About The Training Networks Programme.
What is a Learning Network?
A 'Skillnet' (or Learning Network) is a group of three or more enterprises that decide to cooperate as a group in order to undertake a project or activity that individual members of the group would be unable to undertake as successfully acting alone.
Learning Network Promoters
The majority of Skillnet/Learning Network leaders and promoters are industry associations and federations and chambers of commerce (i.e. employer organisations) and trade unions (employee organisations). Individual companies also act as promoters on behalf of the Skillnet members. Alternatively, some Skillnets have created companies (of which their members are subscribers) in order to assume joint responsibility for the process. In a small number of cases, enterprise-support bodies or educational establishments have promoted networks. This usually occurs where support agencies have a history of working with a particular enterprise group or where enterprises are very small. In these cases, a management committee of enterprise members is established to ensure that the enterprises maintain control of the process.
Learning Network Structure
In each Learning Network/Skillnet, enterprises form steering and management groups to oversee and direct the process. These groups, comprised of a representative group of enterprises in the network, meet on a regular basis to make management decisions on behalf of the network.
Learning Network Activity
In general each individual Skillnet carries out the following fundamental tasks:
- Analyse the training and development needs of participants, identifying skills requirements and priorities for action
- Assess the strategic importance of long-term competitiveness of the skills identified
- Identify solutions/delivery mechanisms to meet those needs
- Develop network structures and processes to establish the operation of the network as a basis for specified training activity
- Organise the delivery and implementation of training measures
- Promote collaboration and co-operative activity, sharing of knowledge and the exchange of best practice
- Monitor and measure results, providing performance indicators and quality standards for training activity engaged in by firms
- Feedback to Skillnets on the progress, outcomes and impact of network training activities and processes
A Typical Learning Network
Figure 1 shows a typical Skillnet network - the core of which is the company members. In most of the networks the network manager is the key co-ordinator, providing the professional, developmental input. Others who provide services to the Skillnet include trainers, business advisors and academics. The key driver of the Skillnet is the Promoter, who signs the contracts on behalf of the Skillnet. In many cases a separate company was formed to manage the Skillnet and it signed on behalf of the Skillnet company members.
Figure 1: A Skillnet Learning Network
