A new website is set to increase employer involvement in vocational reform.
SkillsActive this week has called on the active leisure, learning and well-being sector employers to shape the future of vocational qualifications. The sector has urged employers to visit a new website recently launched, to raise awareness of a large overhaul of sector-based qualifications.
The site is 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.
Vocational qualifications at the sector, are undergoing a drastic change, with the number of qualifications available reduced from around 1000 to approximately 300. The vocational qualification reform programme will see qualifications across all industries streamlined so that they are easier to understand and access with 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 this week, provides links for employers to find out more about the process and gives them an opportunity to influence skills strategies for their sector; including links to help employers plan in-house training, work with training providers to develop units that can be taken as part of a nationally recognised qualification and to join forces with other employers in the sector to create quality skills and training opportunities.
Stephen Studd, CEO of SkillsActive said: “Our employers are involved in the development of these new qualifications, ensuring that they are the qualifications that employers need their workforce to have.
“The new structure is starting to reflect what it means to be qualified in the sector, and all qualifications are approved by SkillsActive before they are accredited. It is vital for employers to have fewer qualifications and clearer options, and through the reform programme, this is what we have started to achieve.”
Skills and further education minister Kevin Brennan added: “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.”
Employers who are interested should go to:
www.businesslink.gov.uk/vocationalqualifications, or for more information about SkillsActive go to www.skillsactive.com.