NVQ Courses

What are NVQs?

National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) are qualifications that are assessed on your ability to carry out job-related skills to the standards that industry requires. They are based upon you demonstrating “competence” at work.

There are five levels within the NVQ system ranging from level one covering simple work activities up to level five for senior management decision making.

What is the purpose of NVQs?

The aim of the qualifications is to recognise your skills and competences in the workplace. The qualifications provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate you have the skills and knowledge needed for a career in your chosen industry.

What are the benefits of NVQs?

As a learner, you benefit from:

earning while you learn
gaining nationally recognised and transferable qualifications
developing a clearer understanding of your responsibility within the organisation
one to one support from an experienced professional
the recognition of existing skills.
the opportunity to develop new skills and bring new ideas to your workplace
the opportunity to progress onto next level qualifications
increased motivation and confidence boosting.

As an employer, you benefit from:

improved staff performance and motivation
the opportunity to tailor training to your own company needs
improvements in the quality of service to customers
the opportunity to improve staff retention levels.
demonstrate your commitment to training your staff
better recruitment opportunities
the opportunity to improve work systems and practices.

What is involved in an NVQ?

All NVQs are competence-based. This means they are linked to your ability to competently perform a range of tasks connected with your work. NVQs are achieved through assessment and training. You will plan a programme of development and assessment with your assessor and compile a portfolio of evidence to prove that you are competent and knowledgeable in your work role. Assessment is based on a portfolio of evidence which contains product evidence, witness testimonies, observations, written work, case histories, photographic and audio testimonies, question and answering which are all accredited against national standards.

Support from your employer when undertaking an NVQ is essential. This will mean, for example:

allowing time for ongoing training, attending courses and meeting the assessor
giving access to some workplace observation and documentation.

However, there is no cost to the employer and all relevant course material is provided by Riverside Training.

How long does an NVQ take to complete?

Learning is tailored to your individual needs and circumstances; you can go at your own pace. Generally, however, a Level 2 qualification will take 6 – 12 months to complete, a Level 3 from 12 – 24 months.