The SkillsActive Group achieved a significant milestone this month when we officially launched the National Skills Academy (NSA) at Lords. So where did the NSA come from and why is it so important?

Two years ago, when we devised our Sector Skills Agreement, SkillsActive undertook a consultation process which involved more than 4500 employers across the active leisure and learning sector. Through this engagement, we were able to gain an in depth understanding of employers’ skills needs and their priorities for the future. The consultation painted a very positive picture of growth in the industry, but it also highlighted a range of gaps. It showed how fragmented the industry was and how disparate our employers were. It drew attention to a range of networks, but also exposed a lack of connection.

To deliver the vision of an active, sporting nation, our industry needed more people working in the sector, who were better skilled, and better qualified. We needed to improve the quality and range of our services. We couldn’t rely on what we had done before; we had to present our services in a new way and we had to make them work for us. We had to find an answer to a question that, quite possibly, is the question people calling SkillsActive ask most – what does the industry offer in the way of career opportunities and how do you access them?

The answer to that question – and to the key concerns raised by employers – is the National Skills Academy. The NSA is part of the SkillsActive family and, like SkillsActive, is a charity. For me, the NSA completes the circle. It will link the industry – creating an opportunity for individuals, employers, training providers and Government to buy in to what the industry has created in terms of frameworks, qualifications and standards. It is a much-needed resource which will provide individuals and employers access to information on quality training providers who will meet their training needs and it will improve recruitment and retention. It will allow individuals to invest in their futures, and for employers to invest in their staff. Put simply, it will help the industry fly.

The NSA will also professionalise the sector. In today’s environment, it doesn’t matter whether you are a volunteer or a paid professional, you need a qualification and to be able to demonstrate to the public and your employer that you are fully competent. If sport and leisure is going to connect with the health sector and work with the Department of Health in addressing physical activity levels, we have to show we are a professional industry that can up skill our work force and retain it. There is a huge opportunity for the health services to utilise our sector for referrals and we must be confident that we are equipped to fulfil this role. This is dependent on having the right training opportunities and qualifications that are relevant to employment and also concise information on career development. The NSA is truly a solution to this.

The NSA has both a physical presence in regional hubs, and a virtual one online and SkillsActive will work alongside the NSA to ensure its offer to the industry is underpinned by up to date research and technical developments as well as employer demand. It really does mark the dawn of a new era and an exciting future for the industry and we invite you all to join the ride.