Case Studies
This year the Unit celebrated the completion of a successful project that enabled 7200 London Underground staff to gain a City & Guilds NVQ in Rail Transport Operations. This highly effective partnership, which led to the development of a bespoke level 2 qualification and the recognition of the high standard of work of thousands of employees, has helped put London Underground at the forefront of training and development in the rail sector. The initiative also resulted in the two key training providers, Barnet College and Four Counties Training, being awarded full Centre of Vocational Excellence status.
A different approach was adopted when P&O Ferries contacted the Business Unit for advice and assistance in developing the skills of its staff. The company wanted to address the training needs of its entire workforce, from those running the ship’s galley to everyone involved in business administration. The Business Unit’s innovative solution was to map the training already offered by the company to national occupational standards, and thereby provide P&O with a nationally recognised qualification. Tim Whitaker, Training Manager for P&O Ferries Ltd, said of this venture, ‘The mapping exercise will be a huge motivation to staff. It will help to realise the full value of our training for the company, and individuals will be able to get a recognised qualification.’
City & Guilds qualifications can also be adapted to reflect the specialist skills of employees. Working in collaboration, the Royal Mail and the Business Unit jointly developed the NVQ Level 2 in Mail Operations, which forms part of the organisation’s wider Mail Apprenticeship programme. Now hundreds of employees can earn while they learn and gain access to a newly designed professional qualification. There are currently more than 150 apprentices, with the company looking to increase this to 1000 across the entire business. Royal Mail believes that this tailor-made qualification is helping to provide the postal industry with a professional edge and is adding real value to its reputation with both staff and customers.
During 2005–2006 many new customers have turned to City & Guilds for help in developing their staff. Rentokil Initial is now working with us to train the 5000 people it employs in the NHS as porters and cleaners. And fast-food retailer McDonalds has signed up to develop its hard-working staff by piloting our NVQ in Hospitality – Multiskilled Hospitality Services.
