National Skills Academy update from Perry Glading – managing director, Port of Tilbury, board member, SfL
I am pleased to have SfL Board responsibility for the National Skills Academy Logistics business plan. The National Skills Academy Logistics team has a challenging task over the next eight months to provide a robust employer-centred business plan, building on the preparatory work undertaken over the past two years within the English regions. I see the academy providing a catalyst for employers to develop practical solutions to address key skills needs that are unique to the logistics sector. The academy will provide trainers with the opportunity to become more demand-led as they access new products, support and commercial opportunities.
Business planning
Now that the bid for the development of the National Skills Academy Logistics has been approved, we are moving into the business planning stage. Our challenge is to deliver a sustainable business plan which will enable us to go live by April 2011. The development of the National Skills Academy Logistics has been made possible by the support and commitment of some key employers and stakeholders in the logistics sector, who share our vision of having an academy led by employers for employers, making the National Skills Academy Logistics one of the truly employer-led National Skills Academies.
Academy goals
The academy project has three main goals
1. To manage the transition from six regional logistics skills academies working independently into one nationally-managed network covering the whole of England.
2. To get employer financial commitment in place to ensure that we win match funding to 2014.
3. To develop a business plan to make the National Skills Academy Logistics fully sustainable by 2014.
The National Skills Academy Logistics project board is keen to engage with hub consortiums and regional employer boards to ensure that we have a smooth transition from the logistics academy network to the National Skills Academy Logistics. To achieve these goals we have put together an employer-led project board and recruited a project/implementation team made up of new appointments and secondees from both Skills for Logistics itself and industry partners. As well as producing the business plan the team, will work on policies and processes that will contribute to a smooth implementation. These policies will include a hub and spoke licensing agreement, a referrals policy, a robust quality assurance process and a members’ handbook.
Provider network
The National Skills Academy Logistics network of quality-assured training providers will operate under licence to deliver high quality training solutions on behalf of the National Skills Academy Logistics, supported by regional and national employer boards.
However, we need to stress that the National Skills Academy Logistics will not just be the existing logistics academy network rebranded as National Skills Academy Logistics, but an innovative, single point of contact for the logistics industry.
The future
Between now and the end of January 2011 the board and the team will organise a series of provider and employer events and meetings to raise awareness. To generate more support and interest for the National Skills Academy Logistics, we shall be working on our product offer, and a sponsorship and membership package for employers.
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We would like to hear from you. If you would like to become involved in the National Skills Academy Logistics, or would like to find out more about our products and services, please contact us by email via rachel.taylor@skillsforlogistics.org, or call us on 0844 8920557
