In this month's issue

Important Announcement on Key Skills Proxies 

The CFA has received new advice from the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) that qualifications on the QCDA key skills proxies list cannot be accepted as part of a SASE Apprenticeship.

All learners on the SASE Apprenticeships must achieve (or have achieved) one of the qualifications listed in the frameworks for each transferable skill. No other qualifications can be accepted.

Based on earlier advice, the CFA previously indicated that key skills proxies could be used in the frameworks. However, NAS has now made it clear that this is not the case. Therefore, CFA cannot accept key skills proxy qualifications, only the listed transferable skills qualifications. This advice applies to all learners on SASE Apprenticeships.

We apologise for any confusion and inconvenience this may cause.

However, your Awarding Organisation may accept your learner’s existing qualifications towards achieving part or all of a transferable skill qualification listed in the framework. Please contact them if you wish to find out more.

Awarding Organisations are responsible for certificating these transferable skills qualifications and the CFA cannot make this decision on their behalf.

If you need any further information, please contact the CFA on 020 7091 9620 or Apprenticeships@cfa.uk.com

CFA December and January workshops: Putting Quality in the QCF    

Due to the huge success of our October workshops Putting Quality into the QCF, the CFA have launched a second series of dates which will spread across December and into January 2012.

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 CPD and assessment & quality assurance
• 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:

• London: 14th December 2011, 10:00 – 16:00
  Lion Court Conference Centre - 25 Procter Street, London, WC1V 6NY
• Bristol: 24th January 2012, 10:00 – 16:00
  Mercure Bristol Brigstow Hotel, Welsh Back, Bristol BS1 4SP
• Newcastle: 26th January 2012, 10:00 – 16:00
  Marriott Metro Centre Hotel - MetroCentre, Gateshead, NE11 9XF

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”

Interested in delivering the revised Scottish Management MA?

In September this year the CFA announced that revised frameworks for Level 3, 4 and 5 Management Modern Apprenticeships had been approved by MAG (the Modern Apprenticeship Group).

If you are interested in delivering the Management MA it is essential that you contact the CFA first.

The CFA are responsible for all candidate registration and certification for the three new management frameworks.

To register with the CFA, Scottish training providers and Modern Apprenticeship Centres can download and fill in the Scottish Management Centre Registration Form by clicking on this link.

You can also take a look at the revised frameworks on the CFA website

If you have any queries regarding the Management Modern Apprentices email the CFA at info@cfa.uk.com or call 020 7091 9620.

Share your experience in Management & Leadership with the CFA

The CFA are currently reviewing the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for Management & Leadership. These standards describe what managers and team leaders need to do, know and understand to carry out their role in a consistent and competent way.

We are currently looking for volunteers with experience in Management and Leadership to support this NOS review. The aim is to update the existing standards so that they reflect current practice, skills and knowledge. Ensuring that the required functions carried out by managers and team leaders meet the needs of employers across all sectors of the UK economy.

The public consultation on the revised draft Management & Leadership standards will commence in December 2011.

If you are interested in taking part in this consultation, please register your interest by emailing standards@cfa.uk.com with your name, organisation job title and email address.

The best support for Business & Administration standards

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.

Entry for WorldSkills UK National competitions now open!

WorldSkills UK have recently announced details of a new series of fifty-five national competitions for 2012.

Applicants with the highest scores in their chosen skill could even go on to represent Team UK at WorldSkills Leipzig 2013 or a future national competition.

This year, Team UK have celebrated their biggest success yet, winning five gold, two silver and six bronze medals at WorldSkills London 2011 in October. Made up of skills champions from all over the UK, the team’s highest proportion of champions come from Northern Ireland and the South-East of England.

Following the success of WorldSkills London 2011, the CFA would like to encourage all employers, providers and learners to get involved wherever possible.

If you can’t make it to one of the nationally organised competitions then it’s possible to organise one of your own. To get started, simply download the activity kit provided on the WorldSkills UK website.

Deadline for entries is 15th March 2012. Visit the WorldSkills UK website to find out more about how to enter.

Rethinking Apprenticeships with the Institute of Public Policy Research

On 15th November the Institute of Public Policy released a new report titled Rethinking Apprenticeships. Edited by Senior Economist Tony Dolphin and Research Fellow Tess Lanning, the first part of the report explores how the role of Apprenticeships can be strengthened in both society and the economy. The second part looks into an institutional framework for Apprenticeships and what a thriving and successful version would look like.

The report also looks at how Apprenticeships support young people’s transition into work, in an economy where employer demand has been persistently low. Furthermore, the Editors discuss the quality of Apprenticeships currently on the market, reporting that in 2009/2010 Customer Service was the most common Apprenticeship sector – followed by Business & Administration.

The report also uses figures to highlight recent trends in Apprenticeships, including:

• 37,000 out of the 126,000 extra Apprenticeship courses created in 2010 went to people aged 16 – 24
• 77% of Business & Administration apprentices were female
• Apprenticeship growth in 2010:
• 16 – 18 year-olds: 10%
• 19 – 24 year-olds: 22%
• Over 25s: 257%

Click on the following link to read the report: Rethinking Apprenticeships

Short Apprenticeships review

Following the introduction of Specification of Apprenticeship standards for England (SASE), every short Apprenticeship programme will be reviewed by the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) and the Skills Funding Agency (SFA). This review will consider the circumstances of programmes and decide whether they meet the comprehensive standards established for Apprenticeships.

A statement released by NAS said that the criteria will be based on, “SASE, the requirements of the Apprenticeship Framework approved by the relevant Issuing Authority, the Quality of Apprenticeships Delivery Model and the Funding Requirements.”

However, NAS have warned that funding will be removed from programmes which fail to meet the required standard. Though if they provide valuable training for young people who would otherwise not be in education, training or employment, NAS will help them secure alternative funding - where appropriate.

NAS have already reported that the De Vere Group’s programme does not meet the required standards for Apprenticeship programmes. However, NAS intends to work with the hospitality group along with the Sector Skills Council to develop a new ‘Access to Apprenticeship’ pathway for young people who want to work in the sector.

Prime Minister: £250 million plan to boost vocational training in businesses

In the New Year, employers will be given the opportunity to bid for a share of David Cameron’s recently announced £250 million fund. Businesses will then have the opportunity to invest this money towards designing, developing and purchasing a vocational training programme for their own organisation.

The fund is being championed by UKCES – the UK Commission for Employment and Skills.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: “I know times are tough - especially for young people - who are trying to get their foot in the door and launch their career. That is why I am determined to do all that we can to give people the very best skills, training and opportunities to succeed; and why despite tough spending decisions we are investing in record number of Apprenticeships.

“We are seeing an incredible take up of these Apprenticeship places. I want that to continue, which is why we are taking action to make it easier to take on apprentices, and now we are giving employers the power to take control of the training so that it best meets the skills they need.

“I hope this radical new approach will encourage even more employers to take on apprentices and ensure that the UK workforce has the skills we need to boost growth.”

The hope is that the fund will encourage employers to become more active and enterprising in the way they engage employees and attract new staff.

The fund will be open to businesses of all sizes and sectors. Any bids will need to demonstrate how they would support Apprenticeships and raise the UK workforces’ skill levels.

A joint formal prospectus will be released by the government and UKCES early in 2012.

Question of the month

Q: My learner has an A-Level in Applied ICT. Are they able to use this for their ICT transferable skill?

A: Yes. The CFA will accept GCSE’s, AS or A-Levels in Applied ICT for the transferable skill in the SASE framework.