In this month's issue

CFA and APM to help develop project managers of the future

CFA and the Association for Project Management (APM) have been successful in their bid for funding to develop a Higher Apprenticeship in Project Management. The aim is to create 775 higher apprenticeships in Project Management by 2016, with the support of a fund of nearly £800,000.

John Hayes, Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, said: “I’m determined to work with employers to break down barriers between higher learning and the world of work. By creating new higher apprenticeship opportunities for young people to develop Project Management skills up to degree equivalent, we’ll build stronger companies and redefine the concept of higher education.” 

CFA Chief Executive Jenny Hewell said: “We are delighted to add the Higher Apprenticeship in Project Management to CFA’s expanding portfolio of apprenticeship frameworks. The Higher Apprenticeship in Project Management will enable learners to develop the skills required to be successful project managers and will provide the first apprenticeship pathway into the Project Management profession. Higher Apprenticeships are a credible alternative to higher education and will play a vital role in the development of professional knowledge, skills and competencies in the future.”

APM chief executive Andrew Bragg said: “Project management aspires to be a highly inclusive profession, and APM is proud of its latest collaborative venture to create new routes into Project Management which overcome the rigidities associated with some traditional entry routes whilst fully upholding their rigour.”

The Higher Apprenticeship in Project Management will provide progression routes for those wishing to enter into Project Management or further their career in other disciplines using Project Management skills. This will provide an opportunity to increase competency and fill identified skills gaps within the profession.

Should anyone like to help with the development of Higher Apprenticeships in Project Management then they may register their interest.

To read the full press release, please click here

CFA and CIPD to develop Human Resource professionals of the future    

CFA and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) have been successful in their bid for funding to develop a Higher Apprenticeship in Human Resource Management.

The Higher Apprenticeship in Human Resource Management will provide a new progression route for anyone wishing to pursue a career in HR or business more generally. This will provide an opportunity to build a pipeline of competent and skilled professionals capable of making a meaningful contribution to the organisations that train them. The CFA and CIPD are now calling on HR professionals to register their interest in contributing to the development of the Higher Apprenticeship in Human Resource Management. The aim is to create 725 Higher Apprenticeships in Human Resource Management by 2016, with the support of a fund of nearly £800,000.

CFA Chief Executive, Jenny Hewell, said: “We are delighted to add the Higher Apprenticeship in Human Resources Management to CFA’s expanding portfolio of apprenticeship frameworks. The Higher Apprenticeship in Human Resources Management will enable learners to develop the skills required to ensure that Human Resources are managed effectively in the UK. Higher Apprenticeships are a credible alternative to higher education and will play a vital role in the development of professional knowledge, skills and competencies in the future.“

John Hayes, Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, said: “I want more bright young people to build careers in vital professions like human resources, and to receive nationally recognised training to the highest standards. By giving practical learning the same status and recognition as academic study, the Government will help build a stronger economy and redefine the concept of higher education.” 

Stephanie Bird, director of HR capability at the CIPD, comments: “The CIPD strongly supports the creation of Higher Apprenticeships as a route into the professions for people of all ages and from all walks of life. The HR apprenticeship will help to attract the brightest and best talent to a profession that has a crucial role to play in driving productivity and growth for organisations. HR is a rewarding career of choice in itself and can also provide a route into other business disciplines. Gone are the days when HR was a predominantly administrative profession: today’s brightest HR professionals display a huge amount of business savvy and are real agents of change who contribute significantly to sustainable organisational growth.”

Should anyone like to help with the development of Higher Apprenticeships in HR Management, they should email apprenticeships@cfa.uk.com

To read the full press release, please click here

CFA exhibiting at Smaart Skills 2012 for Apprenticeship Week

This year sees the fifth annual Apprenticeship week taking place from the 6th-10th February. National Apprenticeship Week is the time when all eyes are focused on raising the profile and value of Apprenticeships with employers, individuals, teachers, parents and the media. The objectives of National Apprenticeship Week 2012 are:

• to engage and persuade employers of the advantages of employing and supporting apprentices in their workplace;
• to highlight the talent and skills of apprentices to employers and the wider public; and
• to highlight the range of Apprenticeships available in different sectors and the progression routes available to potential apprentices.

As part of Apprenticeship week, the CFA will be exibiting at Smaart Skills on the 8th & 9th of February at Wembley Stadium. Smaart Skills is the one place for young people aged 15-24 to discover the huge range of careers, training schemes, apprenticeships, educational options and skills opportunities available to them. The CFA will be there promoting our apprenticeships in: Business & Administration; Team Leading & Management; Customer Service; Contact Centre; Marketing and Communications; and Sales and Telesales. So, if you are visiting the show, please come by our stand and say hello!

Last chance to be in the Management and Leadership Standards Review!

Are you an expert in providing leadership, facilitating innovation and change, stakeholder engagement, resource management, quality and performance management, managing customer service or human resources management?

We’re looking for managers, team leaders and field experts to help us ensure that Management and Leadership standards are up-to-date and fit for purpose.

This is the last chance to get involved in the review of the Management and Leadership Standards. Consultation will close on Monday 23rd January at 5pm.

To participate in the consultation, click on any of the links below:

• Group 1: AA – Manage yourself & BA – Provide leadership, vision and direction
• Group 2: BB – Provide governance & CA – Facilitate innovation and change
• Group 3: DA – Manage human resources & DC –Develop and support individuals
• Group 4: DB – Manage teams & DD – Build and sustain relationships
• Group 5: EA – Manage financial resources & EB – Manage physical and technical resources
• Group 6: EC – Manage information and knowledge & ED – Procure products and services
• Group 7: FA – Manage business operations and projects & FE – Manage quality and performance
• Group 8: FB – Manage marketing & FC – Manage sales & FD – Manage customer service

Thank you for helping to raise the standard of management and leadership in your sector!

CFA January workshops: Putting Quality in the QCF

There are still delegate places left in our workshops ‘Putting quality in the QCF’ taking place in January.

Aimed at training providers, verifiers and assessors, delegates will enjoy concentrated interactive workshops led by expert trainers who produced the new qualifications for Assessment and Quality Assurance. Our experts will have extensive experience of the QCF, from unit writing and qualification design through to trainer training and delivery.

Delegates will also receive expert advice on:

• Ofqual requirements for assessment and quality assurance and CPD
• The Assessment Strategies for Business & Administration, Customer Service and Management and what they mean in practice
• How to interpret QCF language
• The difference between Internal Verification and Quality Assurance
• Credit values and what they mean for learners and providers

Workshops will take place in the following locations:

• Bristol: 24th January 2012, 10:00 – 16:00
• Newcastle: 26th January 2012, 10:00 – 16:00

Each workshop is £195 per delegate. To reserve your place, please visit the CFA online shop. Alternatively, contact info@cfa.uk.com or call today on 020 7091 9620.
Delegate feedback from the October workshops:
“Very good! Learnt a lot and it was valuable to me”
“Excellent presenters demonstrating depth of knowledge of topic”
“Very informative – giving clear examples explanations and knowledge of topic”

Have you thought about offering apprenticeships in marketing?

If you have potential learners with creative ambitions, why not suggest a marketing apprenticeship?

In 2011, CFA developed intermediate and advanced marketing apprenticeships, which are now available for learners.

They cover a diverse range of marketing including direct marketing campaigns, event coordination and market research.  They also include the latest marketing concepts, such as using digital and social media in marketing campaigns.

If you’d like more information about marketing apprenticeships, please get in touch by emailing apprenticeships@cfa.uk.com or view the framework here: www.cfa.uk.com

Inspire learners with the CFA’s new series of attractive wall posters

With four designs available to choose from, capture your learner’s imagination with our brand new series of posters promoting Business & Administration, Customer Service, Management and Marketing.

All of the CFA posters are A1 sized (841 x 594 mm) and priced at £9.99 each including p&p with discounts available for multiple purchases.

Pricing information

• 1x poster = £9.99
• 2x posters = £14.99
• 3x posters = £19.99
• 4x posters = £24.99

Please visit our online shop or contact the CFA directly if you would like to purchase these posters at sales_marketing@cfa.uk.com

Government announces measures to improve quality of apprenticeships

The Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, John Hayes, has recently announced new measures aimed to improve the quality of apprenticeships including making all new apprenticeships for 16-18 year olds last for at least one year.

During a parliamentary debate on apprenticeships, Hayes said: “"With more employers and more apprentices involved in the programme than ever before, we will continue to raise standards and ensure the high quality of every apprenticeship. My resolve is to ensure every penny of public money delivers high-quality training, and continue to weed out failure and fraud wherever it is found to exist."

Other measures announced during the debate include:

• An investigation into the possibility of extending the 12-month apprenticeship requirement for post-18 apprenticeships.
• Reducing the time it takes for small and medium sized companies to create and advertise a vacancy.
• Removing some of the additional health & safety measures that are not part of the required health & safety legislation.
• All apprentices must have a level 2 qualification in English or Maths to complete their apprenticeship

Furthermore, the National Apprenticeship Scheme, in conjunction with the Skills Funding Agency, will more closely monitor employers that run apprenticeship schemes to ensure that they meet their exacting standards. Employers that fail to achieve the required standards could face having their public funding withdrawn.

The best support for Business & Administration vocational qualifications

Get the best support available for your students with the CFA’s Business & Administration handbooks.

Available at Levels 1, 2 and 3, all of our study materials can be purchased in bulk at a special rate for learners who are studying, or working towards:

• National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) / Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs)
• Apprenticeships
• Technical Certificates
• Other vocational related qualifications currently on the QCF

Written by industry expert Anthony Lapsley, the books contain instructive and practical activities for the learner to gain expert knowledge of all the skills essential in Business & Administration. All three books are fully up-to-date with the revised 2010 standards, covering mandatory and optional units for learners studying through all awarding organisations delivering the Business & Administration S/NVQs.

To save 10% when you order 15 or more CFA Business & Administration Handbooks, simply fill out the order form here and return via email or post the CFA.

Priced at £11.99, £15.99 and £19.99 respectively, the improved look, easy to read format and complete up to date content will make for a great resource for you and your students.

Click here to take you to the CFA Student Handbook series.

Question of the month

Q: What evidence do training providers need to supply to the CFA for the Guided Learning Hours (GLH) and Personal Learning and Thinking Skills (PLTS) elements when claiming SASE completion certificates from the CfA?

A: On the certificate request form, providers are asked to sign a declaration to agree that the “Minimum off the job and on the job GHS has been met” and also “All six PLTS have been covered”

The CfA do not need to see any other documentation for this; however we recommend than an internal record of PLTS achievement is also held by training providers, with a suggested recording document provided in Annex 10 of the link: www.cfa.uk.com