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ukactive update: A Workforce that Works
ukactive CEO David Stalker discusses the proposed move towards a single organisation covering all skills and workforce development
The first ever ukactive Active Training Conference took place on 26 March, bringing together the sector’s key training and workforce development organisations. Working with CIMSPA and SkillsActive, I was delighted to see so many key people in attendance.
The development of the individuals working within our sector has never been more important, and we saw a series of presentations – as well as extremely passionate discussions during the panel sessions – that focused on making sure this agenda continues to move forward. Only by having a workforce that’s fit for purpose can we begin to deliver on the promise of reducing inactivity and making sure our sector is prepared for the years to come.
One single body
What became clear throughout the day was the need and appetite for a single skills development body. The leading employers from the physical activity sector made calls for skills and workforce development to sit within a single organisation to provide a unified outlook on skills.
What emerged were three guiding principles of workforce development. Firstly, the custodianship of standards and the framework for skills should sit within one body. Secondly, there should be a continuum of training provision across further education and higher education. And thirdly, we need a minimum standard for assessment and delivery protocol across all qualifications within the health and fitness sector.
ukactive, CIMSPA and SkillsActive will now discuss the timeframe and details of delivering this sector-led change. However, the consensus is that the process should be led by employers – that it’s vital our agenda is fully out in the open and truly led by employers. They, rather than the sector’s skills bodies, should be the king-makers in this crucial process.
This all follows on from the ongoing Trailblazer project, in which employers were tasked with developing an apprenticeship standard. The future of apprenticeships was a key discussion point at the March event, with a clear need for greater levels of communication between education providers and employers.
For further insight into this topic, including details of the next phase of the review, please see our news feature on page 15.
LEARNING FROM BEYOND OUR SECTOR
The conference also presented a great opportunity for the sector to introduce itself to a host of new organisations with a long tradition of developing workforces across sectors and ages. Of particular note was the presentation by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers. This body, which is responsible for the wellbeing of the education workforce, was very forthright in its challenge to employers in our sector: to come and talk to teachers. Apprenticeships are all well and good, but how can teachers – without ever having been truly engaged by leisure as an economic unit – truly sell what we are all about?
On the flip side, groups like Pearson – the largest awarding body in the country (and dreaded producer of GCSE exam papers) – discussed how they have engaged other sectors with graduate-level recruitment. Of course we need the best and the brightest on the gym floor, but we need them at head office as well.
