People 1st, the sector skills council for the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism industry, has received an overall performance rating of ëgoodí following a comprehensive assessment on behalf of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) as part of the relicensing process that all 25 sector skills councils (SSCs) will undertake this year.
Skills Secretary, John Denham, announced the results of the first tranche of relicensing assessments, commenting: ìNow more than ever we need to make sure that all employers are given the support they need to invest in skills and prepare for the upturn. SSCs play a vital role as advocates for their industries and in identifying and tackling strategic skills needs.
ìThe four SSCs relicensed today have shown that they are of the highest calibre and are providing a good service to employers in their sector.î
It is vitally important in this time of economic challenge that all organisations which promote the development and deliver of skills are of the highest calibre. I am delighted that a robust and rigorous assessment process has shown that the first Sector Skills Councils to be assessed are exactly that and are providing a good service to employers in their sector.î
Brian Wisdom, chief executive of People 1st, said: ìWe are delighted to have received independent assessment of the progress we have made in our mission to transform skills in our industry. The relicensing process has taken over six months and we feel it is a very thorough evaluation of our progress. Since our formation in 2004, we have worked hard to put in place meaningful programmes that meet the needs of employers and will make a real difference to developing skills in the sector.
ìIt has been challenging at times but our work on vocational reform, the development of the Professional Cookery Diploma, the formation of our jobs and careers website – www.uksp.co.uk
Brianís comments were endorsed by Brigid Simmonds OBE, chief executive of Business in Sport and Leisure: ìThe gambling sector is benefitting from working with People 1st on qualifications, from National Occupational Standards to NVQs and now a qualification which fits in with the requirements of the regulator, the Gambling Commission, and which works for awarding bodies. The establishment of an expert panel for the sector by People 1st, which I chair, has been invaluable. We are delighted that People 1st has been relicensed and look forward to working with it in the futureî.
Nick Varney, CEO of Merlin Entertainments Group added: ìPeople 1st has demonstrated it has the confidence and support of employers in the sector and the award of their relicence corroborates that. Their strategy has focused on delivering achievable programmes to simplify the qualifications framework and improve take-up and completion of specialist programmes like apprenticeships, as well as develop innovative ways to attract talent to the sector through UKSP and the GreatPlaces2Work campaign.î
UKCES confirmed: ìThe panel was impressed by People 1stís approach to partnership working on the tourism agenda in England and felt the concept behind UK Skills Passport (now known as UKSP) was highly innovative.î
In terms of its future development UKCES highlighted the need for People 1st to continue on the delivery of qualifications reform including implementing systems to ensure effective working with awarding bodies.
The relicensing process focuses on assessing the SSCs against four key themes:
How well run the organisation is
Its ability to deliver core products and services
Its ability to deliver sector-specific solutions to employer demand; and
Its ability to build partnerships
The SSC relicensing assessment comprises a detailed review and report on each SSC by the National Audit Office, on behalf of UKCES, which considers a number of factors including employer testimonies and stakeholder feedback. Recommendations are then made to Ministers in England and the devolved administrations as to whether an individual SSC should receive a further licence.
People 1st rated 'good' in re-licensing assessment
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