Call for employers to shape qualifications

23 February 2010

New website set up to increase employer involvement in vocational reform

Skills for Justice is today calling on employers in the Justice and Community Sector to help shape the future of vocational qualifications.

The Sector Skills Council for Justice and Community Safety is urging employers to visit a new website launched today to raise awareness of a large scale overhaul of sector-based qualifications.

The site is part of a joint project with Business Link and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, designed to ensure that businesses are at the heart of the changes.

Alan Woods OBE, CEO of Skills for Justice said

"Employers need their people to have the right skills, right now, so we welcome the vocational qualification reform programme and in particular the new Qualifications and Credit Framework, which will reflect the flexible way that employees need to approach learning. As part of our continued commitment to being truly employer-led, we urge our employers to get involved and help shape the future of vocational qualifications."

Skills and Further Education Minister Kevin Brennan MP said:

"Employers are now looking to put themselves in the best position to take up the opportunities of growth – skills will be crucial to taking on that challenge. That is why we are simplifying and modernising the system of vocational qualifications and I believe these changes will be invaluable to businesses and learners alike.

"For anyone who wants to get the skills they need into their business or take up training opportunities themselves, the websites launched today give them a great opportunity to find out more."

Vocational qualifications are undergoing a radical change across all sectors, with the aim of simplifying the system, and providing greater transferability of qualifications

The changes come amid a wider reform of vocational qualifications across all sectors. The Vocational Qualification Reform programme will see qualifications across every industry streamlined so that they are easier to understand and access.

The new set of bite-size qualifications will have simpler titles and clear indicators of size, level of difficulty and content.

The Government believes that these new qualifications will help to build a better skilled workforce - leading to improved retention rates and increased profitability across all industries.

The website launched today provides links for employers to find out more about the reforms process and gives them an opportunity to influence skills strategies for their sector.

It includes links to help employers map in-house training to nationally recognised qualifications, work with training providers to develop relevant units that can be taken as part of a nationally recognised qualification and to join forces with other employers in the sector to create high quality skills and training opportunities.

Employers should go to www.businesslink.gov.uk/vocationalqualifications to get involved, and find out more about what the new Qualifications & Credit Framework means for your organisation at www.ofqual.gov.uk/51.aspx.

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