NVQs - Tourism North East

NVQs (National Vocational Qualifications)

NVQs (National Vocational Qualifications) are flexible, practical, nationally-recognised qualifications. There are over a thousand NVQ courses designed to build real skills in roles across 80 different sectors. All NVQs, at whatever level, have been designed, in conjunction with educationalists, by employers from that sector, in order to deliver the skills that are really needed.

They are available to all ages, at any career stage and no previous qualifications are necessary. There are a huge number of options, to suit all types of role in all types of sector. Because they are module based, you can select the variety of modules that builds exactly the skills you are looking for. You can also study at the level that suits you (see below) from entry level to Level 5 (approximately equivalent to master or doctorate level in academic study). You can start at the appropriate level for your current abilities and keep building for as long as you want.

Examples

Here are some examples of NVQs, taken from the current Learn Direct website. But be aware there are literally hundreds of options. Your NVQ will be put together in a way that suits your role, your needs and your personal development requirements.


Example NVQs - taken from the Learn Direct site
ITQ The average worker loses nearly an hour a day through inefficient use of new technology. That can add up to 30 unproductive days a year for each employee. This course helps business get the most from their investment in technology by providing employees with the right IT skills for their job.
Customer Service NVQ It can cost up to five times more to acquire a new customer than it does to retain an existing one. This course will give your employees the skills your company needs to profit from better customer service.
BIT (Business Improvement Techniques) NVQ This course gives employees new skills to increase productivity, as well as reducing costs and wastage within your company. The training has been developed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of your workforce.
Business & Administration NVQ This course helps your employees develop into highly skilled, highly effective business people. The course is aimed at individuals working in administration-based roles who would like to develop their work-related skills, knowledge and understanding.
Management NVQ This course is a highly flexible qualification designed to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes managers need to perform more effectively in an organisational environment. This course will enable your employees to develop their performance in their job and become a more effective manager.
Retail NVQ This Retail Skills course is designed to help employees from all backgrounds develop knowledge and skills in crucial areas of retail and make a real difference to the efficiency and productivity of your business.
Team Leading NVQ This course gives practising and aspiring team leaders a solid foundation on which to develop their leadership skills, helping them motivate their team members and achieve agreed targets.

Levels of NVQ

There are different levels of NVQ. The descriptions in this table are taken from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority website at http://www.qca.org.uk/14-19/qualifications/index_nvqs.htm. The comparisons with academic qualifications are taken from the Edexcel site at http://www.edexcel.org.uk/quals/nqf-grid/.

Levels Description


Level 1		Competence that involves the application of knowledge in the performance of a range of varied work activities, most of which are routine and predictable.
Level 2	Can be compared to GCSE level	Competence that involves the application of knowledge in a significant range of varied work activities, performed in a variety of contexts. Some of these activities are complex or non-routine and there is some individual responsibility or autonomy. Collaboration with others, perhaps through membership of a work group or team, is often a requirement.
Level 3	Can be compared to A level	Competence that involves the application of knowledge in a broad range of varied work activities performed in a wide variety of contexts, most of which are complex and non-routine. There is considerable responsibility and autonomy and control or guidance of others is often required.
Level 4	Can be compared to Degrees and Certificates of Higher Education	Competence that involves the application of knowledge in a broad range of complex, technical or professional work activities performed in a variety of contexts and with a substantial degree of personal responsibility and autonomy. Responsibility for the work of others and the allocation of resources is often present.
Level 5	Can be compared to Doctorate and Master level	Competence that involves the application of a range of fundamental principles across a wide and often unpredictable variety of contexts. Very substantial personal autonomy and often significant responsibility for the work of others and for the allocation of substantial resources features strongly, as do personal accountabilities for analysis, diagnosis, design, planning, execution and evaluation.

How NVQs work

NVQs are a very hands-on way to learn. You work at your own pace and there are no formal tests or exams. Although you can study NVQs at college or online, they are best suited to work-based learning.

An assessor meets with you in your workplace and together you set objectives and break these down into modules. Then you work through each module, identifying sources of information and learning (courses, e-courses, reading, TV etc) to help you grow your understanding, skills and knowledge. You develop a portfolio of evidence (from real work situations) that shows you have acquired competency for each module, and your assessor regularly visits to ask questions, look at your portfolio and suggest improvements or developments.

When the assessor thinks you are demonstrating the required level of skill, judgement and application you are credited with that module and move onto the next one. When you have completed the required number of modules you gain a nationally recognised qualification.

Choosing a training provider

Only approved providers - colleges and private sector training providers - can deliver NVQs. You can study NVQs at a learning centre, but they have been designed to be studied and evidenced through work, not through theoretical learning, so they are much better suited to work-based learning.

The best way to find an appropriate training provider for your NVQ is to contact a skills broker.

You can also contact Learn Direct or, for tourism specific courses, search the UKSP (UK Skills Passport) pages of the People 1st website. People 1st are the skills sector for the tourism and hospitality sector.

See our page Finding a Training Provider for more help.