From 2014/15 the GQA Level 2 award for Print Administration in the Working Environment, PIABC Level 3 Printing and Decoration for Packaging and the UAL Level 3 award in Printmaking, along with 1,474 other qualifications, will no longer be funded by the SFA, meaning employers will be left to pick up the tab.
The decision is part of a new strategy outlined by the SFA that will result in all Level 2-4 qualifications worth 15 credits or below being cut from the body’s list of approved funded awards.
Commonly one credit is worth 10 hours of learning. All those already having started the qualifications in 2013/14 will still be eligible for funding. Managing director at the National Skills Academy (NSA), Materials and Production Supply, Jonathan Ledger raised concern about the move.
“They see these qualifications as too small for funding, but the issue is that in some cases those small parts may make up components within wider apprenticeship frameworks. They are effectively bite-sized pieces and might be used by smaller employers in particular to help them achieve their goals.
“There are other options available at Level 2 that people can take, like business administration for example, although it’s not print specific, but it’s the arbitrary nature of this that has annoyed us. It seems a bit thoughtless in terms of the impact on a particular qualification or framework for a young person or indeed employer,” he added.
Ledger said the organisation would work with employers and providers to review the affected qualifications. “If necessary we will include technological advances that would upgrade these qualifications to fit above the new ceiling. But I do have a fear that this is just the first round and maybe next round it will be 30 credits and it will keep on creeping up.”
“We need to understand how well-used these were, and until we get around the table with employers it is hard to understand that.”
The NSA is calling for employers affected by the cuts to contact the organisation.
“We want to hear from employers that are utilising these particular qualifications because we need to be able to lodge an appeal. And if we can’t, we need to ensure these qualifications have the right number of credits,” he said.
BPIF chief executive Kathy Woodward said: “It is sad to see these qualifications taken out of the portfolio, however the uptake in recent years has been relatively low. What is more important is that skills development funding across the full age range is not diluted and seen as a priority in government.”
