McDonald's to offer formal qualifications
UK government announces Flybe and Network Rail also permitted to award Level 3 standards.
The UK government has today revealed that fast-food chain, McDonald's, airline Flybe and rail operator, Network Rail will be able to award nationally recognized qualifications in the UK through their company training programs.
The 3 organizations have won approval to offer courses which could form part of a qualification at Level 3 – the equivalent standard of A-levels or advanced Diplomas.
Our employees tell us they want the chance to do more formal learning and we're responding to that.
To achieve this status the firms had to meet a set of standards set out by the exams watchdog, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA).
Flybe to run pilot courses
Flybe will begin its courses in mid 2008 and has received accreditation to offer qualifications that could theoretically form part of a degree – Level 4.
Meanwhile, McDonald's will be piloting its basic shifts manager course this month and Network Rail will soon begin to offer courses up to Level 3 standard to its track engineers.
Giving employees what they want
John Cridland (pictured, right), the Confederation of British Industry's (CBI) deputy director-general said: "Today marks a significant milestone on the road to reforming qualifications so that they better reflect the skills and competencies employers and employees need."
Commenting on the chain's new abilities, McDonald's chief people officer David Fairhurst told the BBC: "Our employees tell us they want the chance to do more formal learning and we're responding to that."
Keeping up with skill demand
"Companies currently invest £33 billion every year in training their staff, but only one-third of employer training leads to qualifications because not enough official courses offer the competencies that employers require," says Cridland.
Instead, Cridland says, firms have run their own bespoke training programs. Formally recognizing more of this employer training should lead to more relevant qualifications and give a greater recognition to business and employee investment in skills.
The progress that the QCA has made is very encouraging. It's vital that reform continues apace and we look forward to further developments before the pilots conclude in March," Cridland says.
Have your say
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