Skills Active
Skills Active is officially recognised as the Standard Setting Organisation (SSO) for ActiveLeisure, Learning and Well-being.
Active Leisure, Learning and Well-being encompasses five sub-sectors:
Sport and recreation
Health and fitness
The outdoors
Playwork
Caravan industry
The Skills Active organisation also includes the Hair and Beauty Industry Authority (HABIA), which is the Standard Setting Organisation (SSO) for hair and beauty, which includes the following sub-sectors:
Hairdressing
Barbering
Trichology
Beauty Therapy
Nail Services
Wellbeing
Aesthetics
Standards
For more than 20 years Skills Active have been the Government recognised Standard Setting Organisation (SSO) for Active Leisure, Learning and Well-being.
They develop standards and is the custodian of the UK’s National Occupational Standards (NOS).
What are National Occupational Standards (NOS)?
NOS specify UK Standards of performance that people are expected to achieve in their work, and the knowledge and skills they need to perform effectively.
NOS are developed by Standard Setting Organisations (SSO) such as Skills Active, who consult with employers and other stakeholders across each of the UK nations, (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England). This consultation process allows any specific requirements to be considered by each nation, and the result is a set of NOS that are suitable for use across the UK.
When developing NOS Skills Active create an Expert Working Group (EWG) comprised of sector specialists from across the Uk. NOS are approved on a four-nation basis, they are developed as individual measures of competence, but they are grouped in suites.
NOS can be used for developing skills and knowledge and these include direct transfer into vocational and other qualifications, frameworks for training programmes, measures of workplace competence, appraisals and in the development of job descriptions.
What are regulated qualifications?
At Skills Active we promote government regulated qualifications.
We would always advise an individual to be fully qualified and achieve a nationally recognised qualification. Each nation has their own regulator, in England the regulator is Ofqual.
Ofqual (the office of qualifications and Examinations Regulation) is an independent government department that regulates qualifications, exams and assessments in England. Ofqual sets strict frameworks, approves Awarding Organisations (AO) and audits assessments to ensure they are credible and consistent. Ofqual protect students and learners ensuring qualifications reflect accurate knowledge and skills.
If you want to check if an Awarding Organisation (AO) is regulated, go to….
England - www.ofqual.gov.uk
Scotland www.sqa.org.uk
Wales - www.qiw.wales
Northern Ireland - www.ccea.org.uk
At Skills Active we implore individuals to research widely and choose very wisely when they are deciding on an organisation to provide their training.
We encourage individuals entering the sector to 'Be the best you can be' - achieve a regulated qualification, and avoid cheap and fast training, as it very often can lead to disappointment as there is insufficient time and opportunity to complete all the essential knowledge and understanding, and a lack of time to develop excellent practical skills. Learners can lack essential knowledge and skill, which can impact on public safety.
What is ‘Continuing Professional Development’ (CPD)?
Many in the sector misunderstand the term CPD and are not sure of its importance.
Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is long-established in many professions. Many agree that if you continue your development after qualifying, it is the sign of a true professional. As a professional you recognise that to achieve a regulated qualification is not the end of your education journey, it’s just the start.
There are so many opportunities to enhance your qualification and enrich the skills you have. CPD is a key part of being a professional, demonstrating that you are highly skilled and up to date with developments in the sector. To engage and track your CPD training gives a structure to the continual development of your skills and knowledge.
There seems to be a poor understanding of the fact that you need to be a professional first, before you undertake CPD courses. The confusion arises when organisations offering short CPD courses allow non-professionals on to the courses, especially those new to the sector without any qualifications at all. These very short courses are not designed for those entering the sector, they usually don’t include all the foundation knowledge and understanding needed to fully acquire the skills to become a professional, to provide safe services, with high standards.
Contact
Thank you for your interest in Skills Active, we hope you’ve found all the information you were looking for.
If you would like to contact us, click the button below: