Active leisure and learning sector, SkillsActive, has received its full licence from Secretary of State for Education, Charles Clarke.

SkillsActive is the fourth Sector Skills Council (SSC) to receive a full operating licence. It is expected the remaining 19 SSCs will be on stream by mid-2004. The 23 SSCs collectively form the Skills for Business Network (SfB), which has been established to assist and encourage employers to improve the skill levels of their employees with the ultimate goal of increasing productivity and performance.

The sectors that SkillsActive represents employ around 2.38 million people who work in more than 230,000 organisations, from sports centres to playgroups.

The councils also provide a crucial part of the government’s education strategy, as outlined in its June 2002 White Paper.

Charles Clarke said: “As an important contributor to the UK economy, we want to ensure those employed in the field are the best they can be. To achieve this, SkillsActive will work with employers so their needs are met by improving the quality of training that can be accessed and encouraging businesses to be involved in the development of courses.”

CEO of SkillsActive, Stephen Studd, added: “SkillsActive seeks to develop a competent and qualified workforce which is essential in an industry where issues such as health and safety, child protection and customer service are vital. We’ll help employers improve motivation and the development of strong technical skills which are essential for people such as coaches, instructors and those working with children.” Details: www.skillsactive.com