The Members' handbook is on the web and available now in the 
  MEMBERS AREA.  

Many members are expressing deep concern about the QCF qualifications to be included in the new Apprenticeship Frameworks and it has come to us through what is being generated for the Building Services Industry.   SummitSkills is developing  qualifications which are wholly work-based and which integrate the occupational competence, knowledge and capability elements and these new awards will replace the current suite of NVQs and Technical Certificates.

Learning Centres have traditionally provided full-time learning and skills development at both Levels 2 and 3, using the Technicial Certificates, or similar programmes, to enable unemployed individuals to prepare for Apprenticeships and Advanced Apprentices. 

Discussion with SummitSkills has determined that it is creating an Access Award for the unemployed, which will be a hybrid of Level 1 and Level 2 units.   They say it will be similar to the Diploma, it will include the ‘softer’ skills and it will be very vocationally-based.  This Award will be deliverable in a year and will include a range of knowledge and skills for the main occupations in the Building Services Industry.  The final structure has not yet been defined but SummitSkills says that it will enable successful candidates to progress to the Advanced Apprenticeship.

But where does that leave those unemployed individuals who would wish to develop Level 3 knowledge and skills, to enhance their chances of getting a job?   Will it be the case that you cannot get into the industry unless you have an apprenticeship?

In answer to those questions SummittSkills has said that the knowledge element of the new integrated programme within the Advanced Apprenticeship Framework (Level 3) can be delivered on a full-time basis but they have not yet provided detail on content or duration.   We asked about skills development and they say there is nothing to stop Centres offering skills training courses.  In reply to the question ‘will these be funded’, they say ‘it is not their problem’! 

We say that it is the SSC’s responsibility to ensure that as far as possible the supply of and demand for skilled individuals for the industry should be balanced.   Since skills cannot be generated overnight we need a reserve, and this has been managed by skilling individuals who have a wish to join the industry but who do not yet have a job.   An upturn in the economy is predicted – where will industry find ‘hands to do the work’ if only those already in work have the skills?

Concerns can be listed as follows:

• The degree of clarity about all aspects of these replacement programmes;

• Details are not going to be available for either the integrated work-based or the full-time programmes until May – once again leaving very little time to prepare for delivery in September.   This is exacerbated by the fact that both will be re-structured for QCF requirements;

• Funding for the current suite of work-based and full-time programmes will not be available after August, although registrations have now been extended until December;

• There is still no indication that the new full-time programmes will attract funding.  They will not be viable as ‘full cost’;

• Likelihood of progression to a Foundation Degree or other HE course from any new Level 3 full-time programme is unclear;

• There appears to be no recognition of the advantage to employers of recruiting from full-time vocational programmes (compared with that of recruiting directly from schools).  The risks associated with recruiting what effectively is an unknown quantity from a school are very much higher than recruiting a person with tried knowledge, understanding and attitude from a provider.

NFEC is pursuing these concerns on behalf of its Members and will bring them to the attention of the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. 

If you can identify with the concerns raised here, or if you have others, please do  get in touch – click here to lend more weight to our case! .   

Development of the programme for the May 2010 conference is nearing completion and advance information is available now on the NFEC website.   Early application gets a discount so why not take advantage?

As usual, subjects covered are chosen to address the issues that will be confronting Members in the short and medium term.   

Presentations and discussions will focus on helping delegates analyse and prepare for coming changes that will have a very significant impact upon what they will be doing this autumn.  Among these will be the profound effect on the funding of full-time skills training due to the qualifications changes that are being planned for apprenticeships and the QCF.  Join us and help avert a disaster!

Although funding and qualifications changes will be playing a large part in the proceedings, discussions will cover the delivery of learning from 14+ to Degree level.   You will find plenty to interest you and you will get much benefit - not just from the the formal presentations and related discussions, but also from the opportunity to share good practice with and learn from colleagues in similar roles across the country.

We look forward to meeting and working with you there!

Many Learning Centres continue to offer the ‘day release + evening’ mode of attendance to their learners. This mode has been widely applied to apprentices studying toward ‘technical certificate’ qualifications and has been a feature of apprentice training for several generations.

If your Centre currently offers this mode of attendance then you might well be contravening The Working Time Regulations 1998 and/or The Working Time (amendment) Regulations 2002.

You can use these links to explore the details.

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1998/19981833.htm

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2002/20023128.htm

According to The Working Time Regulations 1998, Part 1 ‘General’, Section 2 ‘Interpretation’

"working time", in relation to a worker, means - 
(b) any period during which he/she is receiving relevant training

According to The Working Time (amendment) Regulations 2002, Item 6

A young worker's working time shall not exceed - 

(a)  eight hours a day, or
(b)  40 hours a week.

According to the Working Time Regulations 1998, Part 1 ‘General’, Section 2 ‘Interpretation’

‘young worker’ means a worker who has attained the age of 15 but not the age of 18 and who, as respects England and Wales, is over compulsory school age (construed in accordance with section 8 of the Education Act 1996) and, as respects Scotland, is over school age (construed in accordance with section 31 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980)

So, if you have employed students, under the age of 18, attending your learning centre for ‘relevant training’, and attending classes for more than an 8 hour day (not counting rest periods, lunch, tea, etc), then you are probably contravening The Working Time Regulations!   

It would seem that it is the employer’s responsibility to take all reasonable steps, in keeping with the health and safety of workers, to ensure that the 40 hour limit is complied with.

The regulations provide that any legal proceedings would be taken against the employer.  However, this could lead to the employer suffering a financial loss which could prompt the employer to bring a legal action against your Centre.

What you are doing could be worth a review!                                                                                                           

With the broad changes affecting the sector, EAL is looking to support NFEC Centres and their employer partners with information, events and a new weekly E-Bulletin focusing on the transition to QCF and Functional Skills .

A new dedicated area of the EAL website – at www.eal.org.uk/qcf.aspx - provides detailed information on QCF, including practical guidance, regulatory news and the latest on qualification availability and funding.  The weekly E-Bulletin offers a regular update to help ease the transition and provide key details and support.  To subscribe, you just need to email marketing@eal.org.uk

EAL is approved by OFQUAL as a Functional Skills awarding organisation and plans to offer Functional Skills qualifications at Level 1 and 2 in English, Mathematics and Information and Communication Technology.   

EAL’s assessment tasks have been submitted for FQUAL approval. To get the latest updates and support for Centres, go to www.eal.org.uk/functional_skills.aspx and subscribe to the E-Bulletin.

As well as attending all regional and national NFEC events, EAL is holding its own series of regional QCF events for Centres in April. Dedicated events on Functional Skills are also planned once final approval has been achieved from OFQUAL, to help Centres identify what they need to prepare for and deliver these qualifications.

EAL says that their website and weekly E-Bulletins will always have the latest information - take advantage!

Edexcel continues to revise its BTEC Engineering qualifications to fit the requirements of the QCF.  Next up are the BTEC HND in Manufacturing Engineering and you have an opportunity to comment upon what they propose  

See the Proposed Structure                     View the Unit Summaries

'The Guilds' is also making progress on converting qualifications to fit the QCF.  You can see the 'state of play' by clicking here. 

City & guilds will welcome any comments or suggestions you may have - feed them to us and we will forward                                                                                                                                              

NOT YET A MEMBER OF NFEC? - then find out how you can help us to help you!   Enjoy the support of engineering and technology's independent grouping of employers, group training providers, colleges, professional training companies and specialist schools.