Scottish Vocational Qualifications

More and more companies are seeing SVQs as an integral part of their business development strategy. SVQs provide a focused, on-the-job context for training and developing staff. They are an excellent way of making sure that staff development programmes and business strategies go hand-in-hand.

What are SVQS?
A helpful way to think about SVQs is as 'badges of competence'. Their purpose is to show that someone who achieves an SVQ really can do the work the SVQ covers, and can do it to a standard of competence that has been defined nationally by industry.

SVQs are based on National Occupational Standards. SQA works in partnership with other organisations to ensure that National Occupational Standards (NOS) are relevant to the current and future needs of Scotland’s industry.

Analysis
Matching the skills and knowledge of potential candidates against these nationally agreed industry standards highlights where there might be room for improvement. This kind of skills and knowledge audit is a useful business exercise in its own right but when  followed  up with an effective SVQ programme, it can help ensure a significant competitive edge.

Performance
SVQs are a cost-effective, structured and measurable system of staff development and help improve staff morale. As they are assessed in the workplace, time away from work is minimised. Once training and development are underway and people are working towards their SVQs, many employers begin to notice clear material benefits including healthier bottom-line performance.

FIND OUT MORE

Available for downloading: SVQs – A Guide for Employers (PDF, 552Kb)

There is also a searchable SVQ database on the SVQ website at www.sqa.org.uk. This database can be searched by title, level or subject area.

Of course SVQs are only one type of qualification from a wide range of options which employers can encourage their employees to take. You can find out more about other qualifications from SQA's main website: www.sqa.org.uk or by returning to the interactive framework document: www.qualifications-across-boundaries.org/compare/uk_ireland where the key features of each of their qualifications are explained.