Number of Vocational Qualifications Awarded Hits New High

Full scale of vocational qualifications landscape revealed on VQ Day.

Over 3,250,000 vocational qualifications were awarded in the UK last year according to figures released today to mark the first Vocational Qualifications Day (VQ Day).

The figures, contained in an independent Review of vocational qualifications by education foundation Edge, show a rise of 8.3 per cent on the previous year and a 117 per cent rise on the numbers awarded five years ago.

The top five vocational subject areas to study in the last year were healthcare, retail, business, construction and engineering, and vocational qualifications are available in a vast range of subjects reflecting the modern economy.

The Review concludes that this growth in numbers taking vocational qualifications has been down to the significant demand from employers for qualifications designed to meet the skills needed in the economy.

The popularity of vocational courses has prompted many schools to offer a broader curriculum. The number of vocational qualifications achieved in schools has nearly doubled, although colleges, private training companies and employers remain the largest providers of practical courses. At the other end of the scale, over half of all NVQ/SVQ awards are achieved by people aged 25 and over, and a quarter by people over 40, reflecting their use in raising workforce skills and value to people of all ages.

The rise in more people taking vocational courses is accompanied by increased success rates for learners. Passes at further education colleges increased by an average of 2.5 per cent a year between 2003 and 2007 to reach 78 per cent last year. For those taking higher education vocational qualifications in colleges, the success rate was over 77 per cent – about the same as for higher education overall. Success rates for Apprenticeships have risen substantially in recent years and currently stand at 63 per cent – comparable to other European countries.

The main benefits of people gaining vocational qualifications identified in the Review include:
· Improved school performance.
· More people with work ready skills.
· Increased earnings for people with vocational qualifications.
· Improved staff retention when offered in the workplace.
· Improved and increased progression to further learning – including university.
· The provision of a ‘licence to practise’ in the relevant profession or industry.

Other key findings in the Review include:
- There are marked gender differences in vocational qualifications achievement. While women and men gain around the same number of vocational qualifications overall, there is marked polarisation in some areas. For example, 36 per cent of all NVQs achieved by women were in Health, Public Services & Care while engineering accounted for less than three per cent.

- Ethnic minority participation in vocational qualifications is variable – with participation in Apprenticeships especially low. Black and minority ethnic (BME) participation in (mainly vocational) college programmes is around 17 per cent. However, less than seven per cent of Apprentices are of BME origin, with participation particularly low among Indian, black African and Chinese communities.

- Labour market projections point to a rising demand for vocational qualifications in the future. The report predicts that the areas with greatest employment opportunities will be utilities (especially energy), construction, engineering, computing, business services, health and education. However, it warns that skills are still required in manufacturing sectors to replace those lost by an aging workforce.

- Take up of vocational qualifications varies in different parts of the UK. 37 per cent of all post-16 learning (excluding higher education) in Wales and Scotland is linked to vocational qualifications. This is higher than England (32 per cent) and Northern Ireland (26 per cent).

Andy Powell, Chief Executive of Edge, welcomed the publication of the report:
“Today is a landmark day for vocational qualifications. At long last we can now see a full picture of the many different paths to success available and the sheer numbers achieving vocational qualifications. This Review also highlights the very real benefits that vocational qualifications offer to young people, adults and the economy – providing people with the skills so desperately needed by employers.

“Vocational courses are of the highest standard and truly equip people for the world of work. In the future, the publication of this Review will enable the public to judge the numbers of people gaining such vital qualifications and assess the quality of the courses on offer year on year. It’s therefore vital that we continue to build on the success so clearly identified in this Review.

“Vocational qualifications provide people with fantastic opportunities in life and I congratulate all vocational learners who are celebrating VQ Day with us today – and the staff who made this success possible.”

Ends

For the full report, interviews with Edge, VQ Day supporters, young people and adult case studies, college visits, online video packages, B-roll, photography and regional packages please contact:
Simon Francis, Collette O’Leary, Heather Wilson, Zoë Penn or Natalie D’Angelo, Band & Brown Communications, 020 7419 6950 / vqday@bbpr.com.

Notes to Editors
‘The VQ Landscape 2008: A review of vocational qualification achievements in the UK’, Edge Foundation (23 July 2008). Copies are available at www.edge.co.uk and www.vqday.org.

About VQ Day – 23rd July 2008
* Millions of people take a vocational qualification every year leading them on to further vocational study or university, better jobs and/or enhanced skills. For too long, this success has gone without the recognition and celebration it deserves. To raise the profile of vocational qualifications and celebrate vocational success ‘VQ Day’ is being launched. VQ Day will be an official celebration of the people who gain vocational qualifications every year, and the people who help them achieve this success.
* VQ Day is being led by Edge, the education foundation, in conjunction with the vocational qualifications community including, OCR, Federation of Awarding Bodies, FE Reputation Strategy Group, Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills (DIUS), Edexcel, City & Guilds, EDI, Learning and Skills Council, Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM), Qualifications & Curriculum Authority (QCA), fforwm and the Association of Colleges, Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College among others.
* VQ Day was launched at a parliamentary reception at the House of Commons on 23rd April and the inaugural Day will take place nationwide on 23rd July 2008. A national celebration event will be held at the Royal Opera House in London to showcase the diversity of vocational success, accompanied by a report examining the vocational qualifications landscape. Regional events will also be staged by and it’s hoped that VQ Day will help raise the profile and communicate the value of vocational qualifications to future students, potential employers and the wider public.
* A roll call of vocational success has been established online, with all learners past and present invited to add their name to the list of people across the UK who have gained a vocational qualification. In addition, honorary vocational qualifications will be awarded on VQ Day to ‘VQ Heroes’ who embody vocational success.
* To find out more visit www.vqday.org.

About Edge
Edge is dedicated to raising the profile of vocational and practical learning, with a skills rather than an academic focus. It wants educational standards raised through applying practical experience to learning and providing opportunities to excel through vocational, as well as academic, studies. Edge believes that this is essential for the future competitiveness of the nation. For more information visit www.edge.co.uk.