Steering Organisations
The localenvironmentalskills.org project brings together an emerging sector and the focus required to identify, provide and instil the skills required to achieve success.
To understand and combine all of these elements, Defra (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) has engaged with the following sector experts:
Defra
Helping local authorities to develop the skills of their workforces is the Defra Local Environmental Protection Team’s positive response to the Gershon review into public spending. Within his report Sir Peter Gershon suggested some £25 million of savings could be made in street cleansing services through more efficient working practices.
Defra has been a main driving force behind the development of localenvironmentalskills.org as a mechanism for both raising the awareness of skills development and providing the opportunities to help local authorities to find effective and suitable training opportunities.
ENCAMS
Environmental Campaigns (ENCAMS) is an environmental charity which campaigns directly to the public on issues relating to local environmental quality and associated anti-social behaviour. ENCAMS is best known for running the Keep Britain Tidy campaign for over fifty years.
ENCAMS also works with local authorities by providing training opportunities and other advice in order to encourage the development of skills in this sector, and bring about improvements in local environmental quality. ENCAMS has therefore been working closely with Defra and other partners as part of the localenvironmentalskills.org project, and is keen to promote the importance of effective local environmental management.
Asset Skills
Asset Skills is the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for the Cleaning, Property, Housing, and Facilities Management sectors. SSCs are independent UK-wide organisations. They are employer-led and involve all stakeholders in the sector in their work. Asset Skills’ role in Local Environment Management is as a developer of National Occupational Standards and N/SVQs. In this capacity, Asset Skills has worked together with Defra and other partners to develop the localenvironmentalskills.org website and to identify the roles and functions involved in Local Environmental Management.
I&DeA
The Improvement and Development Agency for local government (IDeA) works for local government improvement so that councils can serve people and places better. They use experienced councillors and senior officers, known as peers, who support councils and challenge them to improve themselves. The IDeA also promotes the development of local government’s management and workforce. They do this by advising councils on improving customer service and value for money, in addition to helping them work through local partnerships to tackle local priorities such as health, children’s services and economic development.
The Local Government Organisation
The Local Government Association (LGA) exists to promote better local government by working with and for their member authorities to realise a shared vision of local government that enables local people to shape a distinctive and better future for their locality and its communities. The LGA aims to put local councils at the heart of the drive to improve public services and to work with government to ensure that the policy, legislative and financial context in which they operate supports that objective.
The Waste Management Industry Training and Advisory Board
The Waste Management Industry Training and Advisory Board (WAMITAB) is the awarding body for the waste management industry and has a remit to determine and advise upon the policy and standards of education, training and qualification for persons concerned with or engaged in the waste management industry. WAMITAB offers a wide range of vocational qualifications, including street cleansing and refuse collection, which have a direct impact on the local environment. WAMITAB is keen to increase the skills and competence of all those employed in delivering the service at a ‘street level’ and supports Defra and ENCAMS in that endeavour.
The Chartered Management Institute
The Chartered Management Institute is the professional body that is dedicated to management and leadership. They are committed to raising the performance of businesses by championing management through supporting individuals, advising organisations, and engaging policy makers and key influencers in Government and the Management Profession. The Chartered Management Institute aims to equip individuals with the necessary skills to deal with the challenges and decisions they face throughout their careers, and aims to help organisations and businesses realise their full potential.
The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management
The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) is the leading professional body for waste and resource management with over 7,000 members, mostly in the UK but also in the Irish Republic and 250 members elsewhere in the world. CIWM focus on professionalism and information, based on sound science and training.
Association for Public Service Excellence
APSE (Association for Public Service Excellence) is a not-for-profit local government body working with over 300 councils throughout the UK. Promoting excellence in public services, APSE is the foremost specialist in local authority front line services, hosting a network for front line service providers in areas such as waste and refuse collection, parks and environmental services, leisure, school meals, cleaning, housing and buildings maintenance.
