Welcome

Carol Published June 10, 2015

Welcome to the first post of our new blog for the Hospitality, Food and Drink sectors.

The team for NQ/SVQ/HN qualifications in Hospitality, Food and Drink will be using the blog to keep you up-to-date with our activities in these sectors.

This first post provides an update for staff involved in our HN qualifications in hospitality and professional cookery.

Annual Surveys

Thank you to all who have managed to complete the annual survey(s) for 2014/15.  Please note that the surveys will remain open until 30 July for anyone who hasn’t had the chance to complete one yet.  Links to the surveys can be found at the HN Hospitality subject pages of our website.

There is a question in the survey to gauge interest in a networking event for staff in May/June; insufficient responses were received to justify arranging an event at this time of year, therefore we will consider this again in the autumn.

Qualification Support Team (QST) Activities

The QST have been reviewing the HN Hospitality and Professional Cookery units with a view to making small changes that will help to reduce assessment, allow flexibility, etc.  The units currently under review are:

• Fermented Patisserie Products
• Pastry
• Specialised Patisserie
• Food and Beverage Operations
• Hospitality Supervision

Once any revision to the units has been completed the associated assessment support material will be revised as appropriate.  This is an on-going process and we will let you know as and when other units are reviewed.

Ushare

Ushare is a new platform that allows users to share links to learning and teaching materials online.  Hospitality/Professional Cookery is one of the first subjects with resources on Ushare.  You can view these resources at the HN Hospitality subject pages of our website.

 Professional Development Awards (PDAs):

A proposal to develop four PDAs in hospitality and professional cookery has recently been approved.  At this stage, tentative titles for the new qualifications are:

• Professional Cookery
• Professional Patisserie
• Hospitality
• Revenue Management

It is envisaged that the first three will be constructed from existing HN units, but there will be some bespoke units developed for revenue management.

Work on the PDAs will take place over the period September 2015 – March 2016.  If you are interested in being involved in the development work for the PDAs please contact christine.keenan@sqa.org.uk or carol.mcevoy@sqa.org.uk