National guidance on paying apprentices currently states that they should receive at least £95 per week for working in a full time position. TSP can work with you to establish if you are eligible to receive help to recruit a young person to work with you and undertake a qualification while they work.

Contact us via this website for more information on how we can support your business

The Skills Partnership (TSP), a government funded training provider, has awarded three of it’s prestigious ‘Progression Awards’ for exceptional achievement in the leisure, healthcare  and creative industries. Mike Bourke, Chief Executive Officer of TSP, was delighted to host three separate awards ceromonies across England  to congratulate the successful candidates and to play a part in the general election buildup by asking a selection of parliamentary candidates to present the awards.

At the Holiday Inn in Southampton TSP welcomed Alan Whitehead, the incumbent MP and Labour parliamentary candidate, to join employers, Intercontinental Hotel Group, and successful employee Claire Barrowclough.

In Milton Keynes the award presenter was incumbent Conservative MP and parliamentary candidate Mark Lancaster who applauded the successful employee Rebecca Cox and employer The Energie Group.

The third TSP ‘Progression Award’ was presented by Labour parliamentary candidate Shabana Mahmood in Birmingham to Neena Patel at the Media Kube workshops who have been her proud employers for the past year.

All three parliamentary candidates were generous to take time out of their arduous campaign activities to applaud the award winners and to speak about their own party’s commitments to funded education and training.

The award winners have worked diligently through their apprenticeship training and qualifications with The Skills Partnership and have been nominated by their tutors as the most deserving of over 2,000 learners nationally to receive this award. Their total focus and dedication to training has, in all three cases, extended into the workplace with their employers therefore fulfilling the objective of government funded vocational training, qualifications and apprenticeships.

‘It has been a privilege to watch Becky  blossom into a highly regarded leisure professional and a valued member of the Energie team at our health club in Swindon. In addition to her own work she sets an example to other apprentices by acting  as their inspirational mentor.’  (Jan Spaticcia, CEO of Energie)

‘Neena had no background or experience in the creative media and music industry and, through her training with TSP, has excelled as an employee with skills that she would have never dreamt of acquiring before she embarked on this course’. Chris Williamson, CEO The Media Kube.

‘I am entirely supportive of ‘on the job’ training and Claire has been a superb example of how successful the relationship between a training provider and employer can be.’ Ross Cowie, Training and Development Manager, Spirit Health Clubs.

All three employers have a long and productive history of working with TSP and government  funded projects and the partnerships have resulted in raising the aspirations of young people all over the country many of whom previously had thought a career in the leisure, healthcare and creative industries to be out of their grasp.

‘Our mission at TSP is to unlock potential and raise the aspirations of young people and our three award winners are a superb example of this. As a government funded training provider we are focused on achievement of excellence and our Progression Awards are highly coveted by learners and employers alike. Congratulations Becky, Claire and Neena  on your well deserved achievement!’ (Mike Bourke, Chief Executive, The Skills Partnership.)

For further information please contact;

Andree Deane, The Skills Partnership

Tel: 07944650487 email andree@addeane.co.uk

TSP was able to arrange for a Golden Handshake worth £2,500, provided by the National Apprenticeship Service, to be assigned to a number of small and medium sized employers during March for each Apprentice that was started on a programme.

Identifying incentive schemes and other funding opportunities is part of value added employer support service that The Skills Partnership provides to its employer partners. Contact us via the website today to find out how TSP could be helping your business.

There are a number of vacancies available currently including Apprenticeships with Spirit Healthclubs (Nationally)and Media Kube Productions (Birmingham).

TSP is also offering 6 month work placements for people who have been unemployed for 6 months or more in the West Midlands region. These placements include: Physical Activity Assistants  for a company called Sportwise and Production Assistants for a company called Media Kube Productions. You can enquire about these opportunities by contacting us via our contact page or by contacting your local Jobcentre.

The jobs will be created in Birmingham, and the eight round of winning Future Jobs Fund (FJF) bidders, will create over 6,000 new jobs nationally, and means 117,000 new jobs have been funded so far.

 Media Kube, is a creative media company based in Highgate who help young people aged 16-24 who want to work in the creative industries. With The Skills Partnership they set up and run media / music creative apprenticeships to give people experience and training.  The Future Jobs Fund will be used to set up and run a local community internet/ digital radio station, Kube Radio.  The station which will be launching at the end of April is aimed at young people and will reflect the culturally diverse music scene of Birmingham.

Chris Williamson CEO of Media-Kube said:

“The launch of Kube Radio is a fantastic opportunity for young people to gain experience in digital media.  Not only will it offer job opportunities for young people but it will also benefit the wider community.  We are really excited about getting this project off the ground.”

The next group induction dates are: April 15th, June 17th and July 15th, 2010 taking place at a central London venue.

In addition to these dates The Skills Partnership is also able offer other flexible arrangements for induction, including individual sessions at your place of work.

If you are interested in joining a course, please submit your interest via the website  today or call 0118 902 6955 and ask to speak to Jennifer Dirkin and you will be provided with information about how to join!

Stuart Urquhart was working as a lifeguard when he commenced his level 2 apprenticeship in operational services. Stuart put a lot of time into his studies and quite often asked his General Manager for advice-he was always eager to learn as much as possible about various aspects of the centre management process. About six months into his qualification, Stuart was promoted to Duty Manager and very quickly progressed onto the Leisure Management Level 3 which he completed easily within the time frame. Stuart has recently been promoted once again to Acting Operations Manager at DC Leisure in  Farnham.

When he began his qualification with us, he was working as a full time Sales and Marketing employee at Sheffield’s Fitness First.

This was a job he admitted that he “could not wait to leave” and was so keen to do the NVQ and Gym Instructor qualification that he did the VRQ course literally within days of beginning the course at Chesterfield Fitness First.

Sam Connor started on the level 2 apprenticeship in operational services having just gained promotion to Duty Manager at the Porchester Centre in London.  Being his first management position Sam decided to work through the  level 2 to gain experience of the NVQ programme, whilst  taking his MTC and key skills at the higher level so he would progress to the Leisure Management NVQ level 3 with only the NVQ to complete. Sam has almost completed his Leisure Management NVQ and was promoted to Operations Manager at Canon’s Chelsea club in April 09. Sam said that the NVQ programme has helped him to focus his mind on his career goals which has assisted his promotion and feels that he has far more knowledge and understanding than before.

Dan Fisher began his NVQ training with TSP by completing the level 2 NVQ in Fitness Instructing.  Based at Cannons in Telford, he was already working in the gym and was able to gain the hands on experience that he needed to complete his training.  After flying through his level 2, Dan developed a flair for fitness instructing which he decided to pursue and take further, progressing onto the level 3 award in Instructing Physical Activity.   Dan says “…in the time I have been doing this course I have gained a huge amount of knowledge and thoroughly enjoyed every minute!”