About us
A star is born
On 29 June 2009 Lifetime Awarding was born. This was the day that Ofqual, the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator, officially gave Lifetime Awarding the rubber stamp of approval. And not only did we achieve the status of awarding organisation, but we are also now one of a very small number of awarding organisations holding approval to submit full qualifications to the new Qualifications & Credit Framework (QCF) beyond 2010... keeping us ahead of the rest, and something we are very proud of.
Fit for purpose
Within the fitness, leisure and hospitality sectors there has been, and continues to be, a growing need for 'fit for purpose' qualifications and work-ready recruits. A need for people with skills to their job and to do it well. And this is where we come in. At Lifetime Awarding our aim is to offer a range of 'fit for purpose' qualifications that are developed and delivered by industry-based practitioners bringing fresh excitement, vitality and passion to the fitness, leisure and hospitality sectors, underpinned by tried and tested quality and excellence of our delivery partners. All of which is designed to provide you with the best learning experience.
Lifetime Awarding in Action
Lifetime Awarding has many strings to its bow and works with a wide range of people and organisations to ensure that it stays at the forefront of qualification development and quality assurance.
We work with the regulators such as Ofqual, SkillsActive and REPs, to set standards and progress qualifications on to the frameworks. We network and collaborate with other awarding organisations and trade bodies such as FAB (The Federation of Awarding Bodies) to ensure we're always ahead of the game and we work with those at the sharp end, the training providers, their tutors and their assessors, to ensure we are meeting their needs and stay at the cutting edge of qualification and awards delivery. More on this later.
To ensure we are providing the work-ready qualifications that employers need within their businesses, we consult with operators and involve them at every level.
And last, but definitely by no means least, Lifetime Awarding provides a first class service that supports and engages directly with our learners.
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The Lifetime connection
As an independent organisation it is important to us that we deliver what our customers expect from us and that what we do is respected and trusted by you. We also recognise that to be the best it is important to work with expert partners in their field. Leading training and assessment provider, Lifetime, is one such partner.
Lifetime is known for delivering the best work-ready people into the fitness and active leisure industry and one of the driving factors behind this reputation is their ability to offer 'fit for purpose' qualifications - something both our clients and our learners are looking for more and more.
By collaborating with Lifetime, Lifetime Awarding can not only put a whole range of recognised and industry-relevant awards and qualifications on to the framework, but also develop new qualifications that have never been available before through any other awarding organisation that meet the future needs of our customers - all of which is very exciting.
And by establishing ourselves as an industry-based awarding organisation, delivering the same high quality standards and industry-focused service also provided by Lifetime, we will maintain the continuity of programme, brand and quality assurance of our awards for the benefit of all users.
Ultimately we will add value and profile to the fitness, leisure and hospitality industries by increasing understanding in the commercial environment of the integrity and benefit of industry-based qualifications. In addition to supporting recruitment and retention rates across the industry and providing excellent career paths for a future generation. To find out more about Lifetime, click here
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The Team
From small acorns grow
As a new organisation, Lifetime Awarding has a relatively small, but experienced and perfectly formed team... that's looking to grow in both stature and size.
In addition to this team that delivers on a daily basis, we are delighted to have established an Independent Advisory Committee that provides advice, balance and, if needed (but we really hope we don't), independent arbitration.
Independent Advisory Committee
Along side the operational teams we have an Independent Advisory Committee that provides advice, balance and, if needed (but we really hope we don't), independent arbitration. In addition they steer and support Lifetime Awarding in its progress and also input not only into ensuring fit for purpose industry awards and developments but also influence the vocational education arena in general. At the same time allowing Lifetime Awarding the opportunity to gather appropriate wider
industry awareness to support pro-active and innovative initiatives.
Murray Butcher
Chair Murray Butcher retired from City & Guilds, the UK's largest provider of vocational qualifications, in January 2008. At the time of his retirement he was Director of Assessment and Quality, having joined City & Guilds as a Senior Research Officer in 1984. Initially a teacher of mathematics, statistics and computing in school and further education he took an MA in Educational Measurement at the London University, Institute of Education. Since retirement he has been providing independent consultancy to QCA supporting the development of the assessment models of the 14-19 Diploma and Functional Skills. He has also supported a leading training organisation in successfully achieving awarding organisation status through the Ofqual accreditation programme. He is a trustee of Signature, an awarding organisation dedicated to promoting communication between the hearing and the deaf.
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Neil Tune
At 46, Neil is the HR Director for Fitness First in the UK. Neil joined Fitness First in January 2008. Neil is responsible for the resourcing and development strategy for the business as well as all HR policy. Fitness First employs 3,000 staff in the UK across 162 sites. Neil has spent 25 years in HR, working as a generalist, starting his career as a graduate trainee with Courage and has held the posts of HR Services Director for Hays and European HR Leader within one of the GE businesses. Neil holds a Masters Degree in HR and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD).
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Harry MacMillan
Since 2003 Harry has helped develop MEND's model and create the organisation, moving from initial research to a social enterprise with multiple programmes being delivered at 320+ sites per term in five countries. Internally, Harry leads on strategy, operations, finance and internationalisation. Externally, he focuses on building mutually beneficial partnerships with stakeholders in the UK, USA and Australia - from academic institutions to local, regional and national Health Departments as well as funding and delivery partners such as the Big Lottery Fund, Sainsbury's and other corporate sponsors.
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John Oxley
John has over 25 years experience in the sport, health, fitness and leisure sectors having started out his career as a humble lifeguard. For 8 years he was Group Operations Director with SLM, one of the leading leisure facility management contractors in the UK, before establishing a consultancy practice in 2007 specializing in change management and leadership development across a range of industries and working with such notable clients as British Airways, Oracle and Starbucks.
As an innovative and insightful thinker who regularly displays vision in identifying operational and commercial opportunities, John recently became Managing Director of Community Leisure Services, a registered Charity. His inspiration is currently transforming that organisation into a campaigning entity to be called Active Nation, which is designed to work in partnership with local authorities and other agencies and committed to its cause-led mission "persuading the nation to be active". John possesses a clarity of thought, and an ability to argue his case in a convincing and persuasive manner. His passion and enthusiasm for sport and exercise are renowned across the sector.
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Nigel Wallace
Nigel is Director of Training for Lifetime Health and Fitness, the largest training provider in the sector. Having graduated from St Paul's with a BEd (Hons) in Physical Education he later studied at Bristol University achieving an MSc in Exercise and Health Science. A former teacher and lecturer Nigel has also carved a career in the commercial world. He has literally been through the shop floor to the board room initially working as a fitness instructor, then as health club owner and for 5 years was the Executive Director of the Fitness Industry Association (FIA). In between with three years contracted to the world renowned adidas and recently joining Lifetime from being an independent consultant organising business to business events around Europe he brings academic, commercial and political trade body experience to Lifetime Awarding.
Mission statement
What's our overall goal?
Having goals in life is important to self development and achievement. At Lifetime Awarding we're no different.
Our goal is to be the leading and most reputable awarding organisation for the accreditation and provision of vocational awards, work-based learning and training in the active, feel good market.
Watch us grow and achieve our goal ... we know you'll want to play a part.
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Communications statement
Actively talking to you about you and your needs
We want to be a role model. We want people to look at what we do and want to be part of it. At Lifetime Awarding we are committed to providing a service that is second to none. A service that exceeds expectations and meets the demands of the ever changing landscape of learning and development.
Here's a few of our service promises to you:
- When you have something to say to us we will actively listen, respond positively and act on your constructive feedback.
- When you call us we'll pick up the phone without delay and if we're not around (we're only a small team), we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
- We love emails. Send us yours and we'll respond to you quickly and provide the answers you are looking for.
- And we'll be professional, polite and helpful at all times and we'll make sure you receive the right guidance and information on every occasion ... and if we need to go away and find out more, we'll make sure we come back to you
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