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News Splash - Sussex swimming teacher benefits from Train to Gain
Swimming teacher Nina Fletcher from Newhaven in Sussex, is celebrating, after becoming the first learner in the county to achieve a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) through the Learning and Skills Council’s (LSC) innovative Train to Gain service.
Launched last autumn, Train to Gain helps businesses across Sussex identify and undertake the training they and their employers need. This service aims to address the significant skills shortages that continue in the South East by helping businesses improve their competitive edge.
Through Train to Gain, Nina, 31, successfully gained an NVQ level 2 in Swimming Teaching, and now works at the Wave Leisure Organisation’s Seahaven Swim and Fitness Centre. Nina trained at the Brighton Swimming Teachers Centre and as she explains, the training met her particular needs:
“I’m thrilled to have qualified as a swimming teacher through the excellent Train to Gain service. It gave me the opportunity to train at my own pace and I have now started to hold my own lessons on a weekly basis, which I am sure will increase over the coming months.”
LSC South East research has shown that in Sussex, 25 per cent of adults in the workforce lack a basic level 2 qualification, equivalent to five good GCSEs and the benchmark of a minimum standard of education needed to ‘get on in working life’.
Neil Cameron, Centre Manager, Seahaven Swim and Fitness Centre, says: “Train to Gain is great for us as an employer. It allows the staff to work flexibly on developing new skills and qualifications without major disruption to the business by staff being out of the workplace for long periods.”
Wave Leisure currently employs 100 permanent members of staff with an additional 250 casual staff. The organisation consists of five sites in total in the Sussex area, including the Seahaven Swim and Fitness Centre.
There are currently three members of staff at Wave Leisure undergoing training through Brighton Swimming Teachers Centre. Paul Smith, Managing Director of training provider Brighton Swimming Teachers Centre, says: “We are delighted that Nina has become the first Train to Gain success in the county. It’s a credit to her hard work and that of our assessors and support staff.
“I very much hope that other employers in the area will look at what Nina has achieved and encourage their staff to take part.”
As well as gaining her NVQ qualification, Nina’s training provider ensured that she was taught to a national standard and will continue to the next stage and obtain the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) teacher’s licence.
Train to Gain is available to businesses across the South East, to find out more information about the skills service people can call 08457 512288 or email info@traintogain.co.uk or visit www.traintogain.gov.uk
