Dan Howson appointed creative and cultural skills ambassador

Stepladder Worldwide’s founder Dan Howson has been appointed skills ambassador for The National Skills Academy for Creative and Cultural Skills.

The National Skills Academy is a growing network of employers and training providers committed to the provision of industry-relevant creative education and

training, apprenticeships and careers advice. Creative and Cultural Skills specialises in supporting creative organisations, businesses and practitioners and, with support from the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, Creative and Cultural Skills has launched a skills ambassadors programme to help reach the many small businesses and individuals working in the creative sector.

Dan Howson, also business development director of sevens7, created the youth development initiative Stepladder Worldwide to work closely with a number of partners to help produce and provide opportunities for young people in the community.

In his new position, Howson will be looking to support skills development on a local level, in line with The National Skills Academy’s goal ‘‘to support the creative and cultural industries to meet their economic potential through the right skills and training”.

By engaging employers within the theatre, music, live events, cultural heritage and design sectors with skills development opportunities and the skills agenda, skills ambassadors, such as Howson, intend to increase the number of industry members in The Skills Academy network, thus providing further opportunities for young people.

Howson, said: “Young people will have a better chance of success and enjoying what they do with access to training, opportunities and practicing industry professionals. Sprinkle on top some passion, enthusiasm, hard work, a willingness to learn and above all, responsibility for oneself and who knows what they can achieve.”