The Future Workforce Academy, launched by Tees Active, was named as the winner of the Employment and Skills category at the inaugural Seriously Social Awards staged by Community Leisure UK.
The award was presented in Manchester by Sally Gunnell OBE, the first female 400 metres hurdler to win the Olympic and World titles as well as break the world record.
Tees Active, a charitable trust delivering leisure activities in partnership with Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, launched the academy at the start of the year to tackle national recruitment challenges in the sector.
And the initiative has proved to be a major success, with about 30 new recruits so far joining Tees Active, enabling more than 800 additional children to take part in the Learn To Swim programme.
Darren Humphrey, Tees Active’s Area Operations Manager, said: “The award is fantastic recognition of the hard work invested by the team in turning the Future Workforce Academy from an idea into something that is making a huge difference.
“It was an honour to receive the award from a legend like Sally Gunnell but what matters most is the pioneering way we have benefited not just Tees Active but the sector as a whole.”
Tees Active fought off competition from Greenwich Leisure Limited and Oldham Active to win the award at an event shining a spotlight on charitable trusts and social enterprises in the leisure sector.
The Future Workforce Academy – endorsed by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity – was recognised for leading the way in tackling national recruitment challenges, particularly a shortage of swimming coaches.
Its ‘Kickstart Programme’ offers several part or fully-funded qualifications for those wanting to gain qualifications leading to job opportunities, while a ‘Restart Programme’ is designed for people looking for a new challenge from other sectors.
The academy builds on Tees Active’s successful apprenticeship programme and offers high quality work experience placements. The initiative is also now being taking into schools to promote career opportunities to Year 11 students.
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“The message is that the leisure sector is a great sociable and interesting place to work, offering the chance to not only to change people’s lives everyday but to potentially save them,” added Darren.
Tees Active Managing Director, Leon Jones, said: “We are immensely proud to have led the way with the Future Workforce Academy, and this award is testament to the innovation and hard work that has gone into creating something that has quickly had a major impact here on Teesside and further afield.”
Councillor Steve Nelson, Cabinet Member for Health, Leisure and Culture on Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, said: “The award-winning Future Workforce Academy is not only creating exciting career paths, but is also helping to keep our residents safe – and that makes it a priceless initiative.”
