The Skill Builders Journey
At the turn of the new millennium there was great optimism for new ways of doing things, Regionally, Locally and Nationally there was a desire to change. Right from the start Skillbuilders sensed as an artisan lead initiative that we had to do things as well as contribute to process - in fact piloting and testing ideas was the best way to inform the process.
The plan was to use the altruistic energies of the artisan community, to engage them in consultation not just by attending meetings but doing practical things. To work with Advantage West Midlands, other agencies and local government to use funding to procure space at festivals and assets (tools as prizes, display screens etc for SCC) needed to reward and acknowledge the achievements of young artisans of the future and those that nurture them.
Since 2001 by gradually just doing things we have pioneered vocational training by artisans supporting educational professionals, crossing sectors so that lessons learnt in say the sector of furniture can be developed in catering skills for example. Very early on we could see the need for not only the three Westerly counties in our region to work closely together but also throughout our region, other UK regions and in our EU twin town communities.
Next to have a supporting mechanism - a possible paid member of staff, a new website to share the mindset. To trade as a not for profit mindset as attached CIC Skillbuilders Community Benefit statement.
We want to spread the Skillbuilders message in other geographic areas as a mindset not a franchise and to get feed back so as to evolve the vision so that we can learn as well - we will focus on key artisan sectors and have hot spots of activity around the UK sharing best practice with Europe to support the forthcoming 14 to 16 diplomas for vocational training and the whole 14 to 19 skills development agenda.