September 2008
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Autumn is truly here with a wet and windy feel to the month. Bringing some much needed sunshine to the world of Business & Administration, the CfA welcomes our established readers and all of our new subscribers to our September eBriefing. You’ll see that we have another packed edition of news, events, features and updates from the CfA and beyond. Bringing a little bit of sunshine to your work, top stories this month are the Business Skills Academy Exeter launch event on 25th September, our continued work with IQPS and our dynamic programme of September events across the UK and Northern Ireland. Read on to find out more. We have news about the new Business, Administration and Finance Diploma and in other news, the CfA is proud to be sponsoring the cycling team at Eclipse Training who undertake the Women for Women cycle ride in Cuba in November. This event will have full television coverage from ITV’s 'This Morning' team, together with Fern Britton who is also taking part. We also have a short feature about the role of a successful PA who began in an office role, information about EUMA, the network of European Management Assistants and an excellent example of work-based learning programmes that have been set up in the North East. 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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CfA launches Business Skills Academy for the South West To celebrate the launch of the Business Skills Academy for the South West, the CfA will host an evening event in Exeter on Thursday 25th September 2008. Whether you are part of an organisation looking for business learning solutions, an employee seeking to develop your skills or improve your career chances, or even if you are just out of school and ready to enter the workplace, the Business Skills Academy is being launched to help you. Guest speakers including partner-organisations and key learning providers will share their views on the benefits that the Academy will bring to the region. They will be able to meet and network between six and eight pm, whilst sharing information on local and regional learning needs and requirements and seeing how the Business Skills Academy will transform the way that vocational training is sourced and delivered. For further information or to see 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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September events – last chance to book places Following on from the success of the 2007/08 events season, this autumn the CfA is running a series of half-day CPD workshops across the UK. September delegates will have the opportunity to attend one or both of our most popular workshops: |
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The Assessor Master ClassThis will assist all assessors from any sector wishing to hone their skills in their quest for Continued Professional Development. Previous workshops have seen audiences from sectors including Care, Retail and Hospitality benefit and discover development techniques that enhance delivery and help to achieve best practice. |
Friend or Foe? – How to Manage Your EV VisitThis workshop will address a range of issues relating to the S/NVQ code of practice and will assist you in ensuring your assessment techniques are meeting your Awarding Body’s requirements. |
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To find out when in September and where the events are taking place and to reserve your place, please click here or go to the online store to book. Remember, as a CfA Network member you can claim your 10% discount directly in-store. For information on how to become a CfA Network Member please click here. |
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The results of this survey will help inform a rebranding activity, development of a revised business plan and expansion of both member benefits and business profile to fit the requirements of qualified professional secretaries in the year 2008 and beyond. We always welcome feedback from our readers. If you have strong views on the professional development of administrators and would like to comment on the IQPS or see the survey results, please contact Kerrie Fuller 020 7091 9622 (dir tel.) 020 7091 7340 (fax.). An IQPS section will feature in our regular eBriefings from now on, so that you will be able to stay in touch with developments at the Institute. |
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forward ePortfolio PLUS: FREE Belfast Demo The CfA are back in Belfast this autumn! This follows last year’s very well attended and successful event that demonstrated 'forward ePortfolio PLUS' and generated much interest in the product. We are delighted to extend to readers a free invitation to attend an ePortfolio demonstration session on Wednesday, 1st of October at City & Guilds offices in central Belfast. This free event will give you a greater understanding of how ePortfolios can benefit you and your candidates in developing greater efficiency in your assessment practices and demonstrate to you why forward ePortfolio PLUS is the most cost-effective, access anywhere ePortfolio solution available on the market today. The event will take place on the morning of the 1st of October and will finish with lunch at around 1230 giving you the opportunity to talk to our staff and network with each other. Numbers at this event are strictly limited. To reserve your place and receive priority information in advance of the demonstration, please contact Cameron Woodrow. email Cameron |
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The Financial Services Skills Council (FSSC) has won funding to undertake a full review of National Occupational Standards (NOS) for Accountancy and for Payroll Administration. The FSSC is now looking for industry involvement in the review of these NOS, which cover: accounting; credit management; internal audit; and payroll administration. The Sector Skills Council, which provides strategic leadership for education, training and skills development for the UK financial services industry, took on responsibility for accountancy and its associated activities in April 2008. The NOS under review were previously developed by the Accountancy Occupational Standards Group and responsibility for maintaining them was handed over to the FSSC in April. The NOS are now due for review, to ensure that their content remains topical and relevant. Due for completion by the end of April 2009, the review will ensure that appropriate qualifications can be developed in time for the main autumn 2009 course intakes. People willing to get involved in the review are asked to email the FSSC Standards Project Consultants, Mike Shillabeer and Jonathan Hirsch, at accounting.standards@fssc.org.uk. Further information can be found on the FSSC website. Read more |
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Business, Administration and Finance Diploma
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e-skills UK is campaigning to make the UK world class in technology skills e-skills UK the Sector Skills Council for IT & Telecoms would like your feedback on revisions proposed to the National Occupational Standards (NOS) relating to Users of Information Technology. These revisions are based on the invaluable input received so far through their consultation website and through initial consultation events last November. These Standards define the levels of IT skills relevant both for the workforce and those seeking employment and underpin the majority of IT user qualifications and government funded IT User training. Making them sufficiently comprehensive and ensuring they address the right skills means better IT skills for all and a better workforce for businesses. To visit the NOS website, please click here |
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Specialist standards for HR Administrators – findings of the HR Administration Study CfA research has shown that to meet the demands of a substantial market, there is a need to develop specialist National Occupational Standards (NOS) 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. If you wish to work with the CfA on the development of these HR Administration NOS, please contact Kelly Saliba. email Kelly Saliba |
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Women for Women cycle ride – Eclipse Training The CfA is extremely proud to be sponsoring Donna Barry and Val Colley from Eclipse Training Ltd. From 13th - 22nd November 2008 they will be taking part in a charity cycling event and joining 'This Morning's' Fern Britton, an ITV film crew and 100 other women in Professor Robert Winston's 8th women-only cycling challenge where they’ll be c Val and Donna will only be able to participate if they manage to raise the required sponsorship of £6,000 between them otherwise they forfeit their places. Donna said: “We’re so very grateful for all the sponsorship we’ve received to date especially from all the companies who paid for sponsorship on our cycling tops like the CfA. I really hope that we’ll be able to raise even more before we go!” If you’d like to make a contribution, please contact either Donna or Val on 01933 358492 or drop them an email. All funds raised will go to the Women for Women Charity, which supports scientists and clinicians specialising in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a range of devastating conditions affecting both women and their babies. To read more, please click here |
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Top PAs – Behind the high-flyers is a top PA
And salaries can be high too – now personal assistants can earn up to £50,000 a year, occupying increasingly important roles within an organisation, sitting in on senior meetings and making business decisions. Jharda Walker, who works for a film director, had not thought about a career in administration when she graduated with a degree in music. Jharda said: “I’d dreamed of becoming a professional musician, but soon realised I needed a regular income, so I took an office job with a housing association and was surprised at how much I enjoyed it." Quickly being promoted to PA, Jharda has been in her current role for six months, keeping everything running smoothly and taking on quite a lot of responsibility. This means responding to important calls and emails and making some key decisions which reflects the trust her boss has in her. This item was first featured in the Mail on Sunday, Sunday 7th September 2008 |
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EUMA – European Management Assistants EUMA (European Management Assistants) is a pan-European network for PA’s and Office Administrators, represented in over 26 countries and focusing on the personal development and future of the PA’s profession. The CfA has been a corporate member for the past two years with access to their database of contacts, international surveys, monthly publications and research. As EUMA supports us in the development of the European Assistant Manager qualifications, EUMA members are often canvassed when we run surveys to obtain the full picture about and views of PAs and Office Administrators across Europe. EUMA promotes the CfA at their annual conferences (the last one boasted over 2,000 attendees) and also supports us in the development of the new European qualifications. You can read more about EUMA by clicking here and seeing the Hot Spots, Media section of their website for monthly interviews with PA’s, covering their roles, skills and competences needed, progression planning, career moves and what relevant changes have taken place within the industry.
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'The Work Place' benefits include:Tailored learning, or course material that can be adapted to meet emerging needs; a programme of facilitated programmes that are mapped against exam specifications and frameworks; flexible spaces with appropriate equipment and resources and a chance to work in a realistic setting without disrupting the business, with access to information on a range of progression routes and career pathways direct from the sources. Any profits from 'The Work Place' are returned to The Vocational Learning Trust (VOLT), to promote work related learning. VOLT was established as a charity by Jane Ritchie, with building and equipment paid for mainly by VOLT (£4.9m) and a grant of £660,000 from ONE North East. It’s a one-stop-shop to access a range of learning resources, teaching materials and educational providers. The Workplace welcomes direct involvement of schools, businesses & training providers in designing practical learning and simulated work experience for young people. For more information click here |
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OCR Functional Skills: Assessment dates for your diary OCR has five assessment opportunities for the second year of the functional skills pilot. This means that you can enter your candidates throughout the year. Levels 1 & 2 assessment opportunities:
OCR’s Entry Level functional skills qualifications for English, Maths and ICT will be available on-demand from September 2008. More information will be available shortly. Support from OCR
For more information visit www.ocr.org.uk/functionalskills or email functionalskills@ocr.org.uk |
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Q:Can Adult Literacy and Adult Numeracy be used as exemptions for Key Skills Communications and Key skills Application of Number? A: The Adult Literacy and Adult Numeracy can only be used as exemptions for the Key Skills Communications and Key skills Application of Number 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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ycling a tremendous 370km across Cuba to raise money for the Women for Women charity.
"Good PAs are well-organised, sharp, technically skilled and exceptional multi-taskers. It’s important to have a good grasp of the industry you are working in to help deal with the pressures at a high level". So says Judith Kark, head of development at secretarial and business college Quest Business Training in South Kensington, West London. She continued: “When you work with someone in a senior position, their expectations will be high.”
If you would like to submit information to the CfA eBriefing, please contact Helen Gerlach on 020 7091 9620.
© CfA 2008
