SkillsActive, commissioned by the Learning and Skills Council Yorkshire and the Humber and Sport England Yorkshire, has carried out comprehensive research to accurately map and review training provision available to the sport, fitness and outdoors sectors in Yorkshire and the Humber.

Funded through the European Social Fund and Sport England regional funding, the research also identifies a number of barriers to training and development opportunities facing employers in Yorkshire and the Humber.

Victoria Gray, SkillsActive’s research analyst said: “This is the first time we have audited the sport, fitness and outdoors sectors in Yorkshire and the Humber to assess supply and demand for training. The outcomes are positive, and key findings suggest that training within the sector is relatively high, with around 87% of responding organisations undertaking some form of training over the past 12 months.

“However, research findings show that the intensity of training varies across different types of organisations, the availability of courses at a local level can be problematic and the availability of time and the high financial cost of training are crucial for employers. All these factors can add to fragmentation of training provision for the sector.”

The research programme explored the training available to the sector in the region and has led to the creation of an online regional training directory.  This audit highlights that the sector is relatively well catered for in terms of the range of provision – over 180 providers were identified offering 1,600 courses.  Nonetheless, concerns were raised regarding the responsiveness of the training available and the extent to which provision delivers consistent, transferable and relevant opportunities.  

Gray continues: “The report highlights the need for employers, key partners and training providers to work together to encourage the take up of more training and development opportunities that arise. However, the accessibility and relevance of training opportunities is crucial for the sectors in the region to flourish.”  

The publication of the research is timely as SkillsActive develops its bid to launch a National Skills Academy for Sport and Leisure. The launch of an Academy hub in Yorkshire and the Humber, planned for September, will coordinate training provision, in particular developing and promoting training information and encourage the sharing of information and best practice between providers which will lead to, amongst other things, flexible delivery of training solutions for small and voluntary organisations and modular and credit based systems – which was highlighted by employers as a particular challenge in the report.

David Gent, Regional Director of Sport England Yorkshire said : “Sport England is delighted that the Yorkshire region's sporting workforce now has such a robust and in-depth evidence of training and skills needs. This is vital if we are to address those skills needs effectively, and to secure funding to support the training of people working in sport, whether they do so on a paid or voluntary basis.

The training directory - the first of its kind for our sector in England - also represents a huge step forward in meeting our training needs. It will provide the proposed National Skills Academy's Yorkshire hub with an invaluable service for people working in sport, fitness and the outdoors when it launches this year”.

A final report ” and the directory of training provision are available from http://www.skillsactive.com/arounduk/yorkshire. For further information please contact Vikki Gray on 020 7632 2028 or email victoria.gray@skillsactive.com