Skilling time

We start to move in, but this will be a gradual process as we are in the course of recruiting additional staff. With our new location there are many details, such as the letterhead, telephone listings and redirection of the post, among other things, that need to be delegated.

Following this, I have a meeting with the Heating and Ventilating Contractors' Association (HVCA). We have a lengthy discussion on SummitSkills' increased role in supporting the HVCA employer training network. We also talk about the National Training Forum, and it is agreed that SummitSkills will take over the running of the annual National Training Awards. To this end, we agree that the 2005 awards will be held at the British Library in London and the venue should be booked.

By the evening, my e-mail inbox is overflowing and requires immediate and time-consuming attention.

Tuesday 6 april
Up early to catch a flight to Edinburgh for one of our quarterly meetings with strategic partners in electrotechnical training. Although this partnership is in its early stages it is already bearing fruit.

Reflecting SummitSkills' UK-wide responsibility, the meeting involves providers from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The discussion focuses on the strategic nature of the partnership.

Time waiting at the airport allows me to return missed telephone calls and start some actions from the meeting earlier.

Arrive home at 8·30 pm to deal with the day's accumulation of e-mails!

Wednesday 7 april
I start the day with a meeting at SummitSkills' offices with a consultant. The intention is to develop an action plan for working towards achieving the Investor in People accreditation.

I then head to a central London hotel for a meeting with our public relations and communications consultants. We review our recent launch at the London Aquarium, which went very well. We then start planning our regional launches in Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff. It is decided that these will take place over the coming eight to twelve weeks. The marketing and pr objectives and plan for 2004/05 are also discussed.

Following this, I get together with the finance committee, then have dinner with our board members in advance of tomorrow's meeting.

Thursday 8 april
First thing today is a breakfast meeting with the SummitSkills chair for a pre-board briefing and discussion. Due to the Easter bank holiday, our board meeting starts at 9 am sharp.

One item on the agenda is to present the report on the recently discussed 'licence to practice' issue within the plumbing sector. Although there seems to be little appetite for a voluntary licence scheme amongst the steering group, the debate certainly raised all the issues concerning this area.

Other items on the agenda include the benefits of co-operative work with other Sector Skills Councils across the Skills for Business Network, as well as a broad discussion on key activities to raise the profile of SummitSkillls throughout the sector.

At the break, we take the opportunity to pose for a group photograph, as well as individual portrait photographs of each board member. We will use these on our web site and in future editorial coverage.

Late afternoon, I sit down to once again clear my overflowing e-mail inbox and make required telephone calls before signing off for the much-anticipated, long Easter weekend.