SVQ's - Information

If you have a Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) it shows that you can do the work for which it has been awarded to national standards. It means you are competent in this kind of work.

SVQ's are qualifications for work and show you can actually do a job, and not simply that you know how to do it in theory.

They are made up of units, which describe the skills and knowledge needed to do a job effectively.

What are the benefits?

The individual:

• SVQ's can help you prepare for work or help your career development.
• SVQ's are achieved through the demonstration of skills. Getting an SVQ shows you can do a job to national standards and have the up-to-date skills employers are looking for.
• In terms of work, a qualification, which proves you can do a job competently, is a valuable possession.
• With SVQ's the practice is as important as the theory - they show what you can do as well as what you know. SVQ's are therefore much more than courses.
• You don't have to sit through hours, days, weeks or even years of a course, and there are no exams at the end. SVQ's are about putting learning into practice.

SVQ's are no strict time limits. They can be achieved at a pace appropriate to the individual

What do they offer?

SVQ's, are qualifications for work. They are based on National Standards which are drawn up by people from industry, commerce and education.

They are proof of a person’s ability to do a job. SVQ's can be gained by people doing normal work and provide recognition for the skills and experience they have gained. And they allow people to gain new knowledge and skills throughout their working lives.

SVQ's provide people with a unique route to learning and development. For individuals, they allow them to improve their job prospects, and provide a clear target to aim for in their own learning- a target, which they know relates to the skills that industry needs. And they give recognition to people who achieve excellence in their work. For businesses, they can bring firms economic benefits and are valuable tools for business development.

“SVQ’s are a different kind of qualification for today’s competitive business world. They are designed to be delivered in the workplace and are based on national standards developed by industry for industry. This ensures they are relevant for employers and valuable to individuals."

Offering SVQ's demonstrates commitment to employees,  providing both career and personal development, thus improving motivation and enhancing performance.

• They help ensure the workforce is well trained and has the up-to-date skills it needs for excellent performance.
• SVQ's are recognised world-wide. This makes recruitment so much easier, and means that staff can be seen as competent to the widest possible audience.
• They are a cost-effective, structured and measurable system of staff development, offering increased efficiency, more consistant performance and improved staff morale.
• Because SVQ's are assessed in the workplace, they can minimise the time people need to spend away from their work.