1. Research into NVQ Provision and Progression Routes in the South West Presentation by Nigel Tremlett for South West Employment and Skills Forum 8 th January 2004

2. 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

3. 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; and 6.Providing appropriate recommendations for the future development of progression routes by sector.

4. Research methodology Literature review Quantitative analysis Validation work Reporting Interviews and consultations

5. Research issues  Work-based and FE provision;  Sources of data;  Currency of data;  Involvement of different stakeholders;  NVQ focus.

6. The National Qualifications Framework Level of qualification General “academic” Vocationally related Occupational 5Higher levelqualificationsLevel 5 NVQ 4BTEC highernationalsLevel 4 NVQ 3 (Advanced) A Level Advanced 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

7. 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

8. Type and geography of SW Provision Table 3.4 South West population compared with all NVQ learners Population/ LLSC Devon & Cornwall SomersetBournemouth Dorset & Poole West Of England Wiltshire & Swindon Glosc South West Total Population 1,576,000498,000692,000983,000613,000565,000 4,927,000 Working age pop 688,000231,000309,000474,000311,000273,000 2,286,000 Work-based NVQs 16,8204,6906,7117,2574,6734,948 45,099 FE/HE NVQs 13,0484,0066,2119,2708,5413,344 44,420 All NVQs 29,8688,69612,92216,52713,2148,292 89,519 Working pop/ NVQs 1/231/271/241/291/241/33 1/25

9. Devon & Cornwall – 688,000 Somerset – 231,000 Bournemouth, Dorset & Poole – 309,000 Wiltshire & Swindon – 311,000 Gloucestershire – 273,000 West of England – 472,000 South West regional level – The geography of provision

10. National comparison % of NVQ certificates awarded at five levels 2002 LevelNationalSouth West Level 1 18% 14% Level 258% 49% Level 321% 35% Level 4/53% 3%

11. Findings for the Environmental Technologies sector 1.NVQ availability 2.NVQ provision 3.Levels of supply and progression opportunities 4.Main gaps in provision 5.Validation work with employers 6.Key recommendations

12. 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).

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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”

18. 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.

19. Summary of overall recommendations 1

20. 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; and 7.Improve the image of NVQs to encourage uptake among a greater proportion of employers.