Latest news
SkillsActive initiates industry awards debate
SkillsActive, in partnership with the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs), has agreed to initiate a debate across the health and fitness sector on the industry awards route onto the Register.
Currently, there are three routes to registration that are recognised for entry to REPs, S/NVQs (Scottish/national vocational qualifications), qualifications on the national qualifications framework (approved by the Qualification and Curriculum Authority), and through ‘industry approved awards’.
The industry awards route is due to operate until the end of 2007 and includes employer specified training that is recognised and has currency in the sector, but is not part of the QCA accredited qualifications framework.
SkillsActive’s chief executive Stephen Studd said: “We have been strongly lobbied by employers, training providers and awarding bodies about the third ‘industry award route’ onto the Register, and we do recognise that there are strong views, and commercial interests on all sides of the debate.
“Therefore we have decided to initiate an open industry debate which will be kicked-started by an independent evaluation of the current systems for entry onto the Register and their quality assurance processes.
“There will be a three-step process for the debate for all interested parties, firstly to give the opportunity for written submissions on the future of the awards, then to attend an open forum event, and finally to establish a representative group to make recommendations to the Governors of REPs, who will advise SkillsActive’s decision about the awards.”
Photograph: SkillsActive chief executive Stephen Studd