What is Advice Skills Academy 2?
Advice Skills Academy 2 was an innovative project supported by the European Union through the European Social Fund, that built the skills and knowledge of staff offering advice services in the Liverpool City Region .
Advice Skills Academy 2 was delivered through a partnership of local Citizens Advice offices in the Liverpool City Region (see below), RAISE, and The Women’s Organisation, who were proud to offer support as managing agent and lead and accountable partner of the project. The Women’s Organisation were chosen as the lead for the Advice Skills Academy 2 due to reputation and track record in the Liverpool City Region, as well as capacity, skill and significant experience as project lead and accountable body status through European Regional Development Fund and European Social Fund, for both UK and European directorate programmes.
Advice Skills Academy 2 drew on a successful pilot project which was funded until September 2019 to work with 540 people from across Liverpool City Region to further their skills.
Advice Skills Academy 2 delivered an integrated curriculum of accredited and non-accredited training to 1,202 people in the Liverpool City Region. It developed and upskilled the workforce for specialist advice services in the Liverpool City Region, and provided a pathway for unemployed people to compete effectively for job opportunities within the advice sector. Advice Skills Academy 2 delivered a range of accredited Level 2 & 3 training and non-accredited courses to:
- Address higher level skills shortages in specialist advice services
- Provide training and support for people within the workforce to improve skills, progression, knowledge and productivity
- Provide training and a support pathway for disadvantaged groups seeking to access further job opportunities in the sector
- Improve management, leadership and progression capacity
- Promote equality by improving the progression prospects of women within the workforce
Key Project Partners include:
- The Women’s Organisation (lead partner)
- Citizens Advice East Liverpool
- Citizens Advice Halton
- Citizens Advice Knowsley
- Citizens Advice North Liverpool
- Citizens Advice St Helens
- Citizens Advice South Liverpool
- Citizens Advice Sefton
- RAISE
Advice Skills Academy 2 project adopted a coordinated approach to identifying learning and development needs of staff with Citizens Advice service and those in advice roles from organisations across Liverpool City Region. It developed a calendar of training opportunities to meet the needs of staff, and identified other learning and development opportunities, including e-learning, coaching and mentoring. Advice Skills Academy 2 supported the development of learning organisations that are responsive to the needs of staff, volunteers, and their learning, development and progression goals.
More Information
Email: hello@thewo.org.uk
Phone: 0151 706 8111
Our Funders
The project received funding from the European Social Fund as part of the 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme in England. The Department for Work and Pensions (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority) is the managing authority for the England European Social Fund programme. Established by the European Union, the European Social Fund helped local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which supported skills development, employment and job creation, social inclusion and local community regeneration. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding.
