Case study: Sun, sea, skills
Working with the Centre for Enterprise Development in St Vincent and the Grenadines makes me the envy of all my friends and colleagues - and there's no question it's an exciting project. Working with the GO Group, I'm part of a team delivering accredited training to business advisers; their role is to support SVG's economy to diversify and grow. In theory there's sun and sand (maybe a lot less than you think!); in practice, there's real commitment and dedication on the part of the advisers and their local trainers and assessors. The travel is gruelling, the preparation demanding and the hours are long, but the enthusiasm and energy of the SVG team is infectious.
Work-based (sometimes known as competence-based) qualifications are a relatively new concept in St Vincent but people are quick to recognise the advantages of working with them. Such qualifications are not a soft option; candidates are required to demonstrate that they have the knowledge, understanding and practical skills to carry out their role to nationally - and internationally recognised standards.
The team worked with CED to identify their training needs and propose an appropriate qualification. In this case, the Certificate in Business Support, awarded by the Institute of Leadership and Management. At the same time, a group of four experienced advisers is working towards the Certificate for Work-based Assessors, awarded by SQA. As a result, the Centre for Enterprise Development is now the first centre in the Caribbean to be approved by the Institute of Leadership and to offer the Certificate in Business Support.
Vocational qualifications have been around for around 20 years. What many people don't realise is that they consist of bite-sized units which can be used to give credit for everything people do at work. Learning takes many forms; we learn from our peers, from tackling new projects, often simply from doing what we do in new situations. If you are interested in gaining recognition for your skills and knowledge, get in touch and we will signpost you in the right direction.