learndirect working in partnership

with your business

Jeff Bowcock – Employer Advisor

07584 473 996

jeff.bowcock@learndirect.com

About learndirect• learndirect is one of the largest and most successful

vocational training organisations in the UK with over 30

years experience, with national coverage.

• The programmes we offer help staff gain nationally

recognised qualifications, build their skills in a wide range of

occupations, compliment existing training & development.

• We’ve helped over 350,000 people fulfil their career

ambitions through vocational qualifications.

• We train approx. 20,000 Apprentices each year

• Learners who undertake an Apprenticeship on average

earn £2,240 more after learning with us.

What is a National Vocational

Qualification? (NVQ)

• A work based qualification that strikes a balance between

training, study, and work.

• The qualification is a vocational qualification based upon

staff’s existing roles / duties. It helps staff reflect upon best

working practices and understand the business’s needs.

• It will complement any existing in-house training and can

help staff gain new skills, knowledge, & increase levels of

performance.•

• Qualifications are available at intermediate & advanced

levels in; Customer Service, Sales, Team Leading,

Business Admin, Management, IT, Recruitment

Benefits of the Qualifications• Increase skills, knowledge, & performance via practical

experience, demonstrating strengths & capabilities at work.

Mandatory & some Optional units linked to Company goals.

• Staff continue to earn their normal salary whilst gaining a

nationally recognised qualification.

• No cost to staff or employers. Qualifications are Government

funded subject to eligibility, removing the risk of getting into

debt. Each qualifications is worth in excess of £2,500.

• Minimal disruption to staff work / duties. Staff remain in their

normal role and all / most learning takes place at work.

• Progression onto higher level qualifications & help staff earn

UCAS points, to progress onto higher education.

• National Insurance contributions abolished for employer

contributions for apprentices under 25. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/385150/TIIN_2143.pdf

Eligibility requirements

Eligibility criteria for the qualifications are:

• Aged over 16 (no age limit over 16)

• Resided in the UK for the last 3 years

• Working 16 hours or more on average per week

• Not completed / working towards a level 4 or 5 qualification

(Eg Degree, Foundation Degree, HND, HNC)

Components of the Qualification

• Helps staff to reflect, analyse and problem solve everyday situations

• Helps staff understand employment law and other relevant legislation

• Increases confidence by developing staff’s everyday Maths, English & ICT (if applicable)

• Theory

• Practical

• Shows staff understand their job role & how to do it effectively

1 Diploma combines theory & practice.

Mandatory & Optional Units

2 Functional Skills-

English, Maths and ICT

(if applicable-exemptions

apply)

4 (PLTS) Personal

Learning & Thinking

Skills

3 Employee Rights & Responsibilities

Functional SkillsFunctional skills consist of three areas:

(exemptions apply – original certificates required):

English

• Reading

• Writing and speaking and listening

• Formal and informal Communication

Maths

• Number

• Statistics

• Geometry

ICT

• Using ICT- finding and selecting information

• Developing

• Presenting and communicating information

BKSB levels of assessment in;

English, Maths, ICT (if applicable)

BKSB Levels Level 3 quals

(Complete / work towards Level 2 FS)

Level 2 quals

(Complete / work towards Level 1 FS)

Level 3 OK for Level 3 qual OK for Level 2 qual

Level 2 OK for Level 3 qual OK for Level 2 qual

*Level 1 OK for Level 3 qual OK for Level 2 qual

*Entry Level 3 OK for Level 2 qual

Entry Level 2

Entry Level 1

How do we gather the evidence?

Customer Service,

Business Admin, Sales,

IT, Team Leading,

Management,

Retail

Written Assessments (workbooks)

Observations- mainly optional

units

Guided Discussions-

for non knowledge based units

PLTS

(Personal Learning & Thinking

Skills)

ERR (Employee Rights &

Responsibilities)

Functional Skill Exam &

Support sessions

Qualifications to support staff

development & training

• Customer Service – Intermediate & Advanced Level

• Team Leading – Intermediate Level

• Management – Advanced Level

• Business Administration – Intermediate & Advanced

Level

• Sales – Intermediate Level

• IT – Intermediate & Advanced Level

• Recruitment – Intermediate & Advanced Level

Customer Service

Intermediate Level 2 Diploma in Customer Service

Workbooks. Learner Needs Analysis (LNA) provided

Suggested Roles: customer service advisor • customer

service operator • receptionist• service agent • help desk

operative • call centre agent

Advanced Level 3 Diploma in Customer Service

Workbooks. Learner Needs Analysis (LNA) provided

Suggested Roles: customer service supervisor • team leader

• customer service coordinator• customer relationship manger

• client services officer • events coordinator

Team Leading & Management

Intermediate Level 2 Diploma in Team Leading

Workbooks. Learner Needs Analysis (LNA) provided

Suggested Roles: Team Leader • Section Leader • Trainee

Supervisor • Floor manager • Help Desk Leader • Team Co-

ordinator

Advanced Level 3 Diploma in Management

Workbooks. Learner Needs Analysis (LNA) provided

Suggested Roles: First Line Manager • Section Manager

• Assistant Manager • Senior Supervisor

Business & Administration

Intermediate Level 2 Diploma in Business & Administration

Workbooks. Learner Needs Analysis (LNA) provided

Suggested Roles: administrator • business support officer

• receptionist • secretary

Advanced Level 3 Diploma in Business & Administration.

Workbooks. Learner Needs Analysis (LNA) provided

Suggested Roles: personal assistant • business development

executive • legal administrator • administrative officer • project

officer • team leader

Retail

Intermediate Level 2 Diploma in Retail Skills

Workbooks. Learner Needs Analysis (LNA) provided

Aimed at those involved in a range of retail duties.

Suggested Roles: • Retail Sales Assistant • Retail Customer

Service Assistant.

Intermediate Level 3 Diploma in Retail Skills

Workbooks. Learner Needs Analysis (LNA) provided

Aimed at those involved in a range of retail duties at a

supervisory level. 3 pathways; Sales Professional, Visual

Merchandising, & Management

Suggested Roles: • Retail Supervisor • Retail Team Leader c

Sales

Intermediate Level 2 Diploma in Sales

Workbooks. Learner Needs Analysis (LNA) provided

Aimed at those involved in a range of sales duties. The learner

can be in a face to face job or sales on the telephone, either

incoming or outgoing calls.

Suggested Roles: • Field Sales Officer • Inbound or

Outbound Telephone Sales Officer. Customer service

coordinator• customer relationship manger • Client services /

Sales Executive • Events Sales Coordinator • Product Sales /

Promotion Assistant

IT Skills

Level 2 Diploma in IT Skills & Level 3 Diploma in IT Skills

Workbooks. Learner Needs Analysis (LNA) provided

Aimed at those using IT regularly within their job role. Input by

the employer is an important part of this qualification

Designed to cater for the wide range & diversity of job roles, &

to reflect the range and depth of competence required by

people using IT within their role.

Suggested Roles: • IT Support Officer • IT Help-Desk Support

Officer • Software Support Engineer. • IT Communications

Officer

Important information regarding

your Qualification.• The qualification will last for approximately 12 months so

staff need to fully commit to this programme for 12 months.

• Trainer / Assessor will visit once a month & spend approx. 2

hours with staff. Visits arranged in advance & completed in

the workplace. Assessment plan set each month.

• If staff do not have original certificates for qualifications in

Maths, English &/or ICT they will need to complete

Functional Skills assessments. ICT only applies to Business

Admin, Team Leading, ICT and Management qualifications.

• It is important that meetings with the Trainer/Assessor occur

regularly to ensure achievement of the qualification.

Additional Benefits…..

• Assistance Programme: learndirect provide learners

with access to an Assistance Programme if they require it.

This service provides help and support for learners whilst on

programme should they need any assistance.

• NUS Card

The next steps…

• Are you ready to start your qualification?

• Completion of on-line BKSB assessments in English, Maths,

ICT (if applicable) to assess any support required. (approx. 15

mins each). Specific levels required.

• Completion of sign-up paperwork (approx. 30 mins) after on-

line assessments have been completed.

• Completion of a Workplace Risk Assessment with the

Manager.

• A Trainer / Assessor will book in to meet new starters for

their first induction visit, approx. 3 or 4 weeks after sign-up

to; finalise optional units, complete voice recordings, &

check assessment plan, introduce on-line portfolio.

Apprenticeship Levy

Thank you for your time today