A new service launched by awarding body Edexcel will enable employers to benchmark their training programmes and departments against national standards, and develop training schemes that lead to nationally recognised
qualifications.
The innovative service gives training managers a one-stop-shop for advice and support on a comprehensive range of training issues.
Our experience has shown us that employers want a single source of expertise on training and development. We''ve called the service Providing Solutions because we believe we can help to find a solution to most training
requirements, says Edexcel''s Jim Coyle, Business Development Manager.
While Investors in People goes some way towards recognising the importance of developing the skills and knowledge of people in an organisation, because
it is a ''whole organisation'' review it does not specifically emphasise the importance of training activities, Jim Coyle adds. Indeed the Edexcel
service is a good starting point for those wishing to prepare for the IIP
award.
The new benchmark means that employers can be 100 per cent confident about their programmes meeting national standards - whether the training is
delivered in-house or by a training provider.
Programmes are assessed against criteria that have been established by training experts. Successful endorsement shows that a programme meets the specific needs of the organisation and is adequately resourced. It also
confirms that the programme is made available to the right people in the organisation and is monitored and evaluated appropriately. A BTEC certificate of endorsement is awarded for each programme that meets the
criteria and to each trainee who subsequently completes it.
This process can also be applied to an organisation''s training department. The department must show that its training and development strategy is consistent with the organisation''s corporate strategy and that its work is
subject to appropriate monitoring and evaluation. Departments that meet the standards gain a BTEC certificate.
Edexcel has a long history of working with employers to develop work-related qualifications in sectors as diverse as human resources management and environmental conservation. Leading employers in the private and public
sectors choose Edexcel for their qualifications because the organisation offers a flexible approach while also guaranteeing national standards.
The Government''s Department for Work and Pensions, formerly the Benefits Agency, has used Edexcel''s customer service and call-handling qualifications for nine years now. We are continually enhancing the skills of our staff
to deliver improvements in business performance, says Glynis Northwood, the Department''s training manager. Edexcel provides qualifications that meet
our needs and a responsive and supportive approach to customer service.
Making sure that the right staff get the right training is rarely straightforward. A skills audit can identify which skills are required where, so that resources can be targeted where they are most needed. We can audit the whole organisation or just specific departments, Jim Coyle
explains. The employer receives a report recommending the training needed to fill the gaps.
Another strand of the Providing Solutions package helps employers to develop training programmes that lead to nationally recognised qualifications.
Existing courses can be upgraded to meet the required standards or entirely new programmes developed to meet specific needs. By positioning a training programme on a progression ladder trainees are able to see how they
can develop their careers further, resulting in more committed, motivated staff.
The Eden Project is one example of an organisation that wanted its training programme to lead to a nationally recognised qualification.
We wanted our trainees to receive a certificate that has currency outside the organisation. They feel the programme is worthwhile because they know the skills they have developed are at a nationally recognised level,
commented Kary Lescure, the Eden Project''s Organisational Development
Director.
Watch the Edexcel Achievement in Education Awards 2002 over the internet - available from July 12 - by registering free of charge at www.edexcel.commlive.com The broadcast will be held on archive for two months.
Further information about the awards can be found at
EDEXCEL PROVIDES SOLUTIONS FOR TRAINING PROVIDERS
.