How NOS are used
NOS can be used in many different ways. Awarding Bodies can create qualifications to train individuals for a job. These qualifications can then be used in an Apprenticeship Framework or a training programme.
Employers can create a job description to recruit new staff or a training plan to develop their skills. Also, individuals can research different types of jobs and match their skills/experience to those that are needed.
UK Standards database
All of the completed and approved NOS are kept on a database – UK Standards. This is accessible to everyone across the UK and allows people to search for standards across a broad range of job roles and industries.
To ensure NOS are up to date and fit for purpose, they are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect the needs of industry and new NOS are also commissioned to reflect new and changing industries. A key part of the process for updating and creating NOS is consultation with employers and stakeholders across the UK. This is a chance for you to contribute your views and experiences and influence the future of standards.
For further information on National Occupational Standards in Northern Ireland, email: NOS.Reviews@economy-ni.gov.uk
Reviews
Throughout the year Delivery Partners will be reviewing existing NOS and developing new NOS across a range of sectors. A vital part of this review and development work is seeking feedback from stakeholders.
Feedback is needed from across a wide range of stakeholders to ensure that NOS are up-to-date and fit for purpose and meet the needs of individual sectors. This includes employers, industry experts, training providers, further and higher education and other relevant stakeholders in Northern Ireland.
For anyone interested in contributing to the development of National Occupational Standards, live consultation events will be shared via our social media pages:
- Twitter - @economy_ni
- LinkedIn - Department for the Economy
- Facebook - Skills to Succeed
New Data Protection NOS
ODAG have released a consultation for new Data Protection National Occupational Standards (NOS) and are seeking feedback across a wide range of stakeholders in any sector in Northern Ireland and the UK to ensure that they are up-to-date and fit for purpose. This includes employers, industry experts, training providers, further and higher education and other relevant stakeholders in Northern Ireland.
These have been developed to align with UK Privacy and Data Protection regulations and GDPR
The online data Protection NOS consultation hosting is here - ODAG Data Protection NOS consultation
The closing date for the consulation is 5.00 pm on Friday 31 December 2021.
NOS for Digital User Skills
ODAG are currently undertaking consultation for the new NOS for Digital User Skills. These will help inform apprenticeships, vocational qualifications, and essential digital skills programmes for Northern Ireland. Digital User skills are increasingly used across the wider workforce in many areas where using digital technology has become widespread.
They are seeking feedback on these draft NOS across a wide range of stakeholders in any sector in Northern Ireland and the UK to ensure that they are up-to-date and fit for purpose. This includes employers, industry experts, training providers, further and higher education and other relevant stakeholders in Northern Ireland.
If these new standards are relevant to your organisation, could you please review them and provide any comments or feedback. The standards are broad and there is a useful summary table on Page 3 that shows the titles and coverage of the standards. You can provide feedback on just this structure, and/or the more detailed standards that are presented.
The online Digital User NOS Consultation hosting is here: New Digital NOS consultation
The closing date for the consultation is Friday 24 December 2021.
NOS for Screen Industry Roles
ScreenSkills is asking for industry feedback on its update of the National Occupational Standards that inform the development of qualifications and apprenticeships in the screen industries.
During autumn, ScreenSkills consulted with professionals across the nations about the competencies, skills and knowledge that are needed to work in the screen industries in various art and craft department roles. This process aims to update the existing National Occupational Standards to reflect what is currently expected of employees by industry.
The following standards have been reviewed and update:
- Armoury and weapons supply for productions standards - the practical skills and knowledge people need to work as armourers, armoury coordinators and armoury supervisors.
- Stagehands for productions – the practical skills and knowledge people need to work as stagehands, standby stagehands, and stagehands supervisors.
- Props for productions - the practical skills and knowledge people need to work as props masters, props assistants, standby props, prop hands, and prop store person.
- Production design - the practical skills and knowledge people need to work as a production designer, production buyer, draughts person, set designer, art department director, art department assistant, assistant art director, art department coordinator.
To ensure that the updated suite of standards captures what is currently considered best practice in the industry, ScreenSkills are encouraging industry professionals to contribute their views to finalising these draft standards by giving feedback on the sections relevant to them by Wednesday 19 January 2022.
For more details and to have your say, visit: Help us improve National Occupational Standards for screen industry roles (1) - ScreenSkills