Is the Future Vocational? Business in the Community publishes an employer perspective on Vocational Qualifications

For the first time Business in the Community was delighted to work in partnership with Edge, the independent education foundation, to provide an employer voice on vocational qualifications. 75 business leaders and HR practitioners from a wide variety of organisations and sectors participated in the morning session entitled ‘Is the Future Vocational? An Employer Perspective’, at the Royal Horticultural Hall in London. The delegates took part in round table discussions and a debate chaired by Lord Baker with a panel of powerful Business in the Community members; McDonalds, Whitbread, Merseytravel and Clugstons.

VQ Day is a national celebration of vocational qualifications for students, teachers and employers. This year, the number of VQ’s awarded crossed the 4 million mark for the first time, a fantastic milestone for practical and vocational education in the UK.

Business in the Community has produced a report that captures the key issues and challenges surrounding vocational qualifications from an employer’s perspective. Some of the most common themes emerging were;

·         The snobbery around academic qualifications being more substantial than vocational qualifications

·         The lack of information available to employers regarding the content of vocational qualifications

·         The confusion of too many vocational qualifications on offer

The full report is downloadable from our website. Business in the Community would like to encourage organisations to help us continue this debate and we welcome feedback. Any organisation wishing to be involved should contact Julia Hatton on 0113 2058219 or email julia.hatton@bitc.org.uk

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact Anita Powell on 0207 566 6617 or anita.powell@bitc.org.uk

http://www.bitc.org.uk/workplace/skills/