As a CSP, Sport Birmingham, our workforce development during the past 18 months has focused on the progression and implementation of The Birmingham Way. This is an approach that recognises there are particular barriers and motivations that result in people avoiding physical activity and as a result there is a need for a workforce that has the right skills and characteristics to engage inactive communities across the city.
We have summarised our key findings below, please click on the links to view our insight summary and videos:
Insight Summary:
https://www.sportbirmingham.org/uploads/tbw-research-summary-final-2.pdf
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcyfxZbdV-g
We gathered information on both participants and citizens within Birmingham as well as coaches, leaders, activators, trainers, instructors etc. to understand the importance of deliverers matching their delivery to meet the needs of participants. The local information and learning gathered through The Birmingham Way method provided us with an excellent foundation and has formed a framework for our work.
The Birmingham Way is now a systematic approach to workforce development; it provides the evidence through research to demonstrate the key qualities and characteristics that underpin broader skills development. The model considers identification of the right people, the skills development and improvement of those people, and the opportunity for them to gain practical experience; this ultimately provides them with the foundation for future employment.
The Birmingham Way research provides a behavioural framework that focuses on competencies rather than qualifications, which match skills and personality to the respective sectors or environment. It therefore provides the model to build softer skills development through an accessible and inclusive sport and physical activity experience; these softer skills provide individuals with the confidence, belief and abilities to aspire to future employment for themselves as well as improving the customer experience, encouraging resilient habits, increasing self-esteem, enjoyment and engagement with sport and physical activity.
Using the approach:
- Delivery of The Birmingham Way induction to community groups and coaches – We have delivered 10 sessions throughout the year to college students, experienced coaches and new volunteers. Enhancing individual’s knowledge and understanding of how we create a positive and engaging environment for participants at all levels.
- Each session is tailored to the needs of the audience (as we would expect them to do when delivering in the community. For example, delivering a session to Level 2 club coaches who were due to be re-deployed into local parks session, we focused on how the coaches could build rapport with participants and create sessions that were fun and engaging using a game based approach.
- We are now in a position where we are charging for the delivery of these sessions and have had interest from HE / FE establishments within the city to deliver the induction to students within teaching, coaching and sports degrees. Additionally, this has led to the development of a menu of training opportunities and support that we can offer to organisations delivering sport and physical activity.
- Recruitment of volunteers for the IAAF World Indoor Championships 2018 – Using the competency framework we created an appraisal and interview system that focused on recruiting volunteers with excellent soft skills and behaviours above technical skills. The appraisal system was implemented to assess written application forms as well as during practical group sessions delivered to potential volunteers. This system has been essential in identifying the 600 volunteers that will be crucial to the running of an international event taking place within the city.
- These principles are also being used for internal recruitment of staff at the CSP as well as to recruit volunteers for community organisations.
Community of practice – Working with coaches within our Satellite Club programme we have piloted an informal community of practice who meet to discuss challenges and share good practice linked to their delivery in the community. Our insight has shown that mentoring is a powerful but often expensive form of coach development. This network is delivered free and brings coaches together at a time and venue that suits them and is driven by them in terms of the content of discussions. In 2018 they plan to observe each other’s delivery and develop each other to replace traditional CPD.