National Occupational Standards

With a formal launch in Autumn 2005, the NOS Directory website can be accessed from now onwards in its evolving stages, via http://www.ukstandards.org.uk/. The Skills for Business network would welcome your feedback on the site.

The NOS Directory provides free public access to the full range of National Occupational Standards, signposting users of the website to the relevant Sector Skills Council or standards setting body for further information. This will be the first time that people can access all NOS from one place and is a useful tool for a range of people including employers, individuals, education and training providers, partners and funders.

The website provides information on National Occupational Standards, including their uses and benefits, as well as latest news on developments. The website also enables users to search for and access the National Occupational Standards that match their requirements.

What are National Occupational Standards?

National Occupational Standards (NOS) describe what an individual needs to do, know and understand in order to carry out a particular job role or function.

How are National Occupational Standards developed?

National Occupational Standards are developed by employers and employer representative organisations working together through a standards development group. This committee selects a small group of practitioners to develop a draft occupational analysis. The draft is then validated nationally. The analysis becomes an occupational standard when it is endorsed by industry.

How can National Occupational Standards be used?

They can be used to:

• describe good practice in particular areas of work
• set out a statement of competence which bring together the skills, knowledge and understanding necessary to do the work
• provide managers with a tool for a wide variety of workforce management and quality control
• offer a framework for training and development
• form the basis of a range of National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs), Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs) and a range of other vocational qualifications.

How do National Occupational Standards help employers?

• Increase productivity
• Improve quality of goods and services
• Reduce costs for recruitment by facilitating the selection of new employees
• Provide a means for better human resources planning
• Help effective skills upgrading
• Act as a benchmark for rewarding experience, knowledge and competence

How do National Occupational Standards help employees?

• Identify skills and knowledge needed for occupations
• Provide a reference to assess ability and training needs
• Identify and support clear career paths
• Provide guidelines for certification/accreditation
• Increase mobility within industries

Search facility

The NOS Directory provides the individual with various methods to search for and find the standards appropriate to their needs:

• Keyword search: simply enter a keyword and find the standards (across all sectors) that match
• Organisation search: use this method of searching if you know the SSC or standards setting body responsible for the standards you are looking for
• Areas of Learning: if you know the sector or industry for the standards you are looking for, use this method of searching
• Suite search: if you know the name of the suite of standards you are looking for, use this method of searching
• Help me find: an easy to use, step by step approach to finding the standards that match your requirements

What standards SFEDI develops

• Exploring Enterprise (for those who want to find out more about running or working in a small business)
• Business Start Up (for those planning or starting a business)
• Business Development (for those running or managing a business)
• Business Support (for those working with small businesses)

How they are developed

• They are researched and tested with thousands of small businesses and those who work with them.
• It takes about two years to develop one set of standards.
• Before they are launched, they are tested by practitioners in the field to make sure they are correct.

What is special about SFEDI National Occupational Standards

• They identify the key things that make businesses successful.
• They have the Crystalmark for Plain English so are easy to understand.
• They are flexible, allowing the user to identify the areas that are key to them.
• They integrate businesses processes.
• They link to business standards and models.

How they can be used

• As checklists of what needs to be done and understood.
• As the basis for, or as part of, learning programmes.
• As the basis for, or as part of, other learning products.
• As the basis for, or as part of, qualifications.
• As benchmarking tools to ensure consistency of practice.
• For quality assurance programmes to ensure quality of service.