M&S 'should offer qualifications'

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Employers such as British Airways and Marks and Spencer should be allowed to offer recognised qualifications, says England's exams watchdog.

Qualifications and Curriculum Authority chief Ken Boston says such in-house business training for staff could help to close the skills gap.

He envisages a system where BA, for example, offers a qualification in airline passenger handling.

A recent report warned of the economic risks of a lack of workforce skills.

There are almost 500 awarding bodies operating below the water line Ken BostonQCA chief executive

The Leitch Report called for an extra 7.4 million adults to have achieved basic literacy and numeracy skills by 2020 and a further 5.7 million adults to have gained Level 2 qualifications (the equivalent of five good GCSEs).

Mr Boston said the current strategy for achieving such growth in qualifications was for employers to support training by further education colleges and private providers.

The government spends £12bn a year on adults skills each year - virtually all of it on accredited qualifications, he said

However, he added: "There are almost 500 awarding bodies operating below the water line. Most have not sought recognition from the regulatory authorities: the qualifications they award are outside the qualifications framework.

'Tipping point'

He continued: "Altogether business spends £33bn annually on training. The submerged mass of the iceberg is unregulated.

"The tipping point in the achievement of the Leitch targets will come when we find a way for training provided by employers to be recognised within the national framework."

Firms like Marks and Spencer, British Airways or professional bodies, such as the Institute of Directors, could apply to become registered training organisations which would be approved by a national kitemark scheme.

They could then offer units of qualifications which trainees could take with them if they decided to change jobs.

By 2020 Lord Leitch wants to see:

<ul><li>95% of adults gain basic skills in literacy and numeracy, with the government primarily responsible for funding<li>More than 90% of adults with GCSEs or vocational equivalents with funding shared between the government and employers <li>Apprenticeships boosted to 500,000 a year<li>More than 40% of adults with degrees or higher level qualifications, mostly funded by employers or individuals</ul>