Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Continuous professional developmentLearning & developmentTraining methodsTraining strategies

London Underground set to boost vocational training

by Margaret Kubicek 1 Sep 2004
by Margaret Kubicek 1 Sep 2004

Two years into an ambitious NVQ programme for its 10,000 frontline operational staff, London Underground (LU) has stepped up its training effort by committing to vocational provision for the next decade, and aiming to expand the range of qualifications for staff.

As part of its drive to boost vocational provision for staff, LU was a key player in the move to estab-lish a Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) in London earlier this year, to promote good practice and closer working with train operating companies.

The new CoVE will be led by Four Counties Training, with Barnet College – both of which are already partners, along with City & Guilds, in delivering LU’s existing NVQ programme.

LU’s partnership delivers NVQs in train driving and passenger services. So far, some 7,000 staff have completed qualifications, with a further 2,000 expected to go through this year. LU’s experience illustrates the potential of nationally recognised vocational qualifications – when the framework dovetails with training provision already operating within organisations.

LU initiated its NVQ drive following guidance from the railway inspectorate several years ago on the importance of proving the competence of its workforce, according to Iain Smith, head of engineering and technical skills.

“We didn’t have to use NVQs, but we mapped what we wanted to do against the national occupational standards, and found there was a very close fit. That told us we didn’t have to make London Underground fit the NVQ. Instead, we would have to make the NVQ fit London Underground. That was key,” he said.

Delivering NVQs on the large scale required for LU was no short order, and Smith maintains that the partnership has been critical in making the pro-gramme work, particularly in securing government funding for all NVQ candidates. It also protects the programme from being any one individual’s baby.

“One of the reasons the strategic partnership is in place is that if any of the individuals in that partnership left, all the partner organisations will work to support the programme in continuing,” said Smith. “The other was to explore further areas [for qualifications], such as customer services.”

LU also plans to roll out an apprenticeship sch-eme in rail operations, and has made the marketing of NVQ opportunities a priority with new recruits.


Avatar
Margaret Kubicek

previous post
Sunday’s no fun day for nation worried about work
next post
Witnesses begin testimony in Merrill Lynch sex discrimination case

You may also like

Give wellbeing a board seat: Prof Sir Cary...

30 Jun 2022

Staff shortages affecting business growth at three in...

29 Jun 2022

What has cyber security got to do with...

29 Jun 2022

Young people need more guidance over ‘green jobs’

24 Jun 2022

Three in 10 workers’ skill sets not being...

23 Jun 2022

CIPD Festival of Work: ‘Push the boundaries’ with...

17 Jun 2022

MPs threaten supply chain levy if HGV driver...

1 Jun 2022

Would a general training levy solve the UK...

1 Jun 2022

Age remains a barrier to upskilling finds research

27 May 2022

‘Inequality is embedded in our labour market’ says...

27 May 2022
  • NSPCC revamps its learning strategy with child wellbeing at its heart PROMOTED | The NSPCC’s mission is to prevent abuse and neglect...Read more
  • Diversity versus inclusion: Why the difference matters PROMOTED | It’s possible for an environment to be diverse, but not inclusive...Read more
  • Five steps for organisations across the globe to become more skills-driven PROMOTED | The shift in the world of work has been felt across the globe...Read more
  • The future of workforce development PROMOTED | Northumbria University and partners share insight...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+