SKILLSACTIVE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE SPRING 09
the
Innovation
issue
Eco-friendly holidays
Caravanning turns green at The Caravan Club
Changing landscapes
The new Qualifications and Credit Framework
Sporting innovation
Treloar School: A hotbed for boccia development
ADVERTISEMENT Welcome Spring 09
Editorial
Welcome to the Innovation issue
Activate your of ActiveInsight magazine.
business, Activate When you think of the term innovation, it’s often gizmos and gadgets
that first spring to mind. However, innovation goes far beyond advances
in technology.
your workforce... An innovation is any new idea, method or device and can be big or
small, brand-new or just a bit different. If you look close enough,
you’ll probably find that your business or organisation is innovating
Calling all employers!
every day – improving a product, process or service for our sector.
In this Innovation issue, we examine the new Qualifications and Credit
Framework – a new idea introduced by the government which will
SkillsActive has developed a range make the qualifications landscape across our sector a lot clearer.
of consultancy services to assist We also profile The Caravan Club, which has taken green innovation
to a whole new level.
employers to improve their business.
We hope you enjoy the read.
Our services will support you in your
goals to meet the skills needs of your Lee Rowberry
PR and Communications
workforce and implement high performance
practices to enhance the productivity of
your business. Let us help you improve
the bottom line now and in the future.
Workforce Development
1. Clubmark
Business support
1. Funding Bids
Contents
Staff Profiles 4
2. activepassport™ 2. Strategy Reports
3. Business Coaching 3. Scenario Planning CEO Comment 5
4. Recruitment & Selection 4. Change Management Ask the Expert – Fred Turok 6
5. Skills Audits 5. Return on Investment
Member Profile – Fit For Sport 7
6. Management and Leadership 6. Research
Member Profile – The Caravan Club 8
- High performance Leadership - Consumer Research
- Situational Leadership - Economic Research Innovation Feature – Qualifications and Credit Framework 10
- Active Learning Guest Column – Phil Rumbelow, Jubilee Hall Clubs 12
Guest Column – Sporting Innovation: Treloar School 13
We can help you better understand the needs of your workforce in order to improve Innovation in the outdoors 14
your business performance.
Innovation in playwork 15
There are also services available for training providers Events Calendar 16
For more information please visit www.skillsactive.com/services
Staff profiles CEO Comment Spring 09
Staff profiles Managing innovation
Introducing the Apprenticeships and Careers Team
The future of many businesses depends upon their
ability to innovate. As a top innovator once said, “simply
doing the same as before – only more intensively – is a
losing strategy, there is no where left to hide”.
There is a huge market out there for the services within our sector, For many customers, the quality of customer service determines
but how do we reach it? In just six months, the number of people whether to buy, and particularly whether to remain a customer.
reporting that they never exercise has increased from 11 to 14
per cent. Of those who do exercise, less than a third (29 per cent) And good front-line customer service need not be back or budget
exercise four times a week or more and the percentage of adults breaking; it can simply mean greeting each customer, looking at them
doing the government-recommended 30 minutes of exercise each in the eye and asking them about their day.
session has fallen significantly from 34 per cent to 29 per cent*. That
means our sector is not fully engaging 71 per cent of our population. But customer care is not just about selling. Customers must enjoy
Katie Couchman Krisztina Biliczky Joe Ruddock Stephen Mitchell So we must ask ourselves, are we working innovatively to gain and their experience and there are many facets to this. Technical skills are
retain our customers’ attention? needed amongst staff to ensure activities are appropriate, fun and
Katie joined SkillsActive in 2005 Born and raised in Hungary, Joe is the development officer ‘Mitch’ is SkillsActive’s regional respond to the goals of the customer. Motivation is therefore key to
as a development officer and Krisztina has been with for young people and entry partnership manager for London The active leisure industry is renowned for embracing new technology; retention. Encouraging and supporting people are essential if they are
holds a Sports Science degree SkillsActive as a development to the workforce and started and joined SkillsActive in 2004. we buy state of the art equipment, adopt the latest fitness fads and to see progress.
from Loughborough University. officer for Apprenticeships and at SkillsActive in June 2008. Before moving into this regional build modern facilities to keep our services attractive in the face of
Now as SkillsActive’s entry to Careers since 2007. A qualified His main areas of work are role, Mitch managed all of competition. However, a commitment to innovation doesn’t always In today’s environment, attracting new customers also requires an
the workforce manager, Katie teacher in her home country, the Young Apprenticeship SkillsActive’s Apprenticeship require adopting the latest technology, or vast capital expenditure for innovative approach – and one which, again, relies on the strength of
is responsible for ensuring Krisztina provides technical programme and the Diploma programmes, including the that matter. The most important innovations of all are in our service your staff. Now is a perfect time to assess where new markets may
SkillsActive’s Apprenticeship support to the Apprenticeship in in Sport and Active Leisure Advanced Apprenticeship in standards and the way in which we interact with our customers and lie and how you could grow your next generation of customers. Ask
frameworks meet the Active Leisure and Learning and – ensuring both programmes Sporting Excellence (AASE). build and maintain relationships. yourself, how well does your customer-base reflect the catchment
government’s blueprint, as well the Advanced Apprenticeship are well promoted in the sector. Since the launch of AASE in area of your business? You may have to present and deliver your
as the needs of employers in in Sporting Excellence. Her Joe’s responsibilities also include football in 2004, Mitch has Our sector has a reputation for drawing customers in, but then failing to services differently to attract those that aren’t participating, or take
the Active Leisure and Learning duties include quality control, linking interested employers continued to work directly retain them, and a lot of this can be put down to poor customer service. some steps towards diversifying your workforce in order to diversify
sector. Katie also works certification, and building with existing Apprenticeship with National Governing Think for a moment how you yourself behave as a customer. If you’re a your customer-base.
closely with industry partners partnerships with employers partnerships and ensuring Bodies of sport, associated member of a gym or a tennis club you’d expect to be treated differently
and the SkillsActive research and training providers. She the Young Apprenticeship partners, centres of excellence, to a casual shopper. You’ve demonstrated your long term commitment, Remember, anything is possible and small innovative changes could
team to discover new ways also provides labour market programme is fit for purpose. academies and education so would appreciate something meaningful in return – a relationship. lead to big rewards for your business.
Apprenticeships can benefit the information on the careers In his work on the Diploma, Joe providers to raise awareness
sector and individual learners. available within Active Leisure helps in the development of of the AASE and ensure it is a Staff have a crucial role to play in effective customer care, and
Ensuring there are quality and Learning and provides the the qualification, helps source coherent and effective talent establishing and managing customer service standards and quality
progression routes for young sector with regular updates Diploma Champions and development programme for all begins with the right training. Customer service, is to customers one of
apprentices is also a key area on the development of regularly visits schools to raise young aspiring athletes. the most visible and significant aspects of organisational performance. Chief Executive > The SkillsActive Group
of her work. Apprenticeship frameworks. awareness of the qualification,
which is due to launch in A former front rower and captain
Outside of work Katie is a keen Krisztina is currently studying September 2010. of Loughborough University
runner and netball player and toward a PGCE in adult rugby club, Mitch has also
likes to spend her winter holidays community learning focusing Joe holds a Sport and Exercise played for Oxford Harlequins and
skiing in the French Alps. She on dance and exercise, as well Science degree and an MA in Southend. Mitch loves watching
also has her Level 1 tennis as a Level 3 personal training Sport Culture from Roehampton any sport, is a dedicated golfer
coaching certificate and is a certificate. She is also learning University and, before joining and skier and has an open water “ In today’s environment,
fierce competitor on the tennis
court!
Spanish and regularly attends
jewellery making courses.
SkillsActive, spent four years
as a Playworker for a play
diving certificate. A culinary
wizard in the kitchen, Mitch’s
attracting new customers
Prior to her role at SkillsActive, organisation in Tower Hamlets. long term aspirations include also requires an innovative
Krisztina taught fitness classes He has also worked as a raising chickens and growing
and managed a corporate health grounds man at the Oval cricket vegetables at his new home in approach – and one which,
centre in central London. ground, plays football and Essex. He is marrying Jen later again, relies on the strength
cricket, and has a level 1 football this year.
coaching certificate. of your staff.”
*PruHealth’s bi-annual Vitality Index, MORI, April 2009
Ask the Expert Member Profile Spring 09
> FIT FOR SPORT
Ensuring the nation
is Fit For Sport
Fit For Sport has always provided in-house training for its staff, but
in the past year, has developed its business model to become a centre
of accredited training for activity providers.
The power Our experience and research has shown
“
us that if an activity programme is to be
sustainable it’s vital that the right people
of purple are recruited and trained effectively,”
says Fit For Sport Training Manager,
Jack Shakespeare.
“ The core of our staff work in the field, delivering the activities in the
schools, clubs, and centres and interacting with children. The focus of
Innovation is about much more What improvements/changes have had the greatest impact our training is to ensure the candidates understand the importance of
on your business? engaging children through some of our core values, including enthusiasm,
than generating new ideas. professionalism, trust and – most importantly – fun activities.”
The greatest change with the greatest impact was when we became a
Bringing these ideas to market Private Limited Company. Our business rapidly accelerated from 15 to Jack says delivering a session is a complex task – leaders need to have a
67 clubs, making us the second largest chain of clubs in the UK. session plan, the equipment, and follow strict health and safety guidelines.
requires determination, flexibility,
How do you make it easier for new customers to buy from you?
and a willingness to adapt and to Taking children for an activity session
“
make decisions quickly. So who
Our first commitment is always to our members’ health and wellbeing
and this starts the moment they walk through our doors. We have an Founded in 1991 by Dean may sound simple, but there is a lot
excellent product called Kick Start which ensures our well trained and of organisation and planning involved.
is doing it best? We ask LA Fitness motivated teams engage with our members from the moment they walk Horridge, Fit For Sport has been And when you’ve got 30 children looking
through the door. We work hard on retaining our members by focusing
founder Fred Turok how he turned on service, high standards and matching our commitment to the FIA helping keep our nation fit through at you begging to be entertained, it can
Code of Practice.
his first club in 1990 into an organised activity programmes for feel daunting.”
How do you create fresh value for your members?
87-strong network of gyms with over 17 years. Now the company Fit For Sport was fortunate in that it had a lot of the structures
We go to great lengths to ensure we offer our members value for for becoming a training provider already in place, including quality
world-class facilities. money. We constantly measure what they could spend their hard- is spreading its healthy lifestyle trainers and training space. What it then needed to do was to
earned money on and develop new products and services to ensure develop its courses to meet national occupational standards
that they achieve their personal goals. We constantly monitor our new message even further by offering developed by SkillsActive and find an appropriate awarding body.
How has LA Fitness got to where it is today? and existing members’ feedback and retention rate which, despite the
tough economic times, we are delighted with. specialist training for activity Jack says becoming a centre of accredited training was a positive
The secrets of our 19-year journey from a single site operator into step forward for the business. “Offering training has really opened our
a national network of almost 90 gyms are understanding what the Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently? providers across the country. eyes to a number of opportunities, which is fantastic,” he says. “We’ve
consumer wants, the strength of our rollout model, and a fantastic, been training our own staff for over 10 years, but they’ve never gained
passionate and energetic team. Not from a strategic perspective as LA Fitness has been very a recognised qualification from it. Being an accredited training provider
successful. However, along the way we have lost some really good Offering a range of activities for children and their families – including means we can now offer our staff, as well as a range of external clients,
LA Fitness calls itself an ‘innovative and fun’ brand. How do you people who had LA purple blood in their veins and replacing their curriculum PE, lunch time activities, breakfast and after school clubs more value.
continually work to improve your brand? energy and passion takes time. A complete commitment to a team – Fit For Sport is committed to increasing physical activity levels in
and their personal development is key to any successful company. our community, educating our young people, and building a brighter, “The support we’ve had from SkillsActive for the past 18 months has been
healthier future. Its aim is to make sport and physical activity as enjoyable invaluable. SkillsActive has a fountain of knowledge and really helped us
Innovation is a vital part of our DNA. What advice would you give businesses in this current climate? as possible for children and help ensure their enjoyment and participation create the courses we wanted to offer, as well as form links with higher
continues through to adulthood. education establishments.”
Everyone in the organisation has the power to innovate, whether it’s My advice is simple. Drive your revenue line hard by offering great
a new service, a new way of doing things or in marketing and product value for money and constantly see how you can innovate. The other Head of PE at a London school at the time, Dean established Fit For Fit For Sport now offers two Level 1 and two Level 2 courses.
development. The team has always been hugely important as brand important thing is to keep reviewing your costs and actively seek to Sport after noticing there was huge demand for out-of-school activities Every course it delivers is also bespoke to the candidate’s or partner’s
ambassadors and at every stage of innovation around the brand become more efficient – but without compromising your products for students. He started with two members of staff working in partnership requirements with the qualification embedded.
– from conception right through to delivery. Whenever the economy and services. Finally, and probably most importantly, re-energise your with one school and offering one holiday kids camp. Today, Fit For Sport
gets tough, innovation becomes even more important to the survival teams to maximise the impact they have on the lives of your members, has 40 staff members, runs 38 holiday kids camps across the UK, works For more information on Fit For Sport’s accredited courses, visit
of a brand. customers or clients. The consumer experience is everything. with more than 40 schools and caters for over 32,000 people each year. www.fitforsport.co.uk.
Member Profile Spring 09
> The CaRavan Club
Caravanning turns green Steve Kovacs, head of sites operations for The Caravan Club, says
the ground-breaking site is something the whole community can be
proud of.
The Caravan Club site has also been a huge asset to the local tourism
economy, with many visitors stopping off at Poolsbrook for a night or
two and – having briefly sampled the broad variety of attractions in
the vicinity – now returning for a longer stay. Steve says many have
at The Caravan Club “The Caravan Club has employed recycling and energy saving
techniques for some time, but we wanted Poolsbrook to represent
something entirely new. Our aim was for Poolsbrook to be the greenest
site on our network, so we could assess how renewable energy
features could be applied and optimised elsewhere.”
commented that the site has enlightened their own appreciation for
energy conservation issues.
The Caravan Club, which has been a member of SkillsActive since
2008, spent £1.9m on the acquisition of Poolsbrook, developed on
the site of a former colliery. Eight of the site’s 86 gravelled pitches are
The Caravan Club site at Poolsbrook Country Park in Staveley, Derbyshire, The Caravan Club anticipates saving the equivalent of 50,000 kWh serviced and many offer hard-standing room for both car and tourer.
of energy and more than 500 cu m of water at Poolsbrook each year. At nine by nine metres, they can also accommodate some of the
has applied the principles of innovation and sustainable development to Such information is readily available to visitors via a bespoke flat screen increasingly large motor home models on the market. The site is an
monitor located on site in the reception building. ideal base for fishermen, walkers, cyclists and wildlife enthusiasts.
become the UK’s greenest caravan site.
Officially opened in September last year, The Caravan Club site has Light falling on the PV panels also generates electricity, boosted by the “The objective of trialling the various features in situ are to see how we “ The Caravan Club has employed
top-class amenities – including a state of the art toilet block and baby
toddler washroom – but its point of difference lies in its enduring
installation of a wind turbine capable of providing 2.6kW of energy on
a windy day and low energy light bulbs are also fitted throughout the
can adapt them and improve on their effectiveness for incorporation
into future developments or retro-fitting similar features to other
recycling and energy saving techniques
commitment to the environment. A number of renewable energy, energy site. The site’s most impressive feature is its geothermal heat recovery locations in our 200-strong sites network,” Steve says. “It is this aspect for some time, but we wanted
saving and recycling technologies have been built into the very fabric of system, which uses a small pipe buried underground. For every that we are particularly excited about and where Poolsbrook has the
the five acre, 86-pitch site – integrating seamlessly with its idyllic, rural kilowatt of electricity used to power the pump, around 4kW of energy is potential to ultimately benefit the entire network. Poolsbrook to represent something
surroundings. provided. entirely new. Our aim was to be the
“We appreciate that green energy isn’t a panacea in isolation; it has to
To heat water in its showers and washbasins, the site uses solar heating The site also uses around 1100 metres of pipe to gather enough be incorporated with energy conservation measures, not only in the greenest site on our network, so we
panels and photo-voltaic (PV) panels on the roofs of the reception office
and toilet block. The grey water discharged is then recycled and used
warmth to provide under floor heating in the toilet block during the
daytime. At night, the energy is diverted to help boost hot water storage
design and construction of the built environment, but also in developing
an understanding of how visitors use water and energy whilst enjoying
could assess how renewable energy
for toilet flushing. and a further 500 metres of pipe work provides a similar facility for the the facilities we provide.” features could be applied elsewhere.”
reception office.
10 Qualifications and Credit Framework Spring 09 11
Qualification innovation
Novel solutions: “ The QCF is a great example of how
The Qualifications the government and SkillsActive are
working innovatively to provide a more
comprehensible qualifications system
and Credit Framework for employers and individual learners,”
Vida says.
“It’s a challenging, but exciting time for SkillsActive. The QCF has
After two years of tests and trials, the new Qualifications and Credit presented a fantastic opportunity to look at what qualifications and
training are available in our sector and really hone that down and ensure
Framework (QCF) is now in a stage of controlled implementation – running what is on offer is fit for purpose.”
alongside the NQF until the end of 2010. From the end of 2010 onwards,
all accredited vocational qualifications will sit on the QCF. For employers, the QCF will:
> Help them to quickly understand the level and size of
achievements of prospective employees;
A clearer landscape The Active Leisure and Learning sector
> Describe levels of achievement in terms everyone can
The QCF was developed with the intention of making the entire The QCF features in SkillsActive’s Sector Qualifications Strategy (SQS) understand;
qualifications landscape easier to understand, more transparent and by helping define what it means to be qualified to work in the Active > Make training options and pathways clear, helping employers
more flexible. The QCF will reduce the huge number of qualifications Leisure and Learning sector. SkillsActive is currently working with employers across its five sub find the right training for their business needs and for their
currently on offer within the Active Leisure and Learning sector to a sectors, as well as specialist advisors and awarding bodies, to ensure employees’ learning needs.
more manageable and understandable selection which meets the Like the SQS – which spans all five of SkillsActive’s sub sectors and the new qualifications being developed for the QCF contain appropriate
needs of current employees, employers and anyone wanting a career focuses on qualification reform, funding reform and delivery reform content that meets employers’ needs. A variety of workshops and
in the industry. – the QCF will rationalise the qualifications on offer across sport and training events will be held throughout 2009 to provide employers with
recreation, health and fitness, the outdoors, playwork and caravan the information and support they need to make the transition from the
On the QCF, qualifications are assigned a level, as well as a credit value. industries. NQF to the QCF as smooth as possible.
The credit value illustrates how long a qualification takes. For example,
as one credit equates to 10 hours of learning, a qualification worth three There are more than 900 qualifications currently available within the QCF and Employers
credits will involve 30 hours of learning. The level of the qualification leisure industry – some of which have the same or similar title, but can
(Entry level to level 8) demonstrates its degree of difficulty. vary in content, level and size. The QCF will help reduce this number SkillsActive senior programme manager for qualifications and credit,
significantly by ensuring there is no duplication of qualifications, Vida Stewart, says the QCF will bring clarity for employers in the Active
Credits can be seen as the building blocks of the QCF, as they can qualifications of the same title awarded by different awarding bodies Leisure and Learning sector and make the recruitment process more
be collected and banked. By completing ‘bite sized chunks’ of learning contain exactly the same content, and that level and credit values are clear-cut.
at their own pace and along flexible routes, learners can then build consistent. The qualifications on the QCF identified as needed by the
up their qualifications over time and part of one qualification could sector and approved by SkillsActive will also be prioritised for funding
potentially be used as credit towards another qualification. where appropriate. “ With the QCF, employers will become
There are three types of qualifications on the QCF – Awards,
familiar with the range of qualifications
Certificates and Diplomas. An Award equates to one to 12 credits available in their particular industry
(i.e., up to 120 hours of learning); a Certificate 13 to 36 credits;
and a Diploma is restricted to any qualification of 37 credits or and will be able to clearly identify
more. Currently on the NQF, anything can be called a Diploma, the content, level and size of any
which does not illustrate how long the holder of it studied.
qualification. So with regards to
recruitment, employers will be able
to instantly recognise the value of
a qualification held by a particular
candidate, and as a result, will be able
to judge who may be better qualified
for a particular job role.”
In terms of up skilling and Continued Professional Development,
employers will also be able to identify what additional bite sized chunks
of learning are available within the QCF and could be offered to these
employees once they’re recruited.
“This is particularly attractive for many people working in our sector,
such as those who work part-time or in a voluntary capacity or are
looking to use their skills and knowledge in a different field,” says Vida.
12 Guest Column Guest Column Spring 09 1
The innovation game Sporting innovation:
Phil Rumbelow argues that a recession is Treloar School
the perfect time to think creatively and invest
in your people. Treloar School in Hampshire is ahead of the game when it comes to
industry involvement, having developed a strong relationship with a design
By Phil Rumbelow, chief executive, Jubilee Hall Clubs
charity enabling pupils to get involved with the design and development
of new sports equipment.
or freezes on wages and training. But it doesn’t need to be like that. Treloar School caters for pupils with a wide range of disabilities, many This year, Treloar was rewarded for its commitment to innovation
Retaining our best people is critical, not only to our survival today, but of whom are wheelchair users. For several years, Sandra King, head when it won the 2008 Special School Innovation Award, sponsored
to ensure that we are best placed when the crisis passes tomorrow. of PE at the school, has worked in bringing together the ideas and by SkillsActive’s Diploma in Sport and Active Leisure. SkillsActive
We try to offer our employees a range of valuable benefits and have enthusiasm of her pupils with the design and development expertise senior programme manager, young people and entry to the workforce,
actually added to these in recent months. These include additional of Demand – a charity organisation that works on the design and Sue Hook, says: “The engagement between Treloar and Demand
holiday for every year of service, free health screening and staff loans. manufacture of equipment for people with all types of disability. illustrates the many exciting opportunities for both sides that come
All employees also get a free gym membership and, on payment of from such collaboration. Opportunities like these are at the heart of
just £12 per month, they can upgrade this to include gym, swim and “When they arrive at the school, many of the pupils have already the Diploma, giving pupils access to the world of work, providing
classes at all 114 centres in the UK Fitness Network (UKFN) – a unique dismissed the idea that they will participate in PE lessons, let alone hands-on input into real-life projects and seeing the results of their
partnership between the UK’s not-for-profit organisations. Maybe take up any sport competitively,” Sandra says. “However, their work out in the marketplace.”
we also need to think creatively about flexible working or sponsored attitudes soon change.”
sabbaticals rather than enforced redundancies?
Like many powered wheelchair users, Jonah Wright, who arrived
It is tempting to cut the training budget – always a ‘soft’ target – but at Treloar at age 10, thought he couldn’t do PE because he was
there are plenty of ways of getting training for free. In the last 12 disabled.
months, Jubilee Hall Clubs has benefited from Government-funded
NVQs, as well as part-funded ICT training and leadership bursaries. “The first time he came to a PE lesson, I knew the look on his face
In a recession, business leaders face a strategic choice – batten down If you are buying new equipment, gym kit suppliers often have a finite said ‘What am I doing here? Can’t you see I’m disabled?’,” Sandra
the hatches, slash costs and hope that you will still be there when the amount of discount they can apply, but some spare cash in their says. “So I got out a boccia ramp and showed Jonah how to line
storm passes, or use the downturn to re-engineer the business and marketing budgets which can be used for staff training. We have just up the ramp and release the ball. Jonah has since gone to college
improve your market share. It takes some courage to do the latter, but re-equipped our Covent Garden gym with Nautilus strength equipment and excelled at boccia, including last year winning the DSE senior
a number of studies have shown that the businesses which do so are and the deal included several thousand pounds worth of accredited championship.”
much better placed to take advantage of the upturn when it comes. training for our fitness staff and personal trainers. The expertise you
possess in-house should not be underestimated either. We run training Since gaining Paralympic status in 1992, boccia has become a fast-
Part of your business re-engineering must include innovating, but the courses in finance, HR and First Aid, using the skills we already possess growing and competitive sport. Treloar is now a hotbed for boccia
best kind of innovation in these conditions is not radical change, but within the organisation. These training sessions have the added benefit development, and at the last Paralympics in Beijing, half the British
‘little and often’. This means incrementally adapting your business to of helping to develop the skills of the trainers, as well as adding variety team of four were Treloar alumni. It is this commitment to boccia that
better meet the needs of your customers. This is all very broad and and interest to their job roles. has enabled the school to become so involved with Demand and the
theoretical, but what does it mean in practice? design and development of equipment.
Well, as an example, my organisation is currently investing in some new “ Most critical of all is communication. Demand works by identifying where standard equipment does not
fitness floor software called Connect to help improve the interactions
between the gym team and the customers. In particular, it will help them to
This is always important, but never more adequately solve a particular problem, and by working together with
the client, developing a personal solution.
identify and focus on the members they don’t know – the irregular attendees so than when times are tough.”
who keep to themselves – rather than the chatty regulars who we all know In the summer of 2005, Sandra brought together players, assistants,
and love. This improved and more personalised service will help us to Your staff needs to know how you are doing. Even if things are not engineers and Demand to look at a ramp that would be an
differentiate our business from the low-service ‘budget’ gyms which have going well, it is better to have a culture of openness and honesty. improvement on what was currently available, in terms of stability,
such a great marketing proposition in a price-conscious climate. Sometimes your employees might have more (and better) ideas about weight and accuracy. Prior to this development work, all boccia
how to save money than you do. And finally, reward achievements and players in England were using ramps made of either plastic guttering
But great service can only be delivered by great people, and they will celebrate success. Our annual ‘Staff Oscars’ evening may not be quite or wood. These largely relied on an assistant to hold them steady
always be our main source of sustainable competitive advantage. But, so lavish this year, but it will definitely still go ahead and might even be in a certain position while the player released the ball, often with
with a ‘recession’ mindset, it is all too easy to think about staff cuts more fun. inadvertent assistant error affecting the path of the ball and therefore
reducing the effectiveness of the players’ judgment.
Each year since 2005, pupils from Treloar School have been closely
Phil Rumbelow is the chief executive of Jubilee Hall Clubs and involved with the development of the new equipment, with the
chair of the UK Fitness Network. Jubilee Hall Clubs is a London- students trialling and reporting back on new designs.
based charity which promotes healthier communities through
the management of four health, fitness and sports clubs and via Paul Malloy, senior designer for Demand comments: “The feedback
targeted outreach programmes. the design team receives from the students at Treloar is invaluable in
designing an efficient ramp that meets the needs of a player. Through
Visit www.jubileehallclubs.co.uk or www.ukfitnessnetwork.org this close co-operation and feedback, Demand has been able to meet
a need for equipment in the fast-growing sport that is boccia.”
1 Innovation in the outdoors Innovation in playwork Spring 09 1
Exploring innovation Play Shaper: Creating
in the outdoors child-friendly communities
By Peter Thompson, SkillsActive
Through its children’s plan and first ever national play strategy, the
A quick web search offers a number of government wants to see communities giving greater consideration
suggestions for a definition of innovation. to children’s needs and interests. Play England’s Ken Ryan explains
‘The successful exploitation of new ideas’ how an innovative new training programme, Play Shaper, aims to
seems to be a common thread amongst make communities more child-friendly.
many of the web references found. Also,
The play strategy, published last December, outlines the activities The long-term aim is to embed Play Shaper into local authority training
innovation is about seeking to make a that government will undertake to ensure that its vision for children’s programmes for those who have a role in designing, building and
play becomes a reality by 2020. This includes £235 million capital managing public spaces. These people are often our neighbourhood
positive change. So, with these investment in developing play spaces and adventure playgrounds. place-makers and gatekeepers and together with those who have a
Part of this vision is for children to have a clear stake in public direct input into the daily supervision of our public spaces, such as
explanations in mind, how best space and that their play is accepted by neighbours. To help meet the police and parks staff, have a crucial role in helping to shape child-
its vision the government has invested £2.8 million in a new training friendly public space. Crucially, Play Shaper acknowledges that all
can innovation be depicted in programme, Play Shaper. public spaces in the neighbourhood should be available to children
and not just the parks and play spaces where professionals who design,
the outdoors sector? Play Shaper is designed to bring together all those with a professional manage and oversee our neighbourhoods usually expect to find children.
interest in community design, planning, and management and is being
delivered in partnership between Play England, SkillsActive and Playwork Fiona Thompson, senior play and early years officer in the East
Historically, innovation has always been an inherent aspect of the Partnerships. Play Shaper is currently being piloted in 10 local authorities Riding, Yorkshire and The Humber, has been involved in Play Shaper
outdoors – part and parcel with adventure and challenge. In its rawest in England and will be rolled out across the country from September. as one of the pilot local authorities. Fiona believes that Play Shaper’s
form, this is demonstrated through the non-stop development of new The aim is to deliver the programme to every local authority in England strength lies in its focus on the needs of children, particularly the
outdoor activities. by 2011, with each local authority area having 20 delegates trained to nature and importance of play, the characteristics of good play space,
understand the importance of play and their role in supporting it. and good practice in delivering it.
So what are the current innovations in outdoor workforce development? For those working in expeditions, this is new and uncharted territory,
Looking at one outdoor sub-sector, it is exciting to report that a brand and we congratulate the expedition sub-sector for its courage and Fiona says: “In the East Riding our first Play Shaper training
new and inaugural suite of national occupational standards (NOS) open-mindedness in taking this trailblazing path. To our delight, there is day was attended by colleagues from professions as diverse as
beckons for successful exploitation. Until now, expedition leaders have now sector agreement on what skills, knowledge, understanding and development control, the wildlife trust and urban renaissance. The
had little in the way of independent and external points of reference on behaviours are needed to lead or manage an expedition, expressed in innovative day provided a kick-start to the long-term, embedded
how to do the job. Recognising this, sub-sector experts joined forces clear statements which define the outcomes of competent performance. change that we are hoping to achieve, with children’s play needs
with SkillsActive to develop a set of NOS for expedition leadership and being considered at every stage of all types of project planning.
management. Now the key challenge for expedition organisations is to positively utilise The newly recruited ‘Play Shapers’ left the session talking about
these NOS to the benefit of the sector and its workforce. NOS’s real various ways they could influence ‘changing the world’ of children’s
worth are as the foundations for more useable tools and products. So play – an ambitious aim, but Play Shaper has provided a great first
what might be forthcoming? Perhaps a nationally (or internationally) step towards this.”
recognised vocational qualification for overland expedition leaders
could be on the horizon? Perhaps organisations might benchmark
– and even enhance – their existing leader training on the occupational
standards. This could help them gain some form of external recognition
and endorsement to prove to potential customers and participants of
their quality staff. The new idea has been planted; for the innovation
to occur, it now needs to be explored. Already we are receiving clear
messages from employers and their associations of a genuine interest
and commitment to move forward.
Our sector is in constant motion. Innovation is a driver that ensures
the status quo does not remain so. For the outdoors to claim to be
innovative, creativity and openness, coupled with a desire to exploit must
be at the fore. The outdoors has long been associated with the spirit of
adventure, so ever onwards.
Play Shaper is targeted at managers and professionals that work in,
For more information on these and other interesting developments in or with local authorities; including planners, highways and transport,
the outdoors sector, please contact Peter Thompson, UK outdoors public health, regeneration and housing, schools and children’s
development manager: peter.thompson@skillsactive.com or Kevyn services; parks, the police and leisure and community engagement.
Burns, UK outdoors development officer: To find out more about Play Shaper call 020 7833 6838 or email
kevyn.burns@skillsactive.com. playshaper@ncb.org.uk
Events Calendar
–
May August 200
evenT DaTe venue
SkillsActive Scotland Conference: Reaching Higher Edinburgh Indoor Climbing Arena,
1 June
– A well trained workforce Edinburgh
Reach for the Stars: A seminar focussing on the establishment
3 June SkillsActive auditorium, London
of benchmark qualifications for the play workforce
Brokering skills solutions together: A Seminar for the sport and
25 June University of Ulster, Jordanstown
fitness sectors
REPs Scottish Convention: Professionalising the Fitness Industry Edinburgh International Climbing Arena,
26 June
in Scotland Edinburgh
Apprenticeship Awards 16 July Old Billingsgate, London
For updates on SkillsActive and sector related events, please visit the
events page on our website www.skillsactive.com/resources/events
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The Sector Skills Council for Active Leisure and Learning
Skillsactive E: skills@skillsactive.com Wales Office: 029 207 44526
Castlewood House W: www.skillsactive.com Scotland Office: 0131 226 6618
77-91 New Oxford Street T: 020 7632 2000 Northern Ireland Office: 028 9756 0002
London WC1A 1PX F: 020 7632 2001