Florence Orban, chief executive officer of the National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure, is to step down from the role at the end of the business year on 30 September.

Orban joined the sector skills council for sport and active leisure, SkillsActive, in June 2005 as business development director, before launching the skills academy in 2008. Since its establishment, the skills academy has provided training to more than 28,000 people - including 5,000 young unemployed people through the Future Jobs Fund.

Orban has also overseen the launch of the activepassport, which aims to provide a confirmed online record of an individual's skills and qualifications and has seen 20,000 sign up. "I am grateful for the opportunity I was given to shape and lead the work of the Skills Academy and enjoyed the challenge of establishing a new organisation, building a new team and testing a new concept," said Orban.

"But I feel that, after more than six years and having established a strong base for the Skills Academy, now is the right time for me to pursue a new direction." SkillsActive chief executive Stephen Studd added: "Under Florence's leadership, the Skills Academy has established a more cohesive approach to training and the sector has come together to leverage this opportunity.

"We wish her well in her future career and we are fully committed to carrying forward the business established under the Skills Academy banner in our new single business structure coming into place from 1 October."