National Training Strategy Review goes live!

I am pleased to announce the consultation phase on the review of the National Training Strategy (NTS) is now open. The NTS website or ‘hub’ is now live at http://ntshub.org.uk  This includes supporting information on the review, case studies, relevant documents and a comments/suggestions facility BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY THE NTS SURVEY IS NOW READY FOR COMPLETION!

With regards the case studies function; If you have examples of good practice around training taking place please let us know either via the hub’s ‘contacts’ function or direct to me and we will upload them to the hub. It is vital to be able to demonstrate the good work we are doing especially when making the case to government for further financial support in the area of training.

There will be a link to the survey from the NALC and SLCC websites but you can access it directly through the link above. The survey is aimed at anyone in the sector who has an interest in the learning and development needs of parish and town councils. I would urge you complete the online survey so your views are captured. Interim reports are planned to be published in the New Year with the aim of producing a new strategy by May 2010.

The survey asks key questions around the following issues and topics:

• Delivery mechanisms and content of training
• Council, Councillor and clerk training
• Qualifications & Career development
• Quality
• Funding sources

Review focus groups taking place in December

As previously detailed to support the quantitative data collected and to build in the views from National Partners, County Associations and SLCC branches a series of focus groups will be running in parallel with the survey.

The structure will be a national focus group of senior officers and committee members and two county focus groups.

One county focus group is being held in the North of England in York on Wednesday 16 December and one in the South, in London on Thursday 17 December.


The events will be facilitated by Elisabeth Skinner from the University of Gloucestershire. Four key questions around the following topics will be discussed those in attendance:

Topic 1: The management of delivery
Topic 2: Content and delivery
Topic 3: Funding
Topic 4: Qualifications and career development

Approximately 10 county officers and 10 SLCC branch representatives will attend each focus group (20 attendees in total). Representatives will be drawn from NALC/SLCC regions.
With regards County Association attendance; Notification of attendance and consultation on the issues for discussion is being channelled through the regional lead officers.

Full joining instructions including a more detailed session overview will be issued to all attendees later today.

Following the focus groups summary overviews of the events findings will be made available on the NTS hub in the New Year.

I hope you find the NTS hub useful and once again please complete a survey. The new strategy needs to be drawn from as many views as possible in order it is fully reflective of the sectors needs.

This briefing was issued by Neil Evans, Learning and Skills Manager, who can be contacted at: NALC via email at neil.evans@nalc.gov.uk or on direct line
020 7290 0319.