Equal - Digital Repository

Background 

There are currently many categories of people who, although in work, experience exclusion from training opportunities by virtue of their work and life situations. Shiftworkers, part time workers and people with childcare responsibilities, for example, may be unable to access training opportunities afforded to others because of access times of training and trainer facilities; disabled people often experience difficulties in accessing facilities designed largely for non disabled people, and employees in micro companies are often denied training opportunities because of pressures of work and lack of alternative staff. Their employability, both within the company and elsewhere, is thus reduced.

Main Aims

The central focus of the ASAPH Partnership is to generate the innovative use of ICT to provide skills and training opportunities to current employees, in particular to improve access to training for people in employment who do not have existing capabilities or opportunities to gain additional skills. By highlighting categories of employees currently disadvantaged in Wales and using ICTs to deliver innovative and equal training opportunities the work fits of ASAPH DP fits closely with Theme F.

This DP comprises local authorities, NGOs, consultancies, training providers, and large manufacturers, all of whom have a strong interest in helping to ensure that people can balance their life between work and home. The ASAPH DP will use a “Team Wales approach” to support the development of a cohesive partnership between SMEs, relevant training and service providers to respond to the identified needs of individuals and employers. The force of this approach will be evidenced by the support given to individuals to overcome barriers they face due to dependant/child care responsibilities, age, low level of skills, access to ICT, geographical ward deprivation, etc.

The impact of the Partnership will extend beyond the partner organisations into national and transnational policy arenas and will impact positively on a range of policies identified as being crucial to the development of Wales. The partnership will emphasise the use of ICT for providing skills and training opportunities to current employees, in particular to improve access to training for people in employment who do not have existing capabilities or opportunities to gain additional skills. The outcomes of the Partnership will ensure that employers develop and maintain a culture of social responsibility for their employees and the society in which they operate.

The central focus of the ASAPH Partnership is to generate the innovative use of ICTs to provide skills and training opportunities to current employees, in particular to improve access to training for people in employment who do not have existing capabilities or opportunities to gain additional skills. By highlighting categories of employees currently disadvantaged in Wales and using ICTs to deliver innovative and equal training opportunities the work fits closely with Theme F.

The outcomes of the Partnership will ensure that employers develop and maintain a culture of social responsibility for their employees and the society in which they operate.