ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council for the construction industry, has successfully lobbied to keep National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) at the centre of the industry’s qualification structure, saving in excess of £1million for industry.
Government had looked set to scrap NVQs this year as part of the new Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) but sustained lobbying by ConstructionSkills has resulted in the continuation of the industry standard qualifications.

As part of the new QCF, every unit and qualification will have a credit value (one credit represents 10 hours, showing how much time it takes to complete) and a level between Entry level and level 8.

There are three sizes of qualifications in the QCF: Awards (one to 12 credits), Certificates (13 to 36 credits) and Diplomas (37 credits or more). In almost every area, construction NVQs have been converted successfully to match this new structure.

The new qualifications achieved by workers in the construction sector will be called NVQ Diploma, as of September 2010. This signals a change in direction from the Office of Qualifications (Ofqual) which had originally planned to scrap the NVQ title altogether.

Thanks to the intervention of ConstructionSkills and partner SSCs including SEMTA, ECITB, SummitSkills, GoSkills and Skills for Justice, a compelling argument was put forward and acknowledged for maintaining consistency in the qualification sphere.

'We have fought to save NVQs as they are an essential part of the construction training infrastructure,' said Nick Gooderson, head of Standards and Qualifications at ConstructionSkills. 'They underpin the industry's drive to qualify the workforce and are a vital requisite for workers to gain professional accreditation.

'Removing the NVQ as a qualification in its own right would have been unacceptable for industry, leading to widespread confusion among employers, as well as increased bureaucracy in communicating the significant changes at a time when every business is striving cut down on costs.

'Employers have been supporting us in leading the fight to save the qualifications. I am extremely pleased we have achieved this feat, and look forward to working with Ofqual to maintain the high standards the NVQ has produced, as well as the professional regard and endorsement of them from the people that matter the most; the employers.'

The news follows recent research which reveals that more than 80% of construction companies with experience of NVQs are happy with the current structure.

NVQs have come a long way in fulfilling the vocational needs of the construction industry for more than a decade and are recognised and valued by employers as a quality, competency-based qualification. Registrations and certifications for NVQs are at an all time high.

As an important part of construction training, NVQs sit at the heart of the Apprenticeship Framework and are core to the achievement of fully qualified new entrants. Removing NVQs would have complicated the apprenticeship offer at a time when government is trying to drive up the number of apprentices, making the challenge in construction all the more difficult.

The loss of NVQs would have also had serious implications for the industry registration and certification schemes that the qualification supports, damaging health and safety standards and customer confidence.