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Employer Resources

National Occupational Standards

National Occupational Standards (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.

Collaborative work between BWEA members and EU Skills has led to the development of a set of NOS headings and a qualifications structure tailored specifically for wind energy industry service technicians. Please click below to see the full set of headings:

Proposed NOS for Wind Energy Industry Service Technicians


Definition

National Occupational Standards set out measurable performance outcomes to which an individual is expected to work in a given occupation. Developed by employers across the UK, NOS set out the skills, knowledge and understanding required to perform competently in the workplace.

Coverage

NOS, which are approved by UK government regulators, are available for almost every role in every sector in the UK.

Relavance to developing Apprenticeships framework:

The NOS is used by regulatory authorities and awarding bodies and education and training providers.

Awarding bodies can use NOS to develop training and qualifications. NOS will identify learning and skills needs in a particular sector or occupation and can act as the basis for qualifications.

Education and training providers may find Occupational Standards (NOS) useful for the following:

Mapping Provision

Education and training providers can map their current provision of courses and workshops against the relevant NOS. This enables providers to identify gaps in provision, and can highlight where there is a need to update material to include new areas or to remove materials which are out of date.

New Provision

Education and training providers can also use NOS to develop entirely new courses basing the syllabus on the units of competence which make up the NOS.

The role of Sector Skills Councils and standard setting bodies?

Sector Skills Councils and standards setting bodies work with employers and partners to develop the Occupational Standards for the industries, sectors and occupations they cover.

Sector Skills Councils and standards setting bodies can use the Directory to find out what other NOS exist in other sectors and occupations when reviewing and developing their own NOS.

SSCs and standards setting bodies develop, maintain and update NOS as the needs of industry change, as work patterns shift, and as new operational practices, legislation and technologies are introduced.

What use is NOS for employers and businesses?

Employers can use NOS to assist with a range of activities in the workplace:

Business Planning:Managers can use NOS to

  • describe the skills they need in their workforce
  • assess the skills already in the workforce
  • develop training and recruitment plans to fill any identified gaps and shortages.

Selection and Recruitment

  • Provide a means for better human resources planning
  • Help effective skills upgrading
  • Act as a benchmark for rewarding experience, knowledge and competence.

Staff Development

NOS contain descriptions of good practice and can be used as the basis for setting objectives in performance and appraisal.

Developing and Evaluating Training

Training plans and training courses can be developed to meet both organisational and individual learning needs. NOS can be used to inform the content of training as they specify in detail what constitutes good practice. They can also be used to evaluate training by defining the expected outcomes.

Please visit the link below to find out what the benefits of NOS are for employers:
http://www.ukstandards.org.uk/