GREENSKILL

Ever been asked about the skills profile of your workforce? Ever taken over a contract and wished staff skills were better documented? Ever wished there was a more structured career ladder to guide staff in developing skills?

GreenSKILL is an online skills management system for the green space sector specifically designed to help employers with these issues. It has been developed by GreenSpace and Lantra, the sector skills council for land-based industries.

The GreenSKILL system is based on Lantra's national occupational standards and sector-approved job profiles. This means that for the first time, employers can manage and develop their workforce in a consistent way within a national competency framework for the green space sector. It improves career paths by creating a clear, supportive structure that encourages progression. Individuals can record their skills, qualifications and continuing professional development; at the same time employers can manage the skills base of their workforce.

To find out more about GreenSKILL phone Sarah Moore or David Tibbatts on 0118 946 9060 or visit www.green-space.org.uk/greenskill.

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

"Sustainable communities" is one of those terms everyone uses. But do you know what it actually means? The HCA Academy - the skills arm of the new Homes & Communities Agency - has an online course called "In a nutshell" which provides the perfect opportunity to get a better understanding of the sustainable communities agenda.

The course consists of five workshops, facilitated by an experienced tutor who provides advice and guidance. Each workshop is scheduled to run over two weeks with participants expected to log on for a minimum of six hours per workshop. Workshops include a range of learning materials, participant activities and a forum.

During the course, participants will study with built environment professionals, community workers and volunteers to gain a shared understanding of how to create and manage sustainable communities. The course is only open to UK residents, for whom participation is free (course costs are fully funded by the HCA Academy).

For more information, visit www.hcaacademy.co.uk/courses/nutshell.

TRAIN TO GAIN: TAPPING INTO EXPERTISE AND FUNDING

Train to Gain is a national skills service set up by the government to support employers of all sizes in all sectors to improve the skills of their employees, as a route to improved business performance. By getting involved, employers are signalling a commitment with government to jointly invest in the skills of their employees and the wider economy.

So what are the benefits to employers?

- Free, impartial advice in identifying skills needs at all levels from skills brokers and training providers with expertise in your area of business

- Help to source quality training to meet identified needs

- Advice on the availability and criteria of government training subsidies to complement your own contribution as employer

- For those employers who also sign up to the government's Skills Pledge, access to follow-up advice and support.

From April 2009 the Train to Gain brokerage services transfer to the national network of Business Links, which means easier access to advice.

To find out more about Train to Gain in your area visit www.traintogain.gov.uk and for sector-specific initiatives visit www.lantra.co.uk.

SPACESHAPER

CABE's Spaceshaper was first launched two years ago to help managers measure the quality of local parks, streets and public squares.

Spaceshaper officer Hannah Loizos says: "It's a way of prompting qualitative, not quantitative, engagement. Often you need more detailed work than questionnaires to make the case for funding. There is a vast amount of space that isn't high quality, and it's not clear who it's for, given the signs for 'no ball games' and 'keep off the grass'."

Loizos describes Spaceshaper as a trigger for more structured conversations from a smaller group - say, 20 users and managers - to agree priorities and action plans.

Local people contact CABE for details on independent facilitators or train their own to carry out one-day workshops that result in a report. Questionnaires focus on eight themes: access, use, how the space caters for people, upkeep, safety and comfort, design and appearance, community importance and how it makes you feel.

For further details on the initiative, email spaceshaper@cabe.org.uk.

BENCHMARKING

The London Parks & Green Spaces Forum runs a voluntary benchmarking initiative to which 23 local authorities have signed up. Easy-to-use surveys focus on categories such as trees, allotments, upkeep, training and sustainability. Results prompt "deeper questions" about each authority's data and services, says director Tony Leach.

Most recently the forum has carried out surveys to review how local authorities assess the quality of their open spaces.

The cross-section of green spaces represented in the surveys ranges from 400ha-plus parks to pocket parks of around 2ha. Leach says: "We will use the data and Green Flag Award scores to see costs, quality and use. Surveys will be repeated every two years. We hope to create cross-regional comparisons of value for money and will be able to compare green spaces with other cultural services like museums and libraries."

He suggests boroughs could compare parks and use the data for joint procurement packages. "And we'd like to develop a prediction tool so we can work out how much it costs to manage a park."

For more information phone Tony Leach on 020 7983 4495 or email tony.leach@lpgsf.org.uk.