Government drive to boost workplace skills

Resourcing Solutions welcomes news that McDonald's, FlyBe and Network Rail are set to become the first private sector companies to be approved to offer courses equal to GCSEs, A Levels and degrees.

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority has just accredited the three companies with awarding body status to Level 3, the equivalent to A Levels or specialised diplomas.

To achieve this they have had to meet a set of standards set out by the QCA within its Qualifications Credit Framework, which allows nationally recognised courses to be broken down into units.

Richard Lawrance, Managing Director, Resourcing Solutions Limited, stated: "Network Rail is set to introduce track engineering qualifications as high as PhD, covering technical issues and health and safety".

"The company, which is one of our largest clients, has already announced that its entire 33,000 strong workforce would take its courses eventually".

"Most trainees would receive certificates to Level 2 and 3, which means in effect courses up to A Level or Diploma standard for its track engineers," "Many of the specialist recruitment companies working in these sectors such as rail and engineering, have for too long recognised that there is a major skills shortage that can only be remedied through skills upgrading and intensive training".

"Now the industry as a whole can take charge of this process and for people wishing to enter the sector they will gain a nationally recognised qualification," he continued".

"For the likes of Network Rail where there is a daily challenge to find and recruit skilled and qualified people this is great news".

"For our industry the story is not about 'McALevels' but in the delivery of externally recognised qualifications for the good of the industry as a whole," he concluded.

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