Research into NVQ Provision

and Progression Routes in the South West

Presentation by Nigel Tremlett for

South West Employment and Skills Forum

8th January 2004

Research coverage

Key economic sectors

Aerospace & Advanced engineering;

Food and Drink;

ICT; Marine; and Tourism.

Emerging sectors

Biotechnology; Creative industries; Environmental

technologies; and The underpinning

technologies

Research objectives

1. Review existing research data and plans for NVQ delivery in the region;

2. Map NVQ delivery by NVQ level and sector;3. Identify and map progression opportunities

and constraints from NVQ Level 1 to Level 5;4. Identify gaps and oversupply against demand;5. Review and assess past, current and intended

relevant key studies; and6. Providing appropriate recommendations for

the future development of progression routes by sector.

Research methodology

Literature review Quantitative analysis

Validation work

Reporting

Interviews and consultations

Research issues

Work-based and FE provision; Sources of data; Currency of data; Involvement of different

stakeholders; NVQ focus.

The National Qualifications Framework

Level of qualification

General“academic”

Vocationally related

Occupational

5 Higher level qualifications

Level 5 NVQ

4 BTEC higher nationals Level 4 NVQ

3(Advanced)

A LevelAdvanced

GNVQ Level 3 NVQ

2(Intermediate

)

GCSE Grades A-C

Intermediate GNVQ Level 2 NVQ

1(Foundation)

GCSE Grades D-G

Foundation GNVQ Level 1 NVQ

Findings at the South West regional level

Type and geography of NVQ provision

Provision levels in relation to SW working population

Comparison with national figures

Type and geography of SW Provision

Table 3.4 South West population compared with all NVQ learners

Population/LLSC

Devon & Cornwall

Somerset BournemouthDorset &

Poole

West Of

England

Wiltshire &

Swindon

Glosc SouthWest

Total Population

1,576,000 498,000 692,000 983,000 613,000 565,000 4,927,000

Working age pop

688,000 231,000 309,000 474,000 311,000 273,000 2,286,000

Work-based NVQs

16,820 4,690 6,711 7,257 4,673 4,948 45,099

FE/HE NVQs 13,048 4,006 6,211 9,270 8,541 3,344 44,420

All NVQs 29,868 8,696 12,922 16,527 13,214 8,292 89,519

Workingpop/ NVQs

1/23 1/27 1/24 1/29 1/24 1/33 1/25

Swindon

Abergavenny

Avonmouth

Barnstaple

Bath

Bournemouth

Brecon

Bristol

Bude

Cardiff

Cardigan

Carmarthen Cheltenham

Exeter

Falmouth

Fishguard

Haverfordwest

Hereford

Honiton

Ilfracombe

Launceston

Llanelli

Newport

Newquay

Pembroke

Penzance

Plymouth

Salisbury

Swansea

Taunton

Torquay

Truro

Weston-super-Mare

Weymouth

Yeovil

Key Workingpopulation

NVQLearners

Devon & Cornwall – 688,000

Somerset – 231,000Bournemouth,

Dorset & Poole – 309,000

Wiltshire & Swindon – 311,000

Gloucestershire – 273,000

West of England – 472,000

South West regional level – The geography of provision

National comparison

% of NVQ certificates awarded at five levels 2002

Level National South West

Level 1 18% 14%Level 2 58% 49%Level 3 21% 35%Level 4/5 3% 3%

Findings for theEnvironmental Technologies

sector

1. NVQ availability2. NVQ provision3. Levels of supply and progression

opportunities4. Main gaps in provision5. Validation work with employers6. Key recommendations

1. NVQ availability

Eighty NVQs identified nationally as being currently available and relevant to ET sector

All at level 3 or above; Six at level 4 and one at level 5; Good coverage of two manufacturing

sub-sectors (electricity distribution and ventilation equipment), poorer coverage of two others (sewage/refuse disposal and collection/purification of water).

2. NVQ provision

Sixty two of the eighty NVQs identified were actually provided in the South West in 2001-02

A total of over 9,500 learners were on these 62 courses in 2001-02;

Virtually all of these at level 3; Most of this provision was work-based;

and Concentrated in three LSC areas:

• Devon & Cornwall;• West of England; and • Bournemouth, Dorset & Poole.

3. Levels of supply and progression opportunities

In terms of numbers of learners, there is sufficient supply to meet demand for labour replacement and productivity gains;

In terms of progression opportunities, the development of the sector is limited by;

NVQ level; and Course type and depth.

4. Main gaps in provision

Levels 4 and 5 overall; Short, modular courses; Areas/topics;

Energy usage; Waste management; CAD skills; Environmental legislation;

Depth and content of current NVQs.

5. Validation work with employers

Agreement with overall findings, but; No great concern over lack of NVQs at levels

4 and 5, because it was felt that staff at this level would need degrees or postgraduate qualifications and “years of experience”;

Divided opinions over manner of NVQ provision, some satisfied, others not.

5. Validation work with employers (ctd)

Generally poor perception of NVQs; “NVQs don’t meet our (specific) skills needs”;

and “NVQs are very, very basic”.

NVQs not seen as being relevant to future of sector;

“NVQs not relevant to ET”, “We need graduates/MScs/PhDs/etc, not

vocational qualifications”

6. Recommendations for ET sector

NVQs needed for missing subjects; Existing NVQs need to be updated

and more advanced in content; Short, modular courses needed; Provision at levels 4 and 5

required; and The administration and

bureaucracy associated with NVQs needs to be simplified.

Summary of overall recommendations 1

SupplySupply of of

NVQs NVQs

(Perceived) (Perceived)

Quality of Quality of NVQsNVQs

Employer/ Employer/ learner learner demand demand for NVQsfor NVQs

Summary of overall recommendations 2

Seven key recommendations

1. Increase overall levels of NVQ provision;2. Provision to fill identified gap areas;3. Improved opportunities for progression within

existing NVQ framework;4. Modular provision and short courses;5. Improved/advanced course coverage; 6. Improved spatial delivery; and7. Improve the image of NVQs to encourage

uptake among a greater proportion of employers.