Asset SkillsThe Sector Skills Council for the places in which we live and

work

Julie FreemantleHead of Business Development

AGENDA• Background to Asset Skills

• The Asset Skills UK Academy – current model

• Academy Services

• Benefits for Employers

• Benefits for Learning Providers

• Achievements so far

• Proposed Academy for Parking

• Questions and discussion

ASSET SKILLS• Part of the Alliance of Sector Skills Council - 21 Sector Skills Council

across the UK covering all sectors of industry• UK Wide organisation – offices in England, Scotland, Wales &

Northern Ireland

• Remit to• Engage with employers

• Establish and respond to learning needs

• Ensure standards and qualifications meet sector needs

• Promote existing training and development

• Facilitate access to funding and support

• Encourage greater flexibility in delivery of training provision

ASSET SKILLS SECTORS• Cleaning – office, retail, industrial• Facilities Management – support services (catering, cleaning,

maintenance, security, health and safety)

• Property – estate agency, planning, chartered surveying

• Housing – housing associations, local council, private and public rented housing.

• Parking

ASSET SKILLS and the BPA• Asset Skills and the British Parking Association (BPA) working

closely together over the last three years• Developed a Memorandum of Understanding covering

activities including standards and qualifications development • The BPA is represented on the Asset Skills Board and have

reciprocal arrangements on the Skills and Institute of Parking Professionals Board of the BPA.

ASSET SKILLS UK ACADEMYA one-stop shop for employers wishing to

access training, skills development and support

UK ACADEMY - BACKGROUND• Developed from issues raised from employers in the Business

Services sector• New qualifications developed but lack of providers• AS visited over 50 colleges/providers to find partners

• Virtual Academy for Business Services – launched May 2010• Outside National Skills Academies network - run directly by Asset

Skills • Bring employers and training providers closer together to raise

skills levels• Academy strands in Business Services, Housing, Property,

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

ACADEMY SERVICES• Referral service to specialist network of providers• Delivery of pilot training programmes• Identification of funding opportunities and access to on-line

funding database• Higher Education liaison through HE/employer forum• Provision of assessor recruitment service and forum• Development of student support forum• Preparation and distribution of case studies to promote good

practice and encourage new entrants into profession• Influence national priorities regarding the skills agenda• Support for learning providers

REFERRAL SERVICETwo scenarios:• Incoming enquiries for learning support1. Enquiry received by telephone, email etc2. Response within 3 days providing appropriate training solution3. Regular follow up until completion of learning

• Proactive approach by Asset Skills to recruit candidates to provider members learning programmes

1. Identify learning programmes with providers2. Agree delivery programme, timescales, costs etc3. Asset Skills engagement team recruit employers4. Regular follow up until completion of learning

DELIVERY OF PILOT LEARNING PROGRAMMES

• Agree with providers delivery model for new learning programme – costs, timescales, regions covered, start dates

• Recruit employers to new programme using face to face meetings, canvassing telephone calls, e-shots, newsletters

• Help recruit assessors if required• Approach stakeholders for funding support• Provide assessor/student forums• Arrange PR

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES• Academy website will host funding database• Academy will seek out new areas of funding support• Academy members given advance notice of any funding

opportunities• Asset Skills will give priority to any academy members when

allocating funding secured• Academy will act as a lead body to manage any project

delivery

HIGHER EDUCATION LIAISON• Look to strengthen HE provision through direct liaison with

universities, professional bodies• Identify opportunities to develop graduate work placement

schemes• Academy will promote career pathways at careers fairs and

conferences• Develop a database of work experience placements

ASSESSOR RECRUITMENT• Establish an on-line forum for assessors to encourage sharing

of best practice• Academy will help recruit assessors through• Newsletters• Articles in trade press• Websites• Websites of professional bodies, trade partners, employers• Conferences• New media – Twitter/Linkedin/Facebook etc

STUDENT FORUMS• Developed to help minimise the risk of candidates failing to

complete qualifications• Allow candidates in remote locations to share experiences,

discuss problems under supervision of a moderator• The Forum will be:• Password protected• Moderated• Diary enabled to allow reminders to be sent of deadline of course work etc

INFLUENCE SKILLS AGENDA• Asset Skills work through Academy to raise the profile of all

sectors it represents with relevant government departments• Work to ensure that the UK Academy is granted same status as

National Skills Academies• Work with Government departments to ensure sectors and

employers get recognition for their skills needs and issues

SUPPORT FOR LEARNING PROVIDERS• Academy will develop strong links with learning providers• Each Academy provider will be appointed an account manager

who will:• Undertake a liaison role between employer and provider• Work with providers and employers to identify and deal with any problems that

may arise• Meet on a quarterly basis with each provider to review performance and develop

any new areas of delivery

MEMBERSHIP FEESEMPLOYERS• Annual flat rate membership fee for employers based on

number of employees starting at £50

LEARNING PROVIDERS• Referral Fee per candidates:• £75 for an apprenticeship programme• £50 for an accredited qualification outside apprenticeship programme• 10% of cost of any other programme up to maximum of £50

BENEFITS FOR EMPLOYERS• A one stop service that saves time and money; the Academy will aim to

source the best training for the best price• Advice on the emerging employment and skills needs of the workforce

from a team that understands your business requirements• Development of a bespoke training plan based on your specific

requirements• Identification of funding opportunities as and when they become available• Advance notification of events and training taking place across the network• Access to learndirect eCourses at a discount• Regular e-newsletter with details of academy activities and industry news• Learning delivered in a flexible manner by a quality training provider to suit

your working practice wherever you are based

BENEFITS FOR PROVIDERS• No annual membership fee, you only pay for referrals received• Referral service - we direct learners to you• We promote your courses whilst visiting employers and

through newsletters, press releases and social media• We encourage employers to collaborate to create

economically viable class sizes• Provision of an assessor recruitment service and forum• Dedicated Account Manager from Asset Skills• Being part of the Academy Network will identify you as a

specialist high quality provider of skills training for employers in the sector

BENEFITS FOR PROVIDERS• Provider forum – for sharing good practice and training

materials• Support with provider promotional events• Advance notice of funding opportunities as and when they

become available• Regular e-newsletter with details of academy activities and

industry news• Access to a network of other quality providers delivering

qualifications via the academy• Advice on the emerging employment and skills needs of the

sectors

ACHIEVEMENTS SO FAR• Employer Members – 27 • Provider Members – 22 across the UK• No of employer enquiries received - 401• No of candidates referred to learning providers - 2600• Example types of qualifications referred:• Level 3 Apprenticeship in FM• Level 3 Certificate in Cleaning Supervision• Level 3 NVQ in Housing• Level 3 Apprenticeships in Residential Lettings / Sale of Residential Property• Level 2 Customer Service

PROPOSED ACADEMY FOR PARKING• Same model as other Asset Skills UK Academies• Supported by the BPA• Draft prospectus prepared• Launch at Parkex in April 2012• Use to promote the new Leadership & Management

qualifications

QUESTIONS?