Following months of consultation with employers and stakeholders, SkillsActive have launched their Sector Skills Agreement Regional Action Plan (SSARAP) for the East Midlands.
The plan marks the beginning of a long-term relationship between employers and stakeholders to deliver relevant skills, training and development to the sector in the region.
The regional action plan was officially launched at a meeting of the East Midlands Sector Skills Alliance for Sport (EMSSAS), a workforce development group that includes members from Sport England, the Learning and Skills Council, the East Midlands Development Agency, sports coach UK, an employer champion and representatives from further education and national governing bodies of sport.
The role of EMSSAS is central to one of the key outcomes of the regional action plan, providing policy makers with the data and evidence required to aid decisions on sector investment.
The East Midlands currently has 3,400 organisations in the active leisure and learning sector employing over 41,000 and in order for the sector to offer the best services possible it needs the best possible workforce, both paid and unpaid. SkillsActive is working extensively with employers to make this happen, and the development of this regional action plan formalises the solutions for its stakeholders, providing strong foundations on which to build the sector’s workforce.
As part of the overall Sector Skills Agreement, the action plan is based on the assessment of current and future skills needs, and an assessment of current training provision. Six core solutions for the active leisure and learning sector have been drawn up:
- Improve quality and range of services
- Improve recruitment and retention
- Professionalise and upskill the existing workforce
- Match training supply to employer demand
- Source funding for training
- Increase sector investment in our people.
These priorities are broken down into key objectives for the five sub-sectors which SkillsActive represents, (sport and recreation, health and fitness, playwork, the outdoors and caravans) and some of the practical steps that will be undertaken are:
- Opening of a National Skills Academy ‘regional hub’ in the East Midlands
- Increasing the number of coaches with UK Coaching Certificate based qualifications
- Providing excellent careers advice and identifying progression routes
- Utilising national occupational standards in qualifications and ensuring they are widely available to inform future job descriptions and recruitment campaigns.
Jeff Spencer, regional development manager for SkillsActive in the East Midlands, said;
“The regional SSA gives a strong voice in the East Midlands of what employers and other organisations needs are – it also gives us an action plan to tackle some of the big issues faced with the help of the East Midlands Sector Skills Alliance for Sport (EMSSAS) and all other partners. The report and action plan will help to turn the views of employers into the solutions for skills issues, and help to ensure the continued growth and success of our dynamic and diverse industry.”
Len Jackson, Chair of the East Midlands Regional Sports Board said:
"We are pleased to support the East Midlands plan. This is an important step forward in recognising the impact our industry has in the East Midlands .It also highlights the diverse range of skills needed for all the paid workers and volunteers that are essential to the development of a more efficient and effective sport system in our communities. We look forward to the delivery of the action plan in driving forward the region’s outcomes of Change 4 Sport, which will enable us to be equipped with the best skilled, trained and educated people to achieve our aims for an Active and Successful region".
For more information on the East Midlands regional action plan please contact: Jeff Spencer Tel: 07841 981145 Email: jeff.spencer@skillsactive.com
To download the Plan and Executive Summary go to the Skills Active East Midlands web page.
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