awarding organisations, the SkillsActive Group have led the development of a single qualifications framework for leisure operations and management. This covers a number of qualifications that support the roles of recreation assistants and duty managers. The framework is a direct response to employers requesting more clarity and relevance in the qualification landscape that relates to their organisation.

Jeff Lynch, Director of Human Resources at Greenwich Leisure Limited and a member of SkillsActive’s Sport and Fitness Employers Group was particularly involved in the development of the

new Framework and is now using it within his recruitment process at Greenwich. ActiveInsight catches up with Jeff to find out the difference the new framework is making to employers.

“It is important to recognise that the Skills Protocol was the foundation to significant developments in the sector – the framework being one of them. In my mind, the key objective of the Protocol is general recognition amongst employers, with the growth of the health and fitness industry agenda, it is time for us to pay attention and meet industry demands.

Up until now, industry qualifications have been arcane. There has not been a simple entry route, with recognised qualifications that employers need. This has resulted in us having to retrain our staff.

The fact is, sport and leisure is dependant on people, and there is enormous potential for industry growth. In order to realise this potential we must develop people. And the only way to do this is with a systematic and strategic approach to people development.

As employers, we have to be actively engaged with the skills agenda, our engagement is the only way

employers, through SkillsActive, will be able to drive the agenda. After all, we are the ones driving our own businesses and know what we need from our staff in order to be successful. We know how we want our people to perform and act. And matching the training to job requirements is very important to us.

This is why the single qualifications framework is a huge step forward. However, in order for it to work it has got to be driven by employers, as we can’t implement a development structure without employer input. This obviously takes time and effort, but if we think it’s important we must put our money where our mouth is.

Here at Greenwich we are working with our training provider, London Leisure College, to map the current training with the new and approved units. This way we are able to identify the gaps, which tend to be the softer skills, and look at how these gaps can be filled within our training programmes. As the new framework has a modular approach, we are now able to build things over time and develop our employees transferable skills.

There are several benefits of having a shared single qualifications framework, including being able to get the training courses accredited,

and achieving economies of scale. Training providers are able to offer their courses more widely, and we’re getting consistency amongst people working in the industry in terms of qualifications, skills and knowledge when they inevitably transfer from role-to-role.

If we consider Apprenticeships as well, we can build single qualifications framework units into Apprenticeship and other training programmes, and combine ways in which people study, having apprentices study alongside managers for example.

The framework allows us to really drive industry training providers too, ensuring that they only supply programmes that are on the single qualifications framework.

Going forward, SkillsActive has a critical function in pulling together all organisations, businesses – private/public/trusts – and even national governing bodies. This is crucial for employers as we employ across all sub-sectors. Training people together is cost effective, flexible, and the skills delivered are transferable.”

For more information on the single qualifications framework, contact SkillsActive’s Sector Support ManagerGary Lee at gary.lee@skillsactive.com

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A S K T H E E X P E RT

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Working to establish a single skills and qualification framework

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On Tuesday 4 May industry leaders came together at the House of Commons to launch the second phase of the Skills Protocol in physical activity, sport and active leisure. This second phase is in the shape of a full report, the result of ten months of work by the Skills Protocol Employer Leadership Group (SPELG), which outlines key recommendations for the development and ultimate success for the sport and active leisure sector. The report has been produced by leading sport and active leisure employers and has been launched at a crucial time. It delivers a real commitment from industry to take the lead in addressing the skills issues facing the sector. In return it outlines a number of ‘asks’ of Government, the newly launched Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (IMSPA), and the SkillsActive Group.

ActiveInsight catches up with three employers from the sport and active leisure sector who have been integral to developing the Protocol. Fred Turok, Chair of LA Fitness and the FIA, Steve Philpott, Chief Executive of DC Leisure Management Ltd and Mark Sesnan, Managing Director of Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL), reveal how the Protocol came about, and how they think it will transform the sector for the better.

As an industry employer, and leading member of SPELG, in your words, why was the Protocol needed?

FT ♦ Skills are crucial for any functioning business and we must continue to grow and up-skill our professionals if our sector is to reach its potential and be a partner of the public health service. I have long held the view that employer commitment and input into skills issues is crucial if the skills system in any sector is going to function. However, the reality is that in our sector it has always been hard to bring together such a broad church of organisations. In our sector almost 95% of organisations employ

less than 50 people. However the SPELG report allowed us to capture this broad church and make some large conclusions regarding the future of skills in our sector, which will in turn allow us to reach our potential.

SP ♦ Put simply, the industry’s employers stood accused of not being sufficiently engaged with the industry’s key skills bodies. I had personally experienced the frustration of trying to get senior managers from employers actively involved with SkillsActive through my role as Chair of the SkillsActive’s Sport and Fitness Employers Group (SAFE). This frustration was echoed in the FIA’s ‘Upskilling the Workforce’ focus groups which I was also leading. At the same time, and for similar reasons, those involved in the National Skills Academy were creating the Skills Protocol. In essence, the industry’s employers needed to know quite simply, what was expected of them and what they could expect in return.

MS ♦ All the Employers on the SPELG group believed there was a need to set out clearly where we are trying to get to with the Skills Agenda, IMPSA, activepassport and the Qualifications Framework and delivery systems. The Protocol does this and it is now up to SkillsActive and IMPSA to deliver. What will it achieve?

FT ♦ The SPELG report has already achieved so much in bringing together our sector and ensuring we all recognise our importance as:♦ A key employer♦ A key partner of the Big Society♦ A central component of the

Nation’s Health and Well-beingHowever, in time it will achieve much more and I am confident that we will have:♦ A skills system and SSC that

employers understand and invest in an open market for quality assured training

♦ A system for engaging higher and further education in a skills continuum

♦ A sector seen as central to the developing public health service

SP ♦ It will ensure that the key

skills bodies are delivering the vision contained in the Skills Protocol.

MS ♦ We hope to achieve a single simple NVQ based training and qualifications framework. There should be an ‘open market’ in terms of who can provide and accredit as long as the core skills criteria are met. The overall vision is about having better trained staff providing better services to improve the performance and profitability of the businesses in our sector. This will enable us to deliver more people, more active, more often as part of the Responsibility Deal with Government.

What is the role of employers within it?

FT ♦ The report clearly states the role of employers and what we expect of them. Employers have traditionally been viewed as the passive ‘customer’ in the skills system, however SPELG marks the start of an employer led skills system where employers advise on the skills they need, and at times lack, for their business to reach its true potential. Employers will do this by ensuring they have training plans for their employees and by promoting activepassport.

SP ♦ Many employers signed up to the Protocol in early 2010. The SPELG consists of representatives of the key leisure centre and fitness club employer groups (LMCA, Sporta, CLOA and the FIA) who have been monitoring and challenging progress made by SkillsActive, the National Skills Academy and IMSPA in delivering the key points contained in the Protocol. SPELG laid down a number of challenges (‘asks’) to these organisations, employers and the Government in a report published in May 2010.

MS ♦ Employers have to commit to only recognising qualifications on the Skills Framework and implementing the ‘no activepassport – no interview’ approach. Where will it be in 12 months?

FT ♦ Arguably the most important ‘ask’ in the whole report is that of SkillsActive

and the NSA to produce and deliver an implementation plan for the next 12 months. We are currently working on this plan with SkillsActive however progress is already being made, for instance the team at SkillsActive have been working with employers to develop a Single Qualification Framework.

Although SPELG will continue to meet for 12 months much of the work will be taken forward by the Sport and Fitness Employer Group (SAFE), which is the central group for employer engagement and is already considering everything from the further development of Registers, the Responsibility Deal, and the engagement of FE bodies in the training continuum.

SP ♦ SPELG has committed to remaining in existence for a further 12 months to oversee the implementation of its recommendations and these ‘asks’.

MS ♦ This is a big agenda and it will be a long journey. The Skills Framework is not yet fully in place and the activepassport is not yet fully functional. Alongside this, the organisations that think they ‘own’ qualifications have to realise that these qualifications will become part of a free market – they will have to get their business on merit, rather than monopoly. All this will take time and commitment and all the employers will need to be resolute. I doubt we will do this in 12 months! Looking aheadThe SkillsActive Group works with the industry to ensure its on-going success and continual growth through professionally trained and qualified staff delivering increases in active participation.

It’s clear from the Skills Protocol report that for the industry to fulfil its potential and have a real impact, a growth strategy must be implemented based on the professionalisation of its workforce. Our mission for more people, better skilled, better qualified is at the heart of this.

The SAFE Group within SkillsActive will be driving this work forward.

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The key purpose of officiating is to enable participants to compete within the spirit of the sport or activity through the effective application of its rules and laws.

All sport needs a referee or umpire. Whether it is a Sunday morning football match, a social league netball game or men’s finals day at Wimbledon, without a match official competitive sport cannot take place. And without a qualified official, competitive sport should not take place. Often overlooked, unless a controversial decision is made, or you are Alex Ferguson, officials are the lynchpin of any sporting competition. But up until now, there has never been any standardised benchmark to which officials can assess themselves and progress their skills.

As the organisation responsible for setting standards for job roles across the sport and active leisure industry, SkillsActive has worked with Sports Officials UK Ltd to develop excellence in sports officiating. As a result, and for the very first time in the UK, there is now a complete set of national occupational standards in place for each level of officiating accessible for all sports.

Stephen Studd, SkillsActive Group CEO says; “We recognise the importance of sports officials and how vital it is to retain and attract the highest calibre individuals to officiating roles.

“The training of officials should be at the heart of development

plans for the sports workforce; the new national standards will help to achieve a level of expertise in officiating, which is so important to the future of UK sport.”

The world class launchFive years in the making, publishing the standards has been a significant milestone in skills provision in sport in the UK.

In recognition of this, Premier League and World Cup Final Referee, Howard Webb hosted the launch in May 2011. Speaking about his journey from his grass roots beginning in 1989 when he passed his first ever refereeing exam, to refereeing the World Cup final in South Africa in 2010, Webb is committed to supporting a recognised education pathway for sports officials at all levels. “Education programmes mapped against competency based standards are vital to the development of sports officials and offers a benchmark of consistency,” Webb said.

“Officials play a hugely important part in sport and are extremely dedicated and passionate people.

“That said I am delighted to be involved in anything that promotes the cause of officiating. Officiating plays a massively important part in the enjoyment of so many people in so many different sports.”

Speaking from his own experience, Webb continued: “The scrutiny placed on all of us is massive – there is such a great burden on match officials. Therefore, it is only right we prepare

our officials in the best possible way to cope week in, week out.

“We have a huge weight of responsibility, and we take that very seriously. That said, it is only right and proper that I am as well prepared as I possibly can be.”

Bringing his experience to life, Webb mentioned that a review paper by the League Managers Association that was recently published and looked into how to improve officiating, suggested that he, the leading referee official in England, wasn’t an expert because he couldn’t prove how many hours he’d spent doing his job and there were no sets of competences in place to prove that he was ‘fit for purpose’, Webb said: “This brought to sharp focus the need for competences, and subsequently the standards that have been introduced and I’m grateful for that fact.”

Webb said there is no guide to how to become a successful referee. “Initially I was combining my refereeing activities, which was very much a hobby, with a full-time job as a police officer. I was a tutor in the police force and when I tutored probation constables they had to work to 360 competencies and they had to hit those competencies three times in the six months when they were with me.

“Maybe it’s no coincidence that people who seem to excel in sports officiating seem to come from that type of background. Soft skills are so crucial in refereeing, the management and interaction of people, communication, getting the trust of the participants. Quite often when I go on the field of play, it simply comes down to perception. There is no right and wrong; it’s the way we

communicate and conduct ourselves on the field of play.

“Self belief is so important. All officials need belief in their own ability, in their experience, in their expertise to do the job. Therefore, it is important that they feel fully qualified to do the job because if you feel fully qualified you feel confident and you deliver on the particular job that you are there to do.”

Leading the drive for sports officialsThe Football Association’s National Referee Manager for Education and Training Janie Frampton has been a driving force behind developing standards for officials. A leading light in the development of Sports Officials UK Ltd since its inception in 2006, and chief executive since June 2010, Frampton champions the vision for a qualified official at every sporting competition.

Frampton recognises, even in her role at the FA, that officials are often last on the list when it comes to support, particularly financial support. She believes Sports Officials UK exists to look at how to support officiating in this country and to ensure a level of quality assurance across those officials.

Also speaking at the launch of the standards, Frampton said: “We have to ask the question, what is it we need as a minimum t o operate and raise the standard?

We need a regulated and accredited structure for officials and we need the standards supporting this. Now we have them, we can build the qualifications very comfortably and ensure those qualifications are mapped to the standards at each

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level so we get the competencies correct and we get the quality assurance there.”

Standards in action Jane Nockolds, National Manager for Officiating and Volunteers at the England Hockey Board (EHB) is keen to embed the new standards into current hockey umpire qualifications. As an ambitious and successful national governing body, the EHB is keen to be one of the first sports to map its umpiring awards, and provide strong and professional support to its thousands of officials UK-wide.

Nockolds said: “We reviewed the EHB umpiring structure and its content in early 2010. We identified areas in which we are strong and importantly, areas that needed work. We have a traditional structure

in place for umpires and umpire coaches; Levels 1–3, and the pathway represents officials operating in clubs through to the top of the national programme. Our review clearly demonstrated that while the Awards content has been fit for purpose for many years, now is the time to move it to another level. We are very conscious of change and know that professional generic standards are important for sport.

“With that in mind, we aim to develop a robust and first class framework for umpiring – one that supports hockey but also the generic components of officiating and this is where the national standards come in. We have been fortunate to have the services of Emma Forward at SkillsActive to help us get things underway and now we have recruited our team.”England Hockey is already a

leader in coach development and was recently named as National Governing Body of the Year for its work in this area. It’s Jane’s vision to take the umpiring and officiating programme to this award winning level.

“It is important for us to be seen as a leader in this area; we have partnered with Wales and Scotland to develop a GB Umpiring Awards Framework. We have mapped our Awards and set up a Management Group. Stage 1 is to develop a new Level 1 Award and to do this we have two teams; a Learning Programme Team who are tasked to use the new National Officiating Standards to determine the ‘what and how’ for umpires and a Workforce Team who will use that information to design and build the Coaching, Tutoring and Assessing Programme.

Currently, there are 13,000 Level 1 hockey umpires across England, Wales and Scotland. Jane said: “We have a huge number of umpires already qualified and we will be offering them top-up courses as we progress so as to ensure they meet the new standards. However, any new umpires coming through will undertake the fully mapped umpiring award.

“This change represents a very significant programme of work for us and our volunteers. Our aim is to commence roll out in 2012.”

For more information on the national occupational standards in officiating visit www.skillsactive.com.

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Sports Officials UK (SOUK) is the organisation responsible for representing and supporting officials across all sports in the UK.

SOUK is a group of representatives from a number of National Governing Bodies who are all responsible for the training education and development of

officials within their given sport. SOUK was formed to address some of the common problems and recruitment issues encountered by sports and share examples of good practice in the training and development of referees, umpires, stewards and judges.

National occupational standards can be used by organisations for a number of purposes including performance appraisal, job descriptions, in-house coaching and mentoring. The standards have been written in very general terms so individual National Governing Bodies can ‘fill in’ the detailed requirements of their sports.

National occupational standards are set at several levels depending upon the occupation being described. SOUK generally considered the entry level for sports officials to be at level 2. Standards at level 3 were considered correct for those officiating at national standard and the standards at level 4 apply to elite sports officials.

Sports Officials UK explained National occupational standards explained

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All six permanent venues are now complete, top athletes are testing out facilities and volunteer selection is underway. London is readying itself for a world class Olympic and Paralympic Games in less than a year and the SkillsActive Group is doing its part by delivering the qualified workforce to create a grassroots sporting legacy.

More than 3,500 people have now benefitted from the Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund programme, which our National Skills Academy is delivering on behalf of the Mayor of London.

The £3 million programme aims to increase the number of Londoners working, playing and volunteering in active leisure leading up to the 2012 Games and beyond. It does this by providing Londoners with up to 75% off the cost of training

in exchange for volunteering.

SkillsActive Group CEO Stephen Studd says the programme has had a massive impact in its first year, with recipients pledging more than 50,000 hours of volunteering to their local communities.

“One of the programme’s key aims is to get more people active by strengthening community sport facilities, and clearly this is happening. I’ve heard first hand about clubs extending their range of services, engaging with new parts of their community, and creating jobs as a direct result of this training. I have no doubt the benefits of this skills investment will be felt for years to come.”

Mayor Boris Johnson says coaches and other sport volunteers play a vital role in encouraging and supporting people to get involved, and stay involved, in sport.

“I’m delighted to see so many of the sector’s paid and voluntary workforce seize the opportunity to improve their skills and boost provision their local club. These could well be the very people that inspire our future Olympians to pursue their world class sporting dreams.”

Some 33 Olympic sports are involved in the programme. We asked five of the associated National Governing Bodies and their training delivery partners how the Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund programme is helping them achieve their goals for 2012 and beyond.

Gymnastics – British GymnasticsVolunteers are the lifeblood of our sport, and without them gymnastics wouldn’t happen. Their time, effort and commitment is crucial to give gymnasts the chance to participate, perform and achieve at whatever level they wish to.

Our overriding goal is to develop, grow and sustain participation in gymnastics, to allow as many people as possible to access the sport. Gymnastics can’t happen without a trained, qualified coach who will make the experience interesting, developmental and fun for the gymnast, supported by a wide range of volunteers. The Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund has been central to developing this capability. The Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund helps us to deliver a development programme that is accessible, affordable and of the highest quality. Gaining any qualification is increasingly expensive, but the Fund has allowed us to develop capacity and capability for our gymnasts and clubs, whilst keeping that development affordable for all. It has meant anyone wanting to become a coach in our sport can do so, and that cost is not a barrier to that happening.

Rowing – British RowingRowing is still a sport delivered almost entirely by volunteers and increasing them and retaining them is critical to our success at club and international level. British Rowing’s aim is to increase the satisfaction of all who take part in the sport at whatever level, and volunteers are key to this success. The Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund gives people the opportunity to be trained without being turned off by the price of courses.

Swimming – Amateur Swimming AssociationVolunteers are a vital part of our sport because they are the lifeblood of London’s swimming, diving, water polo and synchronised swimming clubs. A competent and confident workforce is essential to increasing

participation in swimming and the aquatic disciplines as well as improving quality of delivery. We have set ourselves the target of training 1,000 new teachers and coaches in London between April 2011 and March 2012. The Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund allows us to significantly subsidise the cost of our high quality courses and open up training opportunities to a wide range of people.

Boxing – Amateur Boxing AssociationVolunteers are the backbone of boxing. Clubs are run on a voluntary basis by coaches who give up endless hours to help improve boxers’ skills and prepare them for competition, as well as acting as positive role models for young people. Volunteers also run competitions, organise championships and act as officials.

The Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund has given us a fantastic opportunity to not only increase our volunteer base but also develop and improve the skills of our existing volunteers. Having the right people who are appropriately trained is key to delivering on our whole sport plan targets.

The Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund opportunity is important for our sport because, for a long time, the feedback received by our regional associations is that clubs are in need of support to help fund their the qualifications of their volunteers. The Fund helps meet this demand and give back to our growing membership.

Basketball – Sports Vocational Training ServicesVolunteers are vital for basketball because, historically, that is how the sport has been developed.

With greater participation being one of the key targets of England Basketball, there is increased need to recruit and train volunteers in various roles including coaching, officiating and club administration.

The Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund has been central to the recruitment and training of quality coaches. It has enabled more people, especially young people, to become involved in coaching as a vocation, as the main barrier is the cost and availability of training courses. It also allows clubs and schools to have a pool of volunteers to assist in helping the sport to grow within London.

To find out more about the Mayor’s Sports Legacy Fund and the range of discounted training on offer please visit www.sportactivensa.co.uk/ mayors-sports-legacy-fund

Delivering a grassroots sporting legacy for 2012

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O N L I N E

Resources to support your learning are now available to buy online at one easy-access online location: www.sportactivensa.co.uk/SAGroupResources

The SkillsActive Group’s Marketing Officer Jenny Rowe speaks to Amy Lelliott, the Learning Resources Officer about what’s new, and how it will benefit all those working or wanting to work in the sport and active leisure sector.

♦ JR What resources are available on the site?♦ AL We stock relevant and authoritative materials from well-established publishers with expertise in the sports, fitness, outdoors, playwork and caravan industries. We offer a range of resources to help support learning in the sector, including student workbooks, textbooks, revision guides and teaching resources across a wide-range of vocational and academic qualifications. The extensive list of products also includes a range of exciting books and a selection of DVDs to instruct and inspire anyone with a general interest in active leisure.

♦ JR How many resources are available?♦ AL Over 200 products are currently available online and more are being added all the time, so keep checking back.

♦ JR Who are they for?♦ AL Resources are available for anyone wishing to study for a qualification, improve their teaching delivery, update their skills or enhance their competitive edge. But the products available are not just for students and teachers; there are also many general interest books for the wider active enthusiast to find out more.

♦ JR How much do they cost?♦ AL Books start at just £4.99, while the exclusive Playwork Principles keyring is just £1.80! All products are priced according to the RRP – but look out for special offers or discounted postage.

♦ JR Why should people buy from the SkillsActive Group?♦ AL As the industry authority, the Group aims to be the first stop for anyone interested in learning more about the sector or developing their skills. As a not-for-profit, all sales directly impact the future development of the sector and resources are

available specifically from the Sector Skills Council that cannot be accessed anywhere else.

♦ JR How can they be purchased?♦ AL Visit www.sportactivensa.co.uk/SAGroupResources to search and buy online.

Call 0845 647 2120 to speak to our friendly sales team and order over the phone.

Or alternatively, you can request a catalogue on the number above, fill out the simple order form and send it back to us.

S TA F F P I C K S

Get Set Go (CD)

£19.99

S/NVQ Level 2 Playwork Candidate Handbook

£20.99

Anita Bean’s Sports Nutrition for Women

£14.99

The complete guide to stretching

£17.99

The Complete Guide to Postnatal Fitness

£18.99

Advanced Physical Education & Sport for A-Level Third Edition

£30.99

Learning Resources Officer Amy Lelliott suggests:

Hill Walking Essentials: Skills & technique for hill walking (DVD)

£16.00

Playwork Principles Keyring

£1.99

The SkillsActive Group in partnership with U-Explore has launched an interactive website to promote careers in sport and active leisure.

SkillsActive’s university placement student Nathan McAleese has been developing the site and producing content to help young people considering their future career options.

Few would envy young people in this current economic climate. The Government’s decision to raise university fees means that for many, university is no longer an affordable option. Many graduates face the prospect of entering a struggling job market with little work experience but sizeable accumulated debt.

But having worked as a SkillsActive Careers officer as part of my placement, I am encouraged by the career opportunities and the options available to me within sport and active leisure.

What is SkillsActiveCareers.com?SkillsActiveCareers houses the best advice within the industry. Launched in November 2010, the website provides valuable

information to a wide demographic, from details on a range of careers pathways and the qualifications you need, to video interviews and tours of employees and working environments.

What is new?The new look and feel of the site is in-keeping with a vibrant and prosperous industry. SkillsActiveCareers has more job descriptions than ever before, allowing users to flick through our

job bank to find their dream job. The Sector Qualifications section summarises the options available within the sector.

Why is this valuable?The user friendly, interactive website allows young people to browse through and get a feel for what it is like to work in sport and active leisure. No matter what your age or interest, our website will highlight important things to consider when choosing a

career path and then advise how you can achieve your goal and gain entry to your preferred career.

Why visit the website?The job market is crying out for job specific skills. SkillsActive is responsibility for publicising employment criteria. Use the website to find your career goal and work towards achieving it.

SkillsActiveCareers.com could hold the answers to your future career.

Employers, training providers and individuals working in the active leisure and well being sector can all benefit from a visit to the SkillsActive stand at Leisure Industry Week on 20–22 September.

Find out about:• Endorsement• activepassportTM• Learning resources

So come meet our staff at stand H705 and discover how our products and services can improve your business prospects!

Need money to train your staff?

Visit www.sportactivensa.co.uk/accessfunding to discover more!

The FUNDING ELIGIBILITY SERVICE can help you:

• Save £1000s on many areas of staff training

• Save time and money on administration

• Train staff with minimum effort

ACTIVEINSIGHT SUMMER 2011 ♦ 13

14 ♦ ACTIVEINSIGHT SUMMER 2011

The development of graduates ready to work in the industry has been a hot topic in the sport and active leisure sector for many years.

The changing landscape in higher education and the onset of massively increased student fees will throw the issue of employability even more to the fore. This means it is a great time for higher education and the industry to work together for the benefit of future graduates and this is what has been achieved by the new SkillsActive Higher Education Endorsement Scheme.

SkillsActive has been working with a range of industry partners, including Sports Coach UK and

The Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (IMSPA), over the past two years to develop, pilot and launch an industry-led endorsement scheme for degree programmes in the sport and active leisure sector.

SkillsActive is now welcoming endorsement submissions from higher education institutions. The scheme has been launched in health and fitness, sports coach education, sports development and sports leisure management. Already 14 degree courses have been endorsed and it is hoped many more institutions will take advantage of this opportunity to demonstrate the employability focus of their courses and gain sector endorsement.

U P DAT E S

Everyday, we work with and listen to employers. What we’re hearing is the current economic climate is causing real concern around investment for growth.

Here’s a solution: SkillsActive consultancy service is here to help you

work through your concerns, plan for the future and take your people with you on that journey. Combined, our register of 15 expertly skilled consultants offer more than 200 years’ of experience in our industry.

Employers both large and small are benefitting from their specialist

knowledge in a range of subjects, including:

♦ Governance

♦ Leading through Change

♦ Business Coaching

♦ Funding Bids

♦ Training Needs Analysis

A major advantage of choosing a SkillsActive consultant is they have a unique knowledge of the current public funding system and the training market.

See www.skillsactive.com/services/active_consultancy for more details

More than 22,000 REPs members will soon be able to record their skills, qualifications and achievements on a unique online CV when they adopt the activepassport. In September, both new and renewing Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) members will receive a free activepassport as part of their membership.

They will join over 20,000 people in the UK who already have an activepassport, a unique online tool that delivers fast and easy access to verified records on identity, skills, qualifications, employment history and professional achievements. REPs’ registrar Jean-Ann Marnoch says the activepassport is a powerful career tool and will be a significant bonus for members. “The benefits of the activepassport

are twofold,” Jean-Ann says. “Workers can log all their training across the active leisure sector – which in turn will facilitate career progression and opportunities. Employers can then gain access to these records, assisting the recruitment and training process. All this will ultimately help establish the professional status of our industry.”

SkillsActive is working to integrate the activepassport into qualifications and training in the sector so learners gain an

activepassport on completion of their courses. It is also working to implement SPELG’s recommendation for a ‘No Passport = No Job’ future for the industry. More details to follow this autumn.

To find out more about activepassport and how it can benefit you as an individual, employer or training provider please visit www.skillsactive.com/services/activepassport

See www.skillsactive.com/heendorsement for more details

The SkillsActive Group has worked with BaseballSoftballUK (BSUK) to boost its volunteer workforce and increase the sports’ profile and participation rates in the UK.

BSUK is the development agency for baseball and softball in the United Kingdom and, as such, is responsible for helping the sports’ national governing bodies increase levels of participation, skill and achievement in the two sports.

SkillsActive workforce development officer Patrick Knock is SkillsActive’s lead contact for baseball and softball and is currently on secondment at BSUK, helping the organisation achieve its goals.

Increasing participationBSUK has 14,000 players across the country and aims to reach 22,500 by 2013. To increase participation, Patrick has worked with BSUK, Lewisham Borough Council and NHS South East London to develop the Lewisham ‘Hit the Pitch’ scheme.

“Hit the Pitch challenges adult staff in the local community to participate in three weeks of taster sessions followed by a five week summer league,” says Patrick. “The response we received from the Lewisham

community has been so encouraging, BSUK has rolled out the programme in colleges and universities in Surrey and South and West London.”

BSUK is also bolstering its number of younger players with the ‘Softball for beginners’ and ‘Baseball for kids’ programmes and in Higher Education through Sport England’s ‘Active University’ programme. Brunel, Herts, Bucks New, Nottingham and Warwick universities will be providing softball for their students in the upcoming semesters.

Growing the workforceBSUK Joint CEO John Boyd says volunteers are the lifeblood of baseball and softball but, like many sports, they struggle to recruit and retain volunteers,

“Our relatively low profile means we have to work extra hard,” he says. “We’re often introducing people to the sport at the same time as making them aware of volunteering opportunities available.”

Patrick worked with BSUK’s to develop a volunteer recruitment plan, which included developing relationships with county sport partnerships and local volunteering organisations across the country.

“Patrick’s role has been crucial in helping us reach people who

wouldn’t traditionally be on our radar,” John says.

Upskilling coaches Baseball and softball are growing sports in the UK and demand for coaches often outstrips supply. To boost coach numbers, Patrick registered BSUK’s courses on the Mayor’s Sport’s Legacy Fund training catalogue, so Londoners can access the subsidised training in exchange for volunteering hours. He is now working with BSUK to promote the opportunity.

Patrick also worked with BSUK to create the course ‘Softball for Multi-sport coaches’ which equips Level 2 coaches with the principles of baseball and softball coaching. Ten coaches from Tottenham Hotspur Foundation completed the first course in July 2011 and will now help deliver BSUK programmes.

Patrick says: “The qualification recognises the common elements across the various coaching qualifications so people don’t have to repeat modules. This makes upskilling quicker and easier for them.”

Creating leadersFinally, BSUK is a young organisation and is still developing its management practices. Patrick helped secure £1,000 from London Brokerage Service towards

management and leadership training for five of BSUK’s five senior management staff.

“We explored best practice, learned how to better drive performance and get the best out of our matrix management model,” John says.

SkillsActive takes BSUK to a “whole new level”John says it can be hard for smaller sports organisations to find good cover for long term absences.

“With the arrangement with SkillsActive, we’ve found a solution that has worked very well for us and have been very fortunate to have Patrick join our staff. SkillsActive’s support has always been professional and thorough and this arrangement is taking the support to a whole new level.”

Patrick is proud of the gains he’s achieved for BSUK:”It’s been an excellent experience working to develop these two exciting and growing sports as well as leading new projects to increase participation.”

Find out how you can get involved in baseball or softball at www.baseballsoftballuk.com

ACTIVEINSIGHT SUMMER 2011 ♦ 15

C A S E S T U DY

16 ♦ ACTIVEINSIGHT SUMMER 2011

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