NAC Group

NAC Smart Clubs Rolled Out

17 Jul 2012 1:55pm

NAC's network of Smart Clubs is rapidly expanding and continues to evolve. The first Smart Club was set up in Wallsend in partnership with social enterprise Building Futures East. The flagship Smart Club in the Skills Academy for Sustainable Manufacturing and Innovation (SASMI) at the Nissan site in Washington followed. This boasts a very wide range of devices and applications. Both these Clubs also feature simulated manufacturing environments.

The latest Smart Club has recently opened at the North East Business and Innovation Centre in Sunderland. This focuses on logistics, and includes a simulated logistics work environment.

In the West Midlands, a new Smart Club will open shortly. Based at Tyre Fort, the Smart Club will provide a development programme for NAC staff, training supervisors and team leaders. The Club will house a dedicated Trades Union learning representative. NAC is also planning to open a further Smart Club to support its operations at Ellesmere Port.

The Smart Clubs provide a unique way of engaging unemployed people in the learning process and help them to start the journey towards work. An informal ‘Apple Store' environment houses a variety of technologies and enjoyable learning opportunities that will particularly appeal to younger people.  As well as improving skills, the activities carried out in the Smart Centres are intended to change attitudes and behaviours, and to make people more employable.