News - May 2007

Industry Comment - Train or Gain?

This month, Robin Lodge, Director of Accredited training, talks about VRQs and NVQs.

According to research*, two thirds of UK employers believe that the Government is right to prioritise basic skills training.

However, while a small majority say they are likely to make the skills ‘pledge’ – a promise to help every eligible employee to gain basic skills and a level 2 qualification – there is a significant challenge ahead in convincing all employers that making the skills pledge will have real benefits in the workplace.

As a training and development company, we have always been committed to seeing the development of people - adding and enhancing skills and personal qualities to help individuals and their organisations achieve more. An NVQ, National Vocational Qualification, which is a great qualification to have, however, is a ratification of existing skills and, in our view, very few NVQ programmes offer actual development opportunities, however a VRQ - Vocational Related Qualification, however, is specifically designed to upskill individuals.

Our programme design for NVQs does include a development element - because that is part of our vision and culture - but we are, we believe, an exception to the rule. The Government's funding criteria for initiatives such as Train to Gain are very heavily focussed on NVQs. Is this development or just 'gaining' a qualification for the sake of it?

We have been a market leader in funded programmes over a number of years and are keen to see traditional training programmes (VRQs) in addition to NVQs included in the Train to Gain portfolio. We believe its best for the individual - not just PDT! We would be very interested to hear from any organisation that would support this.

Further information:
- The Leitch Report
- CIPD comment *
- Train to Gain

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