February 2009
What a winter! I don’t know about you and, after this recent snowy spell, I’m definitely looking forward to Spring more so than ever before with all the promise of good things that it brings. In the meantime, now that the snow has subsided we have some good things for you this month with our special focus on Apprentices. I’m sure you all know that one key event in England this month is Apprenticeship Week which runs from 23rd to 27th February. We’re always interested to hear what our readers are doing and your Apprenticeship week activities and events will be featured in our March eBriefing. Please send them in to us here. Today we share with you what the CfA will be doing for Apprenticeship Week and what the Apprenticeship awards involve for both Northern Ireland and England. We’re also pleased to announce that the newly rebranded IPA has further membership benefits on offer and this month we have a new section, ‘A focus on…’ where we bring you an inside insight into the work of one of our team, plus updates from our Awarding Bodies and partners. If you would like to comment on any of these stories or have a feature of your own to contribute, please contact Helen Gerlach.
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Our representatives will have face-to-face meetings with employers across five key regions of England and our Apprenticeship mailers will be sent out to over 1,500 CfA training centres to show our commitment to the broader activities of Apprenticeship week. We’re also sending out a targeted press release to 5,000 SME’s letting them know what Apprenticeships can do for their business, which also means that a business you know could benefit. Other news – The Business, Administration and Governance qualification strategy presents the vision and aims that the CfA and partners must achieve. It ensures that the BA&G workforce possess the necessary skills and attributes to enable organisations in all sectors to work efficiently. Your copy is available to download by clicking here You will also be able to see what’s included in the 2008 Labour Market Information (LMI) reports, including the Essential Skill Demand Assessment, Essential Skill Supply Assessment and the Gap Analysis Report by clicking here
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Apprenticeship Week – 23rd to 27th February 2009 This is what we are all shouting about this month, as the second annual Apprenticeship Week takes place from Monday 23rd February to Friday 27th February 2009 across England. This is a chance to recognise and celebrate the essential role that Apprenticeships play in today’s business world. They ensure that the workforce has the skills it needs in order to remain competitive, especially in these unprecedented challenging economic times that we are working through. And in such times, after all, employers need certain skills to succeed. Apprenticeships can be a way of providing these skills effectively, whilst acting as a high-quality alternative route to future career success for ambitious individuals. With a government target of 400,000 apprenticeships in England by 2020, this year’s Apprenticeship week picks up the challenge.
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Apprent A cutting edge web-based Vacancy Matching Service that matches prospective Apprentices with employers in the relevant industry was launched in the autumn. Used by candidates, employers and training providers alike, the site aims to facilitate and streamline the process of matching potential Apprentices with the appropriate Apprenticeships. This is an online service, fully supported by hotline assistance to help users choose the best route for them.To find out more, please visit the website. For further details please click here |
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Training organisations and employers in Northern Ireland – this is for you! You are invited to nominate Apprentices who meet the entry criteria and who you feel show commitment, steady progress and enthusiasm in their particular Apprenticeship. The awards ceremony is attended by organisations involved in the delivery of a Department for Employment and Learning Apprenticeships training programme. It includes representatives from Training Organisations, Employers, Sector Skills Councils, Standard Setting Bodies and of course the shortlisted finalists, families and friends. Closing date for applications is 3rd March 2009 and there are four distinct categories:
Make sure you make your nominations by visiting the website, please click here.
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The Apprenticeship Awards (England) are now in their sixth year. They recognise the success of Apprentices who have made a real difference to their own future and to the organisation they work with. These Apprentices may have improved business performance and tackled skills shortages; or their contribution to the workplace may have exceeded their employers’ expectations and resulted in measurable benefits. Or perhaps they have overcome personal or professional challenges to succeed through the duration of their Apprenticeship. Closing date for this year’s Awards is 27th February 2009 . To vote please click here |
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Young Apprenticeships – Changing Lives Becki joined the first cohort of the Young Apprenticeship in Business & Administration course in September 2005. Prior to this, she was a pupil at Fulford School, studying towards her GCSE’s which she hoped to pass at grade ‘C’ level. Becki already had a keen interest in Business Studies as a progression route and was therefore selected by the school to attend York College for one day a week to gain a Level 2 qualification (equivalent to four GCSE’s). Becki’s Young Apprenticeship opportunity became a life-changing process. She was later nominated for the National Young Apprentice of the Year Award and offered full-time employment. Becki said of her Young Apprenticeship: “It gave me a taste of the work environment and what it involved and I did this ahead of all my friends, it gave me a great opportunity – it changed my life”. Please click here to read the full story. |
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When a student completes a qualification or training, it can be challenge to recommend the next steps for their career development. With that in mind, we would like to introduce the IPA – Institute of Professional Administrators as an ideal solution. Membership of a professional institute ensures that once administrators have completed training or qualifications, they maintain their CPD. The IPA has a list of recognised qualifications on their website which you can visit by clicking here. The IPA have also launched an endorsement process for training programmes. Programmes endorsed by the Institute are marketed to its members both nationally on the website, as well as locally through regional branches. This ensures that you are able to reach a wider range of adult learners and their employers. The Institute recognise these qualifications as entry criteria into membership so you may wish to offer discounted membership of the IPA to these students. Membership is usually £60 and your students will be able to save 50% to get membership for just £30 - if they use the promotional code: LPS09 on their application form. email Kerrie or call on 020 7091 2606 |
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This month the CfA begins its development of a Level 2 Business & Administration Modern Apprenticeship (BAMA) framework for Scotland. We are consulting with Scottish employers, learning providers and key stakeholders to determine the essential components of a Level 2 BAMA framework. As part of this, we have questionnaires for completion, to give employers, colleges, training providers and other stakeholders the opportunity to tell the CfA what they think needs to be included in the framework. This is your opportunity to influence the shape of the new Level 2 BAMA framework. Please help us by taking part in the consultation which has a closing date of Friday 27th February 2009. Please Complete the questionnaires by Friday 27th February 2009 and return to ta Sempf. Questionnaires are available by clicking here. email Uta |
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Employers are increasingly recognising the need to balance regulatory training with training that develops skills, competencies and knowledge. In England, a new qualification for 14 to 19 year old learners - The Diploma in Business, Administration and Finance – aims to provide this balance. A learner is required to develop and demonstrate essential functional skills including communication, team-working, presentation skills and problem solving. Employers are able to support the development of these competencies by getting involved with schools and colleges delivering the diploma. Available at three levels – foundation, higher and advanced – each level of the diploma is developed around three themes central to the sector: Business enterprise: Looks at how to develop ideas, how to carry out research and promote products or services. We all need functional skills – they make a difference to our lives, with them we are more likely to succeed. For more detail on getting involved with the diploma in your area or to learn more about functional skills email diploma@fssc.org.uk or visit the dilpoma website. For further details please click here |
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A focus on – Kelly Saliba, Director of Development at the CfA
As this is a really varied position, I also support the planning and delivery of projects and have responsibility for budgetary management. This is the core part of the CfA’s role as the pan- sector Standard Setting Body for Business, Administration and Governance skills. The thing I like most about my work is being at the forefront of educational reforms, such as the development of the 14-19 Diplomas and the implementation of the new Qualifications and Credit framework. This gives me a real insight into how CfA is able to influence learning outcomes and be involved in key developments at the heart of education. Of course, I’m not at work all the time and when outside of the office, I enjoy cooking and travelling. email kelly |
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Specialist Standards – HR Administrators
CfA research has shown that to meet the demands of a substantial market, there is a need to develop specialist National Occupational Standards for HR Administrators. With over 150,000 people working in HR Administration and the lack of HR Administration units within the Business & Administration N/SVQ, there is a clear need to develop a solution that delivers both administration and HR specific content. In particular, the key functions of HR Administration that need to be covered by NOS include administering the recruitment, training, employment and exit processes. It will be important to develop a solution that produces a clear pathway into CIPD qualifications and/or membership for those HR Administrators that wish to further their career in HR. The first steering group meeting will be held on the 12th March 2008 to discuss the role of HR administrators. If you wish to attend the steering group and work with the CfA on the development of these HR Administration NOS, please contact Sara Vanderheld. email sarah |
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Organisations that achieve EDI endorsement of their programmes will benefit from:
EDI can also provide a service of mapping the programme to national occupational standards which have been developed and agreed by employers within specific sectors in the UK. Where an organisation does not already have a training programme, EDI can also help to develop one from scratch, customised to the organisation’s needs but based on national occupational standards. For further information, please telephone the EDI enquiries team on 08707 202 909. For further information please email |
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Please click here for further details on OCR’s functional skills pilot, where you can download past papers, sample assessment materials and case studies from centres already delivering OCR’s functional skills qualifications. OCR is holding a number of FREE functional skills training events over the coming months, across the UK. These events are an ideal opportunity to find out about OCR’s functional skills pilot and speak directly with OCR functional skill experts. Functional skills – ‘Get Ready’ and ‘Get Started’ For more information on these courses and to book your free place, please click here. During this second year of the functional skills pilot, OCR is participating in the additional strand of functional skills piloting activity, to evaluate the suitability of functional skills qualifications for adult learners. If you would like further information or would like to join OCR’s adult pilot, please send an email to functionalskills@ocr.org.uk and add ‘Adult Pilot’ in the subject.
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Q: Is the ERR workbook compulsory when completing the 2005 Business & Administration Apprenticeship? Also, where can I find the tutor guide for the ERR workbook? A: The ERR workbook is no longer compulsory; it is generally used as a guide by the students. Due to this, we no longer produce a tutor guide to accompany the workbook.
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To subscribe to the CfA eBriefing, please email Helen Gerlach. The CfA is not responsible for the content of any external links from this newsletter. The Council for Administration is a registered charity, No 1095 809. |
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This month as we focus on Apprenticeship Week, CfA have a schedule of activities that will raise the profile of Business & Administration across England. We start by improving the awareness of Apprenticeships amongst small to medium employers, engaging them in what Apprenticeships can offer by demonstrating the benefits and showing how value can be added through having an Apprenticeship scheme in place.
iceship Vacancy Matching Service
Apprentice Awards 2009
I have been working with the CfA for seven and a half years and manage five people who form the CfA’s Development team. My key responsibility is overseeing the management of all Government-funded development projects and, as you may know, these include such things as National Occupational Standards reviews and development of new NOS; development of the Business, Administration and Governance Qualification Strategy and action plan; development of Apprenticeship frameworks; updating labour market information and endorsing qualifications. 
Findings of the HR Administration Study
Employers, training providers, colleges, schools and universities who wish to invest in the development of their staff may find that accredited qualifications are not always entirely appropriate - they are not always tailored to the specific needs of the business. By applying to EDI for endorsement, organisations can achieve formal recognition for their in-house programmes. EDI will ensure the programmes meet certain standards in terms of structure, content, learning outcomes, assessment and quality assurance.
Year two of OCR’s functional skills pilot is now well underway. The first year of the pilot saw a huge increase in the number of participating learners. Feedback from these learners and also centre staff was largely positive with some very strong statements of support about, in particular, OCR’s assessment approach. 
If you would like to submit information to the CfA eBriefing, please contact Helen Gerlach on 020 7091 9620.
© CfA 2009
