FM expertise needed to help deliver vocational qualifications

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There are calls for facilities management (FM) and cleaning professionals to become industry assessors for a range of new vocational qualifications.

The Virtual Academy for Business Services pilot aims to deliver up to date and industry relevant training, qualifications and apprenticeships, developed by the Sector Skills Council Asset Skills in consultation with industry.

"Work based assessment qualifications are new to facilities management and the demand from employers and candidates is strong," says Karen Waterlow, FM and Cleaning Specialist at Asset Skills.

"We are looking to recruit a pool of assessors to help providers deliver these new awards over several years."

Extensive, hands on and up-to-date job experience and industry knowledge are crucial components. Assessors use their knowledge to deliver programmes that support candidates to meet the industry standard and gather appropriate evidence to gain the qualification.

"Ensuring assessors come forward with good industry knowledge will help maintain the quality and reputation of the qualifications," says Waterlow.

Workplace knowledge to support learning

This is a good opportunity for someone looking to use their professional expertise to support learning and development in the FM sector. Assessors can combine the role with their existing job after taking a qualification such as the Level 3 Award in Assessing Candidates Using a Range of Methods - known as the A1.

The Asset Skills assessor pool will be made available to further education organisations such as awarding bodies, colleges and training providers as they move into this new market and seek the industry knowledge to support their efforts.

There are also other opportunities to become involved in the quality management of the assessment process itself, through roles such as Internal Verifiers and External Assessors.

• Work based qualifications are emerging for the Facilities Management industry - find out more from www.assetskills.org or email fm@assetskills.org
• Becoming an assessor gives experienced FMs the opportunity to pass on their industry knowledge
• Assessors can work within their existing organisation or for a training provider
• The main qualification is the A1 Assessors Award, available from colleges and training providers. Contact the Institute of Assessors and Internal Verifiers www.iavltd.co.uk
• If you like communicating your skills to others, use your knowledge to support colleagues gain a qualification in the workplace

For more information contact Karen Waterlow by email at kwaterlow@assetskills.org or call 01392 423 399 or 07733 224 902.