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Let's start with
Stand alone NVQs (National vocational qualifications) or QCF NVQs as they are now known which simply means that they have moved over onto the new standards framework.
A little bit of history
Up until the late 1970s there were millions who left school with few, if any qualifications, entering a world of work which would offer little or no training, no opportunity to develop themselves and no recognition for any competencies they did develop. The traditional apprenticeship system started to collapse, young people failed to find training, skill shortages arose, businesses, the national economy and the UK's competitiveness suffered. It was clear that something had to be done. By the mid 80's the initial (and in hindsight a rather crude) NVQ process had been born.
Fast forward 25 years
Although not initially well received (mainly due to lack of regulation at that time), the NVQ process has rapidly developed and despite all the old jokes associated with it (yes, we've heard them all!), has now become a leading, recognised, effective and cost efficient means of employers not only offering training and skill upgrading in the workplace but also employees the opportunity to progress.
How the programme works
An NVQ is an assessment based programme, it works to a prescribed set of minimum occupational standards devised by industry experts (so everyone is working more in tune with one another) but is also incredibly bespoke as every individual candidate has different skills gaps and training needs that require addressing. We focus on 3 key factors when assessing a candidate, the first being performance (can they do the job), the second being knowledge (do they understand their role, the process and how it fits in with the organizational needs) and the third being range (can they conduct their job consistently to the required standard over time and in varying situations - busy, quiet, can they address a troublesome situation when it arises etc).
So what's in it for you?
Training can bring a number of benefits:
A standardized workforce - promoting better teamwork and allowing you greater flexibility in the organization.
Motivational and retention factors - research shows that individuals are motivated in the long term through job satisfaction and achievement as opposed to financial incentives. Imporoved staff retention can make significant cost reductions for the business in recruitment.
Reputation and relationship building - training and investment in your staff is recognized and companies which make a point of developing their staff tend to attract higher calibre candidates when recruiting. This can positively impact your brand image or local reputation as well as generate further business because of associated quality assurance. It creates a strong impression.
Businesses face more competition from lower cost based, better qualified workforces globally. This is an opportunity to address skills gaps in your organization without significant cost to you and for most qualifications the vast majority of the training is conducted 'on the job' which means it is less intrusive and causes little or no disruption to the day to day operations of the business.
And from a completely personal perspective...........we generally find that during the delivery process staff become more 'switched on' to the needs of the role and the organization, generating innovative ideas, increasing their health & safety awareness, demonstrate better consciousness relating to security and utilizing their initiative more.
For further details on funding availability and eligibility criteria please click on the attached link:
Looking for something a little more comprehensive - what about Apprenticeships?
Apprenticeships have become increasingly recognized as the gold standard for work based training. There are over 100,000 employers offering Apprenticeships in more than 160,000 locations; there are more than 200 different types of Apprenticeships available offering over 1,200 job roles. There are three levels of Apprenticeship available: Intermediate (Level 2), Advanced (Level 3), and Higher (Level 4)
How the programme works
Apprenticeships contain the NVQ aspect of the award (as explained above), however, are alot meatier due to the fact that additional relevant training is offered alongside the NVQ aspects, such as a technical certificate (knowledge element of the award), ERR (Employment rights and responsibilities), functional skills (English and math's) or key skills (working in teams, problem solving, communication, use of technology) plus any specific training in relation to the job role required by the employer.
We would recommend Apprenticeships to organizations who may be experiencing problems with high volume returns, picking errors or similar as it is very possible that you my have staff who are not working at the correct level of literacy and numeracy required to fulfill their role effectively (unfortunately a huge problem in the UK and has been for a number of years), and this could be having a serious impact on your bottom line. From a training perspective a little more commitment is required from the employer/organization, but it can potentially yield a better return.
For further details on funding availability and eligibility criteria please click on the attached link: