Giving the creative and cultural industries a voice

Creative & Cultural Skills is leading the Sector Qualification Reform Programme for the creative and cultural industries. We work to make sure that employers’ needs are reflected in the qualifications on offer.

Working with the sector, we decide on the qualifications that will be developed, approve of these qualifications, and advise on those that should receive priority funding for each sector in England.

Current Qualification Development

Technical Theatre (Sound and Stage)

We are working with industry to develop new pathways in the Level 2 and 3 Technical Theatre qualifications, also part of the Apprenticeship Framework.  These qualifications will be available in Autumn 2011.

The Qualifications and Credit Framework

The Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) aims to enable learners to gain flexible qualifications at their own pace.

The QCF was launched in November 2008. It has now been implemented across the UK. You can view an animated guide to the QCF.

For more information on the reform of vocational qualifications in the creative and cultural industries, please contact qualifications@ccskills.org.uk.

To view all qualifications in the creative and cultural sector, visit Ofqual's Register of Qualifications.

Case study: the NVQ in Archaeological Practice

The NVQ in Archaeological Practice was developed by the Archaeology Training Forum. The qualification is being rolled out by the Institute for Archaeologists as part of its strategy to improve training and professional development in the sector.

The qualification aims to help graduates with no practical experience and those with no previous tertiary qualification, as well as volunteers, to get a start in archaeology. It also provides those who have already embarked on their careers with a structured format for continuing professional development.

The Institute for Archaeologists has already helped 13 people to develop their careers through the NVQ. For example, Ben Jervis (pictured) spent a year based at the Medieval Pottery Research Group in Southampton and is now studying for a PhD. Donald Reid and Steven Milne, volunteers with the Mellor Archaeological Trust in Manchester, are now corporate members of the Institute for Archaeologists. Paul Bowen of the Surrey County Council Youth Development Service uses his NVQ in Archaeological Practice to run archaeological projects in the local community, including with Surrey Prisons.

For more information, please contact the Institute for Archaeologists at info@archaeologists.net.