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Sector Qualification Strategy

We have written a Sector Qualification Strategy that outlines what qualifications people who work and volunteer in third sector organisations need to make a difference to people and their communities.

In writing this strategy we have consulted widely with people who work in local, regional and national organisations as well as employers. We had a reference group that were involved throughout the whole process. We published our interim strategy and invited people to comment online. We also held events in the nations and regions and carried out telephone interviews with important stakeholders. We are very grateful to everyone who took part in the consultation.

There are many different roles in charities and other third sector organisations. We have focused our qualifications strategy on the job areas that we cover in the national occupational standards that we write. National occupational standards are the guides that outline what people need to know to do their jobs well. The roles covered are:

  • Fundraisers
  • Campaigners
  • Trustees and management committee members
  • Development workers (who support community organisations)
  • Managers of volunteers
  • Leaders and managers
  • Strategic use of IT

The latter role is not one that we have a national occupational standards guide for but is such an important area for third sector organisations that we included it in our qualifications strategy.

Background

Other professions and industries also have Sector Qualifications Strategies and the organisations that set the standards for those sectors have been asked to produce strategies too.

All Sector Qualifications Strategies follow the same format and are broken down into three stages.

  1. Labour Market Intelligence (consulation and research to produce reports)
  2. Developing a Sector Qualification Strategy
  3. Developing an action plan to implement the Sector Qualification Strategy

Each stage of the Sector Qualifications Strategy needs to be approved by the organisation that is funding the work. Our strategy is funded by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills.

Next steps

We currently writing the action plan that sets out how we will deliver the strategy and will have this available shortly. The plan will form an integral part of our priorities and meet the priorities we identify in the strategy.

Priority 1: There is a need for appropriate qualifications and training.
Priority 2: There is a need to increase employer and employee engagement
Priority 3: There is a need to raise the profile of the sector and the way it works

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