November 2009
Conference 2009 is almost here! To ensure you’re at the top of the tree where Business & Administration is concerned, there’s still time to join us. On the day you’ll hear our impressive speakers talk about the key issues we all face in Business & Administration and see and meet with like-minded colleagues in our expert-led workshops, to share ideas and discuss your thoughts. Book your place now by clicking here. This month we have a number of important updates for you, including where we are with our Business & Administration Standards review, what new Standards we’re working on for HR and Agriculture and what we’re doing with our colleagues across Europe to help learning across the board. Plus, you’ll be able to catch up with two apprentices based in the North-East who are working their way up, and see how your team could take part in World Skills 2010. And, last but not least, our strong message of support goes out to the Business & Administration finalists in the Modern Apprenticeship Awards 2009. 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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Countdown to CfA conference 2009 - Less than 2 weeks to go!!! Friday 27th November 2009 Your bookings have been coming in thick and fast over the last few weeks. There are still a few spaces available, so if you are thinking of joining us on 27th November, here are our Sponsored by – EDI, OCR and IAM 1. Hear the latest news from our exciting line-up of speakers:
2. Discover the new Business & Administration Standards and the QCF units before their launch in 2010 Why wait to book? – Book your place now visit the cfa website |
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Buy now! CfA Handbooks for Christmas Are you looking for a useful Christmas present for a friend or colleague studying for a Business & Administration qualification? Then look no further. Our Level 1 Handbooks are selling out fast, so you need to place your order now to avoid disappointment. The Student Handbook covers ALL units at Level 1; clarifying candidate skills for each unit with real life examples of working situations to help candidates generate evidence. Priced at a bargain-busting £8.66 (that’s a 33% reduction on the original price) this comprehensive guide is a welcome stocking-filler for all Business & Administration enthusiasts. Please click here to order and find out more. visit the cfa online shop |
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Save money and beat the post - Online Certificates In order to save yourself money, beat the postal strikes, and ensure that your details are with us quickly and accurately, why not use our online certificate and evidence registration facility? Here are our top advantages of submitting your applications online:
To take advantage of this cost-effective and rapid service, please go to the online shop or email us for more information. |
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On the 29th October, the CfA together with Hackney Community College, London, hosted the final conference for the European-based Reference System for Facilitators of Learning project (ReSyFac). Beginning in January 2008 and managed by CECOA (Centre for Vocational Education and Training) Portugal, eleven additional partnerships have now participated in the project.
With presentations from the cfa and reps from Portugal, Denmark and Germany. The day provided an insight into the field of learning facilitation and the work and outcomes successfully achieved over the past 12 months. There followed a panel discussion with experts from the Czech Republic, Germany, Portugal, France and the UK, whose delegates had the opportunity to network and draw on best practice in other countries and exchange details with their European colleagues. For more information about the benefits of the ReSyFac project, please visit the ReSyFac website www.facilitationsystem.eu visit ReSyFac |
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During September and October, the CfA has been busy reviewing your comments from the 14-week summer electronic consultation of the Business & Administration suite of standards. As a result of your input, standards have been amended to embrace these relevant and valid comments. Our amended suite of standards has now been presented to employers and stakeholders with a final consultation to be completed by Friday, 20th November. To be involved in this final review, please click here. And there’s more … Additionally, the CfA will be working with awarding organisations offering Business & Administration qualifications across the UK throughout November to:
The CfA will also map the key essential functional skills for each of the four nations against individual Business & Administration standards. Once completed, final drafts of all documents will be submitted to the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) at the end of December. As a final task for the review of the CfA Business & Administration standards and continuing the use of the NVQ in the CfA competence-based qualifications. Please take part in the survey to share your views, this will take no more than five minutes to complete. Please click here to take part. |
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We are pleased to announce that two new standards have been developed to form a specialist pathway within the Business & Administration competence-based qualifications, for HR Administrators. - Administer HR records - Administer the recruitment and selection process These have now been submitted to the UK NOS Panel for approval. Once approved, we will notify you when these standards will be available to download from the CfA website. If you would like more information about this project please contact Kelly Saliba on 020 7091 9635. |
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The CfA are currently reviewing the specialist standards for agricultural and horticultural administrators. The first stage was to consult on the functions carried out by agricultural and horticultural administrators. This consultation took place during September and October 2009. To date, we have received a total of 206 responses which formed the basis of the agricultural and horticultural administration functional map. After updating the current specialist standards, they will be released for consultation in January 2010. If you are an employer, administrator or provider working within this specialist area of agriculture and horticulture and would like more information on how to get involved with the project, please contact email Uta Sempf, or call 020 7091 9620. |
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What’s new from the QCF - November updates The Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA) is working with partner organisations to make the sector ready for putting the QCF into practice and working closely with awarding organisations, sector skills councils, learning providers and learners. At the core of England's education system, it develops curriculae, improves and delivers assessments, and reviews and reforms qualifications. |
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Last month, Helen Gerlach met with Scarlet Harris, Apprenticeship Policy and Campaigns Officer and Rachael Saunders, Apprenticeships Liaison and Promotions Officer at the TUC who are driving a two year capacity boosting project running to March 2011, together with the National Apprenticeship service. I asked them what this project means and how it will be of benefit to those taking part: A: The primary aims are to boost capacity for apprenticeships and support affiliate unions to support apprentices. This essentially means giving union reps the relevant tools and up-to-date materials to promote apprenticeships within their organisations. We had identified a key need, in that some sectors had good set ups for apprenticeships, for example, ship-building where there is a long tradition of apprenticeships and, conversely, some sectors had no apprenticeships. TUC officers and trade union reps know that this is a hugely important area and that we need to ensure that the quality standard is high. Really, it’s all about knowledge-sharing and informing affiliate unions and in turn, employers about apprenticeships and the value they bring to both employer and apprentice. Please click here to read more. For further information on the TUC capacity boosting project ‘Apprenticeships Are Union Business’ please contact Scarlet Harris, Apprenticeship Policy and Campaigns Officer, TUC |
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Apprenticeship Certificates – Apply now This month, we recap on what you need to do, to ensure that your apprentices have all that they need to apply for their certificates of completion.
Certificate process: Forms need to be completed and sent to us directly with copies of the qualification certificates as evidence. Once received, we will check the evidence and process the certificate. Certificates of completion are then returned to training providers to distribute to candidates. If you have any further questions about certificates of completion, please contact our development team on 020 7091 9620. |
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Woodhorn Museum and Archive Centre have an up-to-date approach to developing its staff, meaning that it has its sights firmly set on the future, whilst actively preserving the past. The County Archives Services is at the centre of a forward-thinking recruitment and training campaign at Woodhorn, Northumberland, and has recently appointed its very first apprentice. 19 year old Robin Brownlee-Sayers, from Whittingham, started at the Archives Service through an Apprenticeship in Business & Administration. Click here to read more.
Click here to read more about Amy. If you want to find out more about the benefits offered through Apprenticeships and Young Apprenticeships, click here. |
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Calling all talented administrators! Sign up and take part in this year’s series of World Skills UK competitions. WorldSkills UK is open to young people and adults who are working towards vocational skills or have gained a qualification in this area. All you need to do now is enter online by Friday 19th March 2010 at www.worldskillsuk.org. Previous winners have gone on to further successes by winning promotions in their company, becoming managers, setting up their own businesses or working for some of the most prestigious companies in the world. There are Please note that entrants from this year’s competitions may also be selected to represent the UK at www.worldskillslondon2011.com We’ll see you there. |
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The inaugural Delivering Diplomas Awards are now open for entries. This is a celebration of innovation, best practice and achievement in Diploma delivery. Open to all consortia members involved in Diploma delivery, the Awards are supported exclusively by the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency. Nominations can be made in five categories - click here to find out more. |
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2009 Modern Apprenticeship Awards The finalists for this year's Modern Apprenticeship Awards have been announced. Now in their eighth year, the Awards are a celebration of the high standards being reached by many employees, employers and learning providers involved in Modern Apprenticeships. APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR - Aged 16 to 19 in the Non-Traditional Sector - Ross Clark - Business Administration L3 Good luck and we’ll be looking out for you at the finals on Wednesday 9th December 2009 at the Radisson Hotel, Glasgow. |
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OCR is delighted to be one of the sponsors of the first CfA conference 'A For further details visit:www.ocr.org.uk |
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A. The Adult Literacy and Adult Numeracy qualification can only be used as an exemption for the Key Skills Test element. Candidates are still required to complete the portfolio element of the Key Skill.
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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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eight good reasons to attend Conference 2009 ‘A focus on change’.
6. Recognise the business benefits of Business & Administration Apprenticeships
And, not too far away… a City of Sunderland College student has embarked on a new phase in her career - by completing an advanced apprenticeship programme at Hackett Property Service, Sunderland. Amy Thoroughgood, 17, from Houghton-le-Spring, worked ferociously to complete an advanced apprenticeship NVQ Level 3 in little over four months. Next on her agenda is to enrol on a part-time Foundation Degree in Leadership and Management at the University of Sunderland with a view to doing a degree in Business Management. 
If you would like to submit information to the CfA eBriefing, please contact Helen Gerlach on 020 7091 9620.
© CfA 2009
