NVQs

6. Avoiding Bureaucracy

One of the main criticisms of the NVQ system in the past has been that it is bureaucratic. This is easily overcome by adopting a business-led and not NVQ-led approach.

6.1 NVQ candidates do not have to produce huge amounts of paperwork.

• You do not have to use the assessment documentation provided by the awarding body, as long as your own systems are adequate to maintain an audit trail.You must agree this approach with your awarding body.
• NVQ candidates do not have to produce a large paper-based portfolio of evidence.Evidence can take a variety of forms. The evidence will need to be organised in a suitable form.
• You can integrate NVQ assessment with your own company appraisal system.

6.2 You can use NVQs as flexibly as you want.

• You can introduce the standards without introducing the NVQ assessment and certification components.
• You can choose which units of which NVQs to use. Employees gain credit for the units completed.
• The NVQ system imposes no restrictions on the training programmes you use or the time frames candidates work to.
• Candidates who can already demonstrate competence can even achieve an NVQ without any training, although they may need help in presenting evidence.
• You can incorporate the standards into your own company-specific standards, but you may not then be eligible for an NVQ.