August 2008
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With the news this week of Britain’s first Beijing Olympic medals, this is definitely going to be a summer of celebration. And what better way to start than with the news of the CfA Business Skills Academy launch in the South West and our brand new partnership with IQPS, the UK’s leading UK institute for Office Professionals. Continuing with our celebratory theme throughout the August eBriefing we look at the achievements of Gemma Parry and Ceri McQueen who took on vocational training through JHP Training in Gloucester and see how they and others celebrated on 23rd July - what is now known as VQ DAY. These people and events clearly show us how through vocational education, that there is another way of achieving success alongside the more traditional educational paths of A-levels and GSCEs. Also, we have more examples of excellence through Apprenticeships at the National Apprenticeship Awards 2008, plus the all important CfA events line-up for September that kick-starts our autumn 2008 programme for you and much more. If you would like to comment on any of these stories or have a feature of your own to contribute, please contact Helen Gerlach. Please read on and let August be a month to remember.
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CfA launches Business Skills Academy for the South West This month sees the exciting news that the CfA has signed a contract with seven approved learning providers and is working with five partner organisations in the South West to launch the first regional Business Skills Academy. The Academy operates through a network of quality approved training providers that have to meet a tough set of selection criteria and is designed to offer first-class, employer-led business training and development solutions to organisations and individuals. An innovative and value for money business model will help improve productivity and competitiveness for the South West by driving up skills in the areas of Business & Administration, Customer Service, Leadership & Management. To read the full press release please click here. For more information on how to benefit from the Business Skills Academy in the South West or how to get involved, please click the link below. Please visit the Business Skills Academy site |
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To hear more about the work of IQPS and how you could become a member, please click below. |
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CfA Events - September 2008 - Bookings now open! Following on from the success of the 2007/08 events season, this autumn the CfA is running a series of half-day CPD workshops across the UK. September delegates will have the opportunity to attend one or both of our most popular workshops: |
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The Assessor Master ClassThis will assist all assessors from any sector wishing to hone their skills in their quest for Continued Professional Development. Previous workshops have seen audiences from sectors including Care, Retail and Hospitality benefit and discover development techniques that enhance delivery and help to achieve best practice. |
Friend or Foe? – How to Manage Your EV VisitThis workshop will address a range of issues relating to the S/NVQ code of practice and will assist you in ensuring your assessment techniques are meeting your Awarding Body’s requirements. |
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To find out when in September and where the events are taking place and to reserve your place, please click here or go to the online store to book. Remember, as a CfA Network member you can claim your 10% discount directly in-store. For information on how to become a CfA Network Member please click here. |
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forward ePortfolio PLUS: FREE Belfast Demo The CfA are back in Belfast this autumn! This follows last year’s very well attended and successful event that demonstrated 'forward ePortfolio PLUS' and generated much interest in the product. We are delighted to extend to readers a free invitation to attend an ePortfolio demonstration session on Wednesday, 1st of October at City & Guilds offices in central Belfast. This free event will give you a greater understanding of how ePortfolios can benefit you and your candidates in developing greater efficiency in your assessment practices and demonstrate to you why forward ePortfolio PLUS is the most cost-effective, access anywhere ePortfolio solution available on the market today. The event will take place on the morning of the 1st of October and will finish with lunch at around 1230 giving you the opportunity to talk to our staff and network with each other. Numbers at this event are strictly limited. To reserve your place and receive priority information in advance of the demonstration, please contact Cameron Woodrow. email Cameron |
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EDI accredited to award three Diplomas EDI is pleased to announce that it has been formally accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) as a Diploma Awarding Body. From September 2009, EDI will be awarding Diploma Principal Learning qualifications at levels 1, 2 and 3 for the following areas:
Enhancing EDI’s fast growing range of services, these qualifications demonstrate the company’s flexibility and commitment to learning, from schools and colleges to training providers and employers. EDI already offers a broad range of accredited qualifications in over 200 subject areas, as well as working with schools to provide online performance measures and assessments. To read more about the diplomas and EDI’s work with the QCA please click here (pdf). For more information on the Diploma lines and other qualifications awarded by EDI please email enquiries@ediplc.com or telephone 08707 202 909. |
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International Benchmarking Studies: Finland and New Zealand Every two years the CfA undertakes an International Benchmarking exercise which has two key aims:
This year UK Business & Administration Standards were benchmarked against the Standards of Finland and New Zealand and underpinned by interviews from a range of UK employers from the FTSE index, an SME, a public sector and a voluntary sector organisation. The resulting report examines and benchmarks Standard against Standard and includes discussions between the CfA and a selection of small, medium and large employers in the private, public and not for profit sectors. Key sectors covered are about today’s strategies on Recruitment, Training, Retention, Development and the future skills needs for administrators. For a copy of the report please email Uta Sempf |
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Review of Parking NOS: Consultation Phase
The CfA has developed a wide range of NOS which are relevant to Business & Administration functions across all sectors including parking. Together with the British Parking Association, CfA have been working with a range of industry experts to review and develop specialist NOS for those involved in penalty charge notice processing, civil parking notice processing and parking administration. The titles of the four parking specific standards are:
If you would like more information on this project please contact Sara Vanderheld at the CfA on 020 7091 9626 or Rocky Datoo at the BPA on 01444 44 73 00. To review the four new specialist standards and to complete the consultation survey, please click here. In order to take your views into account, please could you complete this by 19th September. |
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OCR’s functional skills pilot started in September 2007 and will run until August 2010. OCR is piloting functional skills English, Maths and ICT in all three levels (Entry Level, Level 1 and Level 2). Being part of OCR’s pilot will enable you to get ahead and be fully prepared for the introduction of functional skills. It will give you a unique opportunity to shape and influence the new qualifications to ensure that OCR develops and provides you with the best possible solution, meeting your needs and those of your students. If you would like to join our pilot, complete the sign up form on the website www.functionalskills.ocr.org.uk or email functionalskills@ocr.org.uk. |
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VQ Day Heroes showcased at high-profile London event
The first ever VQ Heroes emerged as winners of the two 'Learner of the Year' categories and stood proudly alongside singer Kate Nash, winner of the public vote. All were announced at the high-profile VQ Day event at the Royal Opera House in London and hosted by singer and Strictly Come Dancing winner Alesha Dixon, whose own qualification helped lead to her success. Please click here to see details of the winners and finalists in both categories. |
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JHP Training celebrates VQ Day in Gloucester One of Kingsholm’s finest, Peter Buxton, turned out to help learners celebrate their success as part of the first ever National VQ Day at JHP Training in Gloucester.
Click here to read more about learners past and present who turned out to join in VQ Day celebrations at JHP Training in Gloucester: |
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The skills secretary John Denham has said that he would be the first cabinet minister to take on an apprentice, when announcing new measures to make sure all apprenticeships are of equally high quality and have the confidence of the apprentices themselves and their employers. Denham, the skills minister David Lammy, and the chief civil servant are advertising for three apprentices to join them in the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills from September 2008, along with 500 others across Whitehall. |
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Professional status for Work Based Learning trainers: are you up-to-date? In September 2007, the government introduced regulations aimed at ensuring that the further education and skills sector has a qualified, professional workforce with up-to-date subject and teaching skills. Following the introduction of these regulations, work-based learning providers that deliver LSC-funded FE provision are required to ensure that all their trainers:
For full details please click here. Visit www.ifl.ac.uk for more information on registration, CPD and membership benefits, or call 0844 815 3202. |
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The National Apprenticeship Awards 2008 The Learning and Skills Council National Apprenticeship Awards on 10 July at the Royal Horticultural Halls proved that England really has got talent. Hosted by Amanda Holden, a judge on the successful TV programme “Britain’s Got Talent”, the Awards - now in their fifth year - saw a record number of entries. To read more about the event itself and find out how you can get on-the-job training, study for a nationally recognised qualification such as an NVQ and earn money while you learn, please click here. |
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Back to school: Student Handbooks from the CfA The CfA's Student Handbooks are an invaluable resource for Business & Administration candidates of all vocational qualifications and cover ALL units at Levels 1, 2 and 3. Full of useful information, the Level 2 & 3 Second Edition Student Handbooks cover the Business & Administration Standards and incorporate the 2007 Incremental Change modifications. The Handbook clarifies the skills that candidates will be expected to develop for each unit and demonstrates real life examples of working situations which will enable candidates to generate evidence. The user-friendly assessment exercises ensure that candidates are fully conversant with life in the office environment. For more information and to download a sample chapter, please click here. |
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Q: Why am I being charged £35 rather than the usual £30 for English/ Welsh Apprenticeship completion certificates? A: In April 2008 we started to receive English and Welsh Apprenticeship certificate applications online. Certificates applied for online are charged at £30. Due to administration costs we have had to raise the price for paper/post applications to £35. Please email onlinecerts@cfa.uk.com for more information about how to claim online. Although Scottish framework applications cannot yet be applied for online, we will notify you in due course when this service becomes available.
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© CfA 2008
