Test
EU Skills need your input in to Waste and Recycling Employer Forum Wales Survey (17.01.12)
Energy & Utlity Skills (EU Skills) host The Waste And Recycling Employer Forum in Wales, keen to find out what training employers in the sector are offering their employers.
The Forum is aware that the HSE already provide guidelines for the industry, but that many organisations approach this in different ways. Therefore, the range and scope of training being offered to employees (other than formal qualifications) can vary considerably. As a result, we are keen to explore what training takes place and whether there is scope to develop a best practice model in Wales.
By adding this information to the workforce planning exercise already being carried out by Energy & Utility Skills, the Forum hopes to get a comprehensive assessment of the training practices of the waste and recycling sector in Wales which can be used to make the skills system in Wales a more streamlined and efficient process for employers such as yourself.
The survey will only take 5 minutes to complete and we guarantee that your responses will be treated in the strictest of confidence. All data will be aggregated to ensure that no one organisation can be identified when the outputs are presented to the Forum. If you are not the most appropriate person within your organisation to complete this survey then please feel free to pass it on to a colleague.
The findings of this survey will be considered at the forum’s next meeting at the end of January 2012.
If you are not already a member of the Forum and would like to join us to discuss this and other issues affecting the waste and recycling sector in Wales, or would like more information about Energy & Utility Skills (and its services such as Workforce Planning Model and Talent Bank) please do not hesitate to contact me.
To complete the survey, please CLICK HERE and you will be directed to it.
Calvin Davies, MD of Cylch Quality Learning Ltd appeals to all Cylch members to complete the five minute survey:
“Skills Capacity building and workforce development within the Resource Recovery industry through sector specific training and qualification delivery is identified as priority within the “Skills that Work for Wales” and the “Towards Zero Waste” strategies produced by the Welsh Government. It is needed to support:
- Increased recycling targets.
- Attract new entrants and create more green jobs.
- Improve health and safety performance
- Tackle issues associated with an ageing workforce
The Resource Recovery industry is evolving quickly in response to the green/carbon agendas and as such, its reliance on technology and mechanisation is increasing. New technologies and the automated processes now used to treat waste and recyclate require the industry to examine the whole skills agenda.
As well as up-skilling the existing workforce, the industry needs to increase its attractiveness and to show that the industry is an attractive career choice.
Skilled operators and technical experts are and will be in short supply, and this is further compounded by the continued expansion and growth of the sector.
It is not the case that such capacity development is an essential requirement within the third sector alone, but across all sectors within Resource Recovery industry.
The need to up-skill is paramount within public, private and community sectors, and considered a “key priority” to support the enhancement of the industry’s current practices and operational efficiency as well as supporting future expansion and growth projections."
Investing in employee skills, creating progression pathways, developing people’s capabilities, knowledge and understanding, will ensure that employees from all parts of the Resource Recovery industry will have the necessary skills to introduce and maintain sustainable practices for the benefit and safety of the wider environment and economy.
The New Apprenticeship Scheme in Sustainable Resource Management is one solution to the issues of how to attract new people into the resource recovery Industry, deal with the known replacement problems associated with an ageing workforce, whilst also developing and enhancing the competence and skills of existing employees.
In August 2011 the Welsh Government announced plans to expand the Apprenticeship, Traineeship and Steps to Employment programmes and further invest in workforce skills. It is vitally important that third sector recycling and reuse employers take the opportunity to engage with the Sector Skills Council (EU Skills), Welsh Government and Cylch to understand how Apprenticeship schemes can support their organisations current and future workforce development needs.
Only by actively engaging and demonstrating the sector needs and actual skills capacity demands will our sector ensure that the Welsh Resource Recovery industry has access to the financial support - that it needs to develop, maintain and enhance our activities".