We were never together, says SfL on NSAL end
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By Laura Hailstone
SKILLS FOR Logistics (SfL) has distanced itself from the collapse of the National Skills Academy for Logistics (NSAL), claiming it was "never a subsidiary of SfL".
The Skills Funding Agency (SFA), a partner organisation of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, pulled the plug on the academy last month. "We asked NSAL to submit a revised delivery plan to address
concerns we had raised against it achieving its three-year delivery plan targets. Following assessment of the revised plan, the agency's decision was to not support, and we understand that NSAL will now cease operation," said the SFA in a statement to CM. Launched in October 2011 with a £3.25m pot of government funding that SfL had successfully bid for, along with matched funding from a number of logistics employers, the academy aimed to be a
one-stop shop for advice and skills development for the logistics industry.
SfL told CM that it is "looking at lessons learnt", and how it can support the employers that were involved with the academy. "The employers have put a lot of time and effort into the academy, and I know they feel really let down by the SFA," said SfL acting chief executive Ross Moloney. "We believe the initial idea of the academy still holds water; our employers deserve
quality-assured training."
He stressed that the NSAL was never a subsidiary of SfL. "SfL bid for the funding but the SFA was adamant that SfL did not own the academy, so there was always a separation. NSAL had its own board and management team, and was a separate entity," said Moloney.
A creditors meeting took place on 13 November.
SfL said it is the largest creditor of the academy.
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