October 2008
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Credit crunch, stock market turmoil, what next? Well, to focus on what we are able to control, take you away from the financial traumas and offer some stability in amongst the mayhem, we invite you to once again join us for the monthly CfA eBriefing. With yet another edition packed with news and events, features and updates from the CfA and further afield, top stories this month look at the successful launch of the Business Skills Academy in Exeter, the imminent launch of the new Business, Administration and Finance Diploma website, plus more on our continuing programme of events across the UK and Northern Ireland. Read on to find out more. In other news, the CfA once again follows the cycling team at Eclipse Training who will undertake the Women for Women Cuba cycle ride in November. This event has already had full television coverage from ITV’s 'This Morning' team, together with Fern Britton who is also taking part. If any readers spot the CfA logo on the Eclipse Training cycling tops then do let us know. We also have a summary of EDI’S Healthy Living Award, a look at how the US sees careers in administration and a snapshot of the EuroSkills 2008 event held in Rotterdam a few weeks ago, plus an explanation of some of the many psychometric tests that are offered for interview candidates. This doesn’t even complete what else we have in the eBriefing this month, so I hope you’ll scroll down to see the full picture of Business & Administration from CfA throughout this October. 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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Business Skills Academy launch event The CfA is proud to announce the successful launch of the Business Skills Academy for the South West. Over fifty major players from local and regional businesses and selected learning providers met together at the Royal Clarence Hotel, Exeter on Thursday 25th September. Messages of support came from Colin Breed MP for South East Cornwall and Graham Watson MEP, who sent a video clip from his Brussels office. Genuinely led and supported by a wide range of employers in the region, the Business Skills Academy offers a one-stop shop for business skills development. It is the only scheme to have full support of three major sector bodies - CfA, the Institute of Customer Service and the Management Standards Centre at the Chartered Management Institute. Throughout the launch event, guest speakers from partner-organisations and key learning providers shared their views on the benefits that the Academy will bring to the region. To see the full press release and for further information on how your organisation could become part of the Business Skills Academy for the South West, please visit the Business Skills Academy site.
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The in-depth sessions were very well received and as well as providing the ideal forum to have queries answered and points of confusion clarified, the events served as the perfect networking opportunity and encouraged the sharing of best practice between delegates. Many delegates commented that they would continue this trend when they returned to work, with raising points for discussion and sharing new ideas with their colleagues top of their agendas.
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Due to ever increasing demand, the CfA are pleased to announce a round of free ePortfolio demonstration events throughout November 2008. These free events will give you a greater understanding of how ePortfolios can benefit not only you, but also your candidates in developing greater efficiency in your assessment practices and show why forward ePortfolio PLUS is the most cost-effective, access anywhere ePortfolio solution available on the market today. With demonstration events planned to take place in Glasgow, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester, we are registering delegates who are interested in attending. So if you do wish to see our ePortfolio system ‘Forward’ in action, please email cameron.woodrow@cfa.uk.com. Places for the free events are strictly limited and will be given on a first come first served basis. You will be contacted with exact times and dates once numbers have been confirmed. Remember, as a CfA Network member you can claim your 10% discount directly in-store for future events. For information on how to become a CfA Network Member please click here.
email Cameron |
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EuroSkills 2008: first ever Europe-wide competition in vocational education
The concept behind EuroSkills is to raise the image, quality and attractiveness of vocational education and training. This event created a unique platform to demonstrate, test, compare and improve general skills and competence levels of the future labour force, offering a range of competitions to suit almost every vocation. An ideal way of promoting excellence and recognising the talent of Europe's best trainees and graduates, EuroSkills 2008 is organised by a newly established association, the European Skills Promotion Organisation (ESPO), in cooperation with Skills Netherlands. The European Commission supports the organisation of the event through funds from the Lifelong Learning Programme. For more information about EuroSkills and the 2008 competition, please click here |
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It has been said that the single most tinkered-with job title is “secretary”. In 2005, the International Association of Administrative Professionals, (previously the U.S. National Secretaries Association), said that it had more than 500 job titles under its remit. These varied from “front desk co-ordinator”, to “specialised medical secretary”, “office supervisor” and “junior administrative assistant”. Research has also suggested that companies often resort to giving out ‘big’ job titles, or what the trade calls ‘up titling’, as substitutes for salary rises when market conditions get tighter – as they are at the moment perhaps. Some specialists however, have predicted that it will be more and more usual for people to have two titles and to change them more frequently. Or alternatively, no job titles at all! For further insight into the International Association of Administrative Professionals please click here and to read more entertaining new facts similar to the ones above, see The Unwritten Laws of Life: Unofficial Rules as Handed Down by Murphy and Other Sages, by Hugh Rawson. Background to this article was featured in The Times, Saturday 13th September 2008, in the Business Life section |
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In the U.S., one way in to the world of administration is often as a generalist, working for one of the major career fields that need well-trained administrators such as medical health service administrators in hospitals, clinics, research labs or private medical offices. These administrators are essential to ensure staff efficiency, billing accuracy, technology integration and patient record security. There is currently huge growth in the field of Medical and Health Services Administrators in the U.S., as shown by their Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). It predicts an incredible 16 percent growth in jobs for medical and health services administrators from 2006-2016 and even now, almost 40 percent of current administrator jobs are with hospitals. The BLS also reports that the 2007 average annual wage for medical and health services administrators was $76,990, with top-tier annual wages at $132,580. Another option available to you could be as an Administrative services manager working for businesses and non-profit organisations (such as CfA in the U.K.). These administrators often oversee support operations in human resources, payroll, secretarial, travel planning, supply and procurement, facilities, or customer relations. They are known for having critical thinking skills, a good eye for budgeting and sound communication skills. Some administrators then work their way into leadership roles from entry-level positions; others advance by combining company service with degree work, either undergraduate or post-graduate level, in finance, management, business, accounting, human resources, or technology. According to the BLS, the 2007 average annual wage for administrative services managers was $70,990, with top annual earnings at $124,520. If you are interested in reading more about the career institutes in the U.S. that offer training and programmes for administration careers please click here. Material for this article came from Kelli Smith, senior editor for Edu411.org |
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Eclipse Training – CfA sponsored Cuba cycle ride Since our last update, Donna and Val of Eclipse Training have now completed their Cotswolds training weekend (filmed by ITV and already aired on ‘This Morning’). Pleased with their performance, they cycled more than 80 miles on what proved a great bench-marking exercise with other cyclists, seeing them come in at joint second out of fifty. Well done ladies! With fundraising for the Cuba event going well, the team of two is on target to reach the £6,000 required to take part in the cycle ride and is proudly wearing cycling t-shirts complete with CfA logos at every opportunity. To catch up with the latest developments please click here.
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The qualification also serves to introduce the learner to the concept of physical fitness and how this may be gained on a personal level. Suitable for any learner over the age of 14, the qualification has a strong practical element and is assessed through a portfolio of coursework and a short paper-based or interactive online test. Learners will be required to plan, participate in and evaluate a healthy living programme. For more information, please email enquiries@ediplc.com or telephone 08707 202909 |
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The Scottish Qualifications Authority has recently revised the Core Skills that form a compulsory part of the Scottish Modern Apprenticeship for Business & Administration. The reason for these revisions is to bring core skills up to date with current thinking and emerging technologies. The core skills are:
Learners registering on EDI’s Scottish Modern Apprenticeship package will be registered against the revised core skills. For more information, please email enquiries@ediplc.com or telephone 08707 20290 |
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Financial Services Skills Council update
The Diploma in Business Administration and Finance provides young people with a challenging, exciting and motivating experience, which will engage and prepare them for the world of business. Other Diploma news this month:
For more information, please contact Danica Tauri at FSSC: insert email Danica Tauri at the FSSC Tel: 0845 618 2366 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Build your business This November, City & Guilds is offering master classes for training providers and employers on the delivery of business qualifications such as Business and Administration, IT, Customer Service, Contact Centre, Sales and Marketing. These will explain:
For further information please go to the City and Guilds website Working with business |
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City & Guilds and AMSPAR collaboration
City & Guilds are pleased to be working with AMSPAR (The Association of Medical Secretaries, Practice Managers, Administrators and Receptionists) and now manage the AMSPAR suite of medical terminology, reception and secretarial qualifications. All five qualifications have recently been accredited by Ofquals and documentation is available on this dedicated web page.
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New Health and Safety qualification
City & Guilds have a brand new Health and Safety qualification, which will be of benefit to CfA stakeholders: Level 2 Award in Health and Safety for the Workplace. Key features of the qualification are:
Are you interested in taking this qualification? If so, please click here and enter 3682 into the Search Engine
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The Executive PA Magazine Awards 2008
Possessing outstanding communication skills, excellent administrative flair and having a thorough understanding of the company they work for and their role within it, click here to find out who the winning Executive PA Magazine: PA of the year 2008 is.
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Winners will be announced at the Awards evening at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London, on 23rd October. For further information about the awards, please contact awards@times higher education.co.uk or click here.
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Testing Times – typing, admin skills & psychometric testing
There are two main categories of psychometric testing – aptitude tests where answers are in a multiple-choice format, having a correct answer, to be given within a set time period, and personality tests. Personality tests are less straightforward with no right or wrong answers although you may find yourself being asked a similar question several times, in slightly different ways, to test for consistency of response – and practice can make perfect. The benefits for employers are many: Firstly, the company is enabled to differentiate between candidates who may be very similar on paper; secondly, tests like these can be used as part of the appraisal and personal development process for employees once they are in a job, as they help to work out strengths, weaknesses, set objectives and contribute to a positive working life; thirdly, psychometric testing takes much of the subjectivity out of the selection process for the employer although many companies do still recruit based on their ‘gut feel’ for a candidate. For more information about psychometric testing click here. Saville Consulting develop rigorous and work relevant measuring tools which have transformed traditional approaches to assessment around the world.
Some background material featured in this item was first published in TopSecretarial.com September edition |
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Q: Is the Induction Workbook still available for apprentices on the 2005 Business & Administration Apprenticeship and Advanced Apprenticeship frameworks? A: The CfA has replaced the Induction Workbook with an Employment Rights and Responsibilities (ERR) workbook. It is no longer mandatory to use the ERR workbook but learners do find it a particularly useful resource which helps them prepare for core unit assessment in either the Business & Administration apprenticeships, NVQ or SVQ.
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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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The CfA have returned from another successful events season. With workshops attended by members and non-members across the UK, we had the opportunity to meet delegates in Leeds, Birmingham, Edinburgh and London during our half-day sessions. These were: ‘Assessor Master Class’ and ‘Friend or Foe? How to manage your EV visit’.
With the slogan "Skills for a strong Europe", EuroSkills 2008 drew over 400 talented young students and graduates in vocational education and training from across Europe. Entrants attended a series of competitions and demonstrations at Rotterdam's Ahoy arena from 18th-20th September 2008. A total of 49 trades were showcased at EuroSkills 2008 and these included florists and web designers, administrators, electricians, motorcycle technicians and nurses to name just a few.
This month we thought we’d let you hear some more news from the other side of the pond as we get a feel for how a career in administration looks to our American cousins.
EDI has recently launched the EDI Level 1 Award in Healthy Living, a qualification that has been developed for learners who wish to gain and apply the knowledge required to lead active, healthy lifestyles. 
Following on from our news about the Diploma in Business, Administration and Finance (BAF) in September's eBriefing, we are now delighted to announce that the new look BAF Diploma website will be launched on 17th October. To access the site, please 
The Executive PA Magazine awards on Friday offered a unique opportunity to reward hard work and professionalism. PAs organise business travel, schedule meetings, book conferences, assist HR and provide essential backup to today's heads of industry - PAs keep businesses and organisations running efficiently and winning an ‘Executive PA Magazine: PA of the year’ award is the ultimate accolade for any PA, bringing a huge boost to anyone's CV. 
Four years ago saw the launch of the Times Higher Education Awards and for the 2008 Awards, over 130 institutions have submitted more than 500 entries for 18 different categories. This shows a higher education sector that is truly innovative, imaginative and inspirational. 
With excellent typing and admin skills, you might expect to walk into that top secretarial job with ease. With more and more companies starting to use psychometric testing though, it’s important to get a grasp of what’s on offer in preparation for that all-important interview. 
If you would like to submit information to the CfA eBriefing, please contact Helen Gerlach on 020 7091 9620.
© CfA 2008
