NVQs

2. Getting Started

2.1 Select a priority area for action.

For example, you may want to improve training or appraisal, or to restructure roles for a particular group or department.

• Identify a pilot group of managers or employees in the selected priority area.
• Contact your local business support organisation, trade association or college of further education to see what advice, support and funding they can offer.
• Contact any 'friendly' companies you know who are already using NVQs.

2.2 Obtain and review the standards.

• Check the Department for Education and Skills' website for a full list of all available NVQs and awarding bodies.For people aged under 19, go to www.dfes.gov.uk/section96 or for those over 19, go to www.dfes.gov.uk/section97.
• Contact the marketing department of the awarding body for copies of the standards for the NVQs which interest you.
• Check the unit and element titles in the standard against the job descriptions or role profiles of your selected pilot group.
• Select NVQs at a level which will be challenging to your employees.If the standards only reflect what the employees already do, the process of assessment might be demotivating and achieve little for your business.

2.3 Select assessment options.

• You may choose not to get involved in the formal NVQ process at this stage.You may want to test the use of the standards within your own appraisal and training systems (see 1.3).
• You may choose to use an external provider (see 4) to assess NVQs during the pilot and to help you develop systems.

2.4 Decide how much in-house NVQ expertise to develop.

Your pilot project will help you to decide the best way forward.

• You may choose to use an external provider in the long term.If you plan to limit NVQ certification to a small group of employees, a good relationship with an external provider may be the best option.
• You may want to become an approved NVQ centre (see 5).This will be cost-effective if you plan to introduce NVQ certification for large numbers of employees. You may need external support initially to develop your in-house skills and systems.