Parking National Occupational Standards

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The British Parking Association (BPA) has developed draft National Occupational Standards (NOS) for the parking industry. Please click here for more.

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.

They cover the key activities undertaken within the occupation in question, under all the circumstances the jobholder is likely to encounter. Occupational standards are used widely to support individual and organisational development and quality assurance at all levels and provide benchmarks of good practice across the UK.

Although national occupational standards are most commonly used to develop vocational qualifications. These are often National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) and Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs).

Occupational standards are also 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 key aims identified in the UK Parking Sector Skills Strategy.

Click here to read more on the strategy.

Click here for more about parking qualifications.

There is currently one suite of parking standards called 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