SummitSkills to redefine National Occupational Standards

SummitSkills, the sector skills council for building-services engineering, has begun a major review of the sector’s National Occupations Standards qualifications and assessment principles at operative level. These standards describe the skills, knowledge and understanding needed to undertake particular jobs to a nationally recognised level of competence and form the basis of qualifications such as NVQs and SVQs. The project is due for completion in March 2008. Trevor Hill, development manager for SummitSkills, explains, ‘Some of the skills in the NOS are more than eight years old and do not take into account new working practices, legislation, technologies and environmental considerations. Having a consistent approach to style, layout and terminology will benefit employers and individuals across all occupations at operative level and result in more user-friendly NOS and qualifications.’

Related links:

• www.summitskills.org.uk