Parking National Occupational Standards

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The British Parking Association has just reviewed the National Occupational Standards for the parking industry.

For more information please email the BPA's Rocky Datoo on rocky.d@britishparking.co.uk

NOS describe what a person needs to do, know and understand to carry out their role. They therefore define the level of competence needed for a particular job role or occupation. They cover the key activities undertaken within the occupation in question, under all the circumstances the jobholder is likely to encounter. They are used widely to support individual and organisational development and quality assurance at all levels. They provide benchmarks of good practice across the UK.

Although national occupational standards can be used in a variety of ways they are most commonly used to develop qualifications. The qualifications developed are often national vocational qualifications (NVQs) and Scottish vocational qualifications (SVQs). National occupational standards are also being used to:

• Develop qualification specifications and apprenticeship frameworks
• Develop foundation degrees
• Develop training programmes and learning materials
• Accredit training courses and course materials
• Define job roles
• Measure staff performance and identify strengths and weaknesses using the standards to appraise and develop staff
• Identify and develop routes for progression and continuous professional development.

Developing and maintaining national occupational standards is one of the eight key aims identified in the UK Parking Sector Skills Strategy.

For further information regarding the strategy, click here.

For further information about qualifications, click here.

There is currently one suite of parking standards entitled Parking Control. In 2007 there was a major review of this suite. An industry-wide consultation took place and it now covers five occupational areas:

• Parking control
• Barrier and pay station control
• Vehicle immobilisation
• Vehicle removal
• CCTV enforcement