Asset Skills relicensing success

Asset Skills is one of four Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) to have successfully been relicensed, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Lord Mandelson has announced.

Asset Skills, the SSC for the facilities management, housing, property, planning, cleaning and parking industries, received an overall performance rating of ‘good’ in the second tranche of SSC relicensing and a ‘low’ risk band rating. The four will receive their further trademark licences to operate as SSCs following a rigorous assessment on behalf of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) as part of the relicensing process of all 25 SSCs.

Lord Mandelson said: “The four SSCs relicensed have shown that they are of the highest calibre and are providing a good service to employers in their sector. The comprehensive assessment process all SSCs undergo as part of the relicensing process will assist in raising standards even further, and ensure that SSCs have the confidence and support of employers in their sector.”

Richard Beamish, chief executive of Asset Skills, said: “We are delighted to have been successful in our relicensing application. The process has taken more than nine months and has been a comprehensive evaluation of our progress. Businesses in our sector are undergoing huge change. The recession has created additional demand for social housing and for staff with the right skills. And environmental regulations are changing the skills requirements for facilities managers, cleaning operatives and people working in property. We are delighted that our new licence will mean we can continue important work in these areas.”

Sector Skills Councils are important advocates for their industries and the principle way that employers can exert influence on the skills and training system to make sure it is best meeting their needs. For that reason it is important that all SSCs are operating effectively and the relicensing process will ensure that this happens.

Chris Cracknell, chief executive of the OCS Group and chairman of Asset Skills, said: “Employers recognise the crucial work Asset Skills does. We now have a range of new vocational qualifications that did not exist before, developed by employers for employers. This work is essential in helping raise the skills of employees across the sector.”

The relicensing process has included a performance assessment carried out by the National Audit Office (NAO) on behalf of the UKCES.

www.assetskills.org