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#STFConf16 FOLIO TITLE 1 ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2016 Towards New Horizons: Training for a better Scotland Programme www.stf.org.uk sponsored by www.stf.org.uk 02 STF ANNUAL CONFERENCE • TOWARDS NEW HORIZONS: TRAINING FOR A BETTER SCOTLAND WELCOME On behalf of the Directors of the Scottish Training Federation (STF) and our sponsors, may I offer you a warm welcome to the STF Annual Conference, Dinner and Awards Ceremony at Crieff Hydro. I am pleased that the STF Conference has grown to become one of the key events on the training and skills development calendar. We have a valuable opportunity ahead of us to hear about new developments, to engage in discussion, and to catch up with industry friends and colleagues. I hope that you will make full use of the opportunity to visit the exhibitor stands, participate in the seminars and interactive networking sessions, and to network with the other delegates. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our speakers and seminar hosts - their input and time commitment is much appreciated. On behalf of the STF Directors, I would also like to thank our sponsors and exhibitors: - SQA (Main sponsor), Trainsure, Create eLearning, STAG Legacy, MGT Training, Crieff Hydro, JB Management Ltd, Sibbald Training, Genius People, ILM/City & Guilds, BT, YouTrain, L&G Learning, Rathbone, SCQF, Cognisoft, OneFile, iPEGS, Skills Development Scotland and Investors in People Scotland for their sponsorship and support. As I am sure everyone will appreciate, without their contribution, an event of this quality would not be possible. Finally, I would like to thank you for attending, and look forward to meeting you during the course of the Conference. Stuart G Leitch, Chair of STF A message from our sponsor As a Scottish Training In an ever-changing learning and organisations. In addition, Federation member, the Scottish and skills landscape, we value SQA provides advice, support Qualifications Authority (SQA) our strong relationships with and services that enable is delighted to be the Main Scotland’s training providers and organisations to succeed Conference Sponsor of the understand the importance of in meeting a wide range of Scottish Training Federation working together to deliver the educational and workforce Annual Conference, Dinner and right skills for Scotland. development challenges. Awards Ceremony 2016 at Crieff Hydro. Our extensive network of Our people take great pride in education professionals and offering exceptional customer SQA, Scotland’s national industry specialists (including service which is acknowledged awarding and accreditation STF members) support SQA by government organisations, body, works throughout the awarding operations, ensuring universities, businesses and UK and internationally to help our qualifications accurately individuals around the world. individuals realise their potential reflect learners’ knowledge and and achieve their ambitions, skills. by providing a wide range of high quality, internationally SQA also awards a range of www.sqa.org.uk recognised qualifications and other qualifications, including associated services. customised awards to meet the needs of individual companies THE VOICE OF TRAINING PROVIDERS IN SCOTLAND CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS 03 CONFERENCE It’s no joke! HIGHLIGHTS Kaye Adams is your host! Top television and radio broadcaster, Kaye Adams, returns to host the STF Conference for the second year in a row. Kaye presents a daily discussion programme on BBC Radio Scotland and is a regular contributor to ‘Loose Women’ on ITV. As well as introducing the speakers and ensuring the programme runs smoothly, Kaye will be moving amongst Main conference sponsor, SQA, the audience to encourage delegates to share their views is injecting some humour into and opinions about the current big issues in skills and training. the event this year with a Speed Networking session focussing And on a lighter note, she will be asking delegates and speakers to share on an SQA Customised Award in their career ‘highs and lows’ – the events that were memorable for being Comedy and Confidence. Hosting either a highlight or a challenge! So get ready to share your thoughts and the session will be Anna Devitt. speak your mind. Anna has performed all over the UK and is an award-winning comedian, Kaye will also be hosting the STF Awards Ceremony on Tuesday night actress and playwright. Her company where eight winners will be announced from the 24 finalists. DirectDevitt, supplies programmes for young people and businesses, including custom built workshops incorporating laughter and therapy techniques. Anna will discuss her Conference welcome for Training Minister Comedy and Confidence Award and STF is delighted to welcome the recently-appointed how the Customised Awards process Minister for Employability and Training, Jamie Hepburn has worked for her. She will also be MSP, to the conference to provide the keynote speech on saying a few words during the award Day 1. Members of the STF Board of Directors met with Mr ceremony – so get ready to laugh! Hepburn over the summer to discuss issues of importance to members, including the phased reduction of MA Contribution Rates – and the dramatic and unexpected cuts to the Employability Fund. It’s a yes from me! The Minister is expected to provide an update on recent Scottish Government initiatives in relation to skills and training. An announcement on how the Scottish Government will implement the Apprenticeship Levy in Scotland is not expected until October – but perhaps the Minister will be able to say something about the general direction of travel. Award winners to be announced For many, the highlight of the conference will be the Awards Ceremony held in the evening of Day 1. Kaye Adams will be in control and will give some background It’s back to basics with voting information about each of the finalists technology this year at the conference before the winner in each category is as we introduce the `voting paddle’! revealed. No sophisticated software required for this system – just an auctioneer’s And Judith Ralston will be mingling with paddle with a `Yes’ on one side and a the audience and finalists before and during the ceremony to capture the `No’ on the other side. And the results excitement (and nerves!) of the occasion. are instant! Kaye has some questions Two of the categories – Apprentice of the Year and Employability Fund lined-up to test this new innovation – Achiever of the Year – will be announced in the late afternoon of Day 1, let us know what you think! with the rest being announced after the evening meal. www.stf.org.uk 04 STF ANNUAL CONFERENCE • TOWARDS NEW HORIZONS: TRAINING FOR A BETTER SCOTLAND Directors are colour-coded! CONFERENCE The Directors of STF are keen to talk with members at HIGHLIGHTS the conference and hear about the issues that are important to them. So please do not BBC Judith supports STF Awards 2016 hesitate to engage them in conversation Top BBC weather and let them know your views. presenter, Judith And to make is easier to identify them, Ralston, has been they will all be sporting a green lanyard helping STF to promote with `STF Director’ written on it; all the annual awards delegate lanyards are in blue. Pictures of all Directors are printed on page 19 of this competition this year by brochure. taking part in a launch event and starring in a promotional video. Judith formally launched the STF Positive Action – Awards 2016 at a ceremony in Glasgow What can and can’t in June where she met with some of the you do? winners from last year’s awards – including learndirect, TIGERS and Lullaby With training Lane Nursery – and she announced details of the award categories for the providers being 2016 competition. asked to think more about And she has agreed to share some of her career highs and lows at the STF equalities Conference this year. Although probably best known as one of the main issues, there is weather presenters on BBC Scotland, her early career was as a trained an increasing opera singer until problems with her voice forced her into a career change. need for more information about the do’s and don’ts – particularly around taking Making the transition from opera singer to weather presenter will be the positive action. subject of her talk on Day 1. Sarah Gilzean, from HBJ Gately Solicitors, Pictured above are (L-R) Judith Ralston; Lindsay McLelland, learndirect; will be running a seminar session on day Pauline Scott, Lullaby Lane Nursery; Brian Carmichael, TIGERS; and Stuart 1 of the conference which looks at what Leitch, STF. employers and training organisations can do to take positive steps in the recruitment and employment of those with protected characteristics to improve equality and diversity. It will look at the law, the pitfalls Awards Judging Panel of language and some practical case The Judging Panel for studies, focusing in particular on gender, this year’s STF Awards disability and race/ethnic origin. met in August to review the record number of entries received. A total of 90 Welcome for Iain applications – across 11 Gray MSP award categories - were reviewed by the panel. STF is delighted to welcome Iain Gray MSP to speak to members The Judging Panel for on Day 2 of the this year’s awards was: conference. The Chair and Chief Executive met with Mr Gray over • Denise Monteith, Scottish Qualifications Authority the summer to discuss developments with • Laura Peacock, Investors in People Scotland the Apprenticeships • Pauline Sutton, Scottish Credit & Qualifications Framework. Levy and Employability Fund. The panel is pictured above (L-R) Denise Monteith, SQA; Pauline Sutton, SCQF; and Laura Peacock, IiP. THE VOICE OF TRAINING PROVIDERS IN SCOTLAND NEWS UPDATE 05 Welcome to new NEWS members UPDATE Levy should be spent on Apprenticeships only Apprenticeship Levy funds should only be spent on apprenticeship (or STF membership has grown over the apprenticeship related) last 12 months and now has more programmes in Scotland than 130 members from a variety – and not for any broader of different types of organisations, workforce development including colleges, local authorities, or training.