New Qualification for Sports and Play Surfaces

Sports and Play Construction Association - 29/06/09

The new level 2 National Vocational Qualification (NVQ), has been developed in close cooperation with SAPCA’s key educational partners: South Birmingham College, SkillsActive (the Sector Skills Council for the sports industry), and the awarding body Edexcel. The NVQ has been formally approved as a National Occupational Standard by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) and is supported by leading sports governing bodies.

The new qualification is aimed at site-based operatives throughout the sports and play construction industry, with assessments carried out in the workplace by qualified assessors, working on a one-to-one basis with candidates. As a vocational qualification the NVQ is predominantly site-based, with training to support the qualification provided by South Birmingham College. The College's specialist construction campus in Bordesley Green has been designated by SAPCA as its new National Training Centre.

SAPCA Chief Executive Chris Trickey said, “The provision of a comprehensive qualifications and training programme is a fundamental part of the industry’s work to raise the standards of the nation’s sports and play facilities. South Birmingham College is the perfect educational partner for SAPCA to help us to achieve this goal, and the launch of the new qualification is a very significant step forward.”

Mike Hopkins, the Principal of South Birmingham College added, “We have worked with SAPCA to create this qualification in order to promote high standards in the industry. By combining our expertise we have produced an excellent and highly flexible course that can be tailored to the requirements of individuals throughout the industry and the wider marketplace. The team at South Birmingham College is really looking forward to working with our first intake of candidates.”

SAPCA Chairman Tim Freeman is photographed presenting a trophy to Mike Hopkins at the official launch on 29 October, in recognition of the adoption of the College as the Association’s National Training Centre.

John Thorpe, Operations Director - Technical Services at SkillsActive, stated, "SkillsActive congratulates SAPCA in taking an historic step forward to ensure that the workforce in the important sector of sports and play construction will be fully prepared and qualified to face the challenges of the future."

Peter Jackson, NVQ Qualification Manager at Edexcel, commented, "As part of our commitment to excellent customer service and to providing solutions for business development units, training providers and employers, Edexcel has worked in partnership with SAPCA and South Birmingham College in developing the Edexcel Level 2 NVQ in Installation of Sports and Play Surfaces. Edexcel is very pleased to have granted approval to South Birmingham College to deliver the Edexcel NVQ in Installation of Sports and Play Surfaces".

The NVQ will be delivered for the industry by South Birmingham College, who will assist interested companies in assessing their workforce’s training needs and obtaining government financial assistance to support eligible candidates. The College is also recruiting individuals who have experience in the sports and play surfaces industry to act as assessors for the qualification.

In order to provide the opportunity for further progression, the four partner organisations have also prepared a level 3 qualification, which it is anticipated will be approved and introduced in 2009. The level 3 NVQ will introduce a number of key supervisory units, and will focus on the specialist skills required for the installation of specific types of sports and play surface.

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