SVQ Update

Carol Published June 24, 2015

As you may be aware the National Occupational Standards (NOS) and units that the current suite of SVQ qualifications are based upon are being reviewed by People 1^st.  This will affect all qualifications in the suite with the exception of SVQ 4 Hospitality Management Skills.

The main changes are likely to be in the professional cookery area where debate seems centre around how to cover preparation, cooking and finishing of dishes, e.g. should all be captured in a single unit or separated?  In addition, issues being discussed across the whole suite include how to build in sustainable practices, legislation and use of social media within the qualifications.

I attended a focus group in Glasgow organised by People 1^st last week at which the following timeline was confirmed:

• Employer consultation: June/July 2015
• 1^st draft of revised NOS units: July 2015
• On-line UK consultation: July/August 2015
• 2^nd draft of revised NOS units: September 2015
• Final version of revised NOS units: December 2015
• Sign off of revised NOS units: January 2016
• New MA frameworks produced: January 2017

Given these timings, we intend to seek an extension of the review date of the current qualifications to 30 June 2017 and will contact centres directly within the next few weeks to ask for your support of this extension.

In the meantime, please do not hesitate to email me at carol.mcevoy@sqa.org.uk if you would like any other information.