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Monday 28 Jan 2008

NETWORK RAIL GAINS OFFICIAL QCA AWARDING BODY STATUS

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National

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) announced today that Network Rail has gained awarding body status, enabling it to award work-based qualifications to its employees. The status recognises the high standards set by Network Rail to assess, track and recognise learning which previously would have been lost. The initial qualification to be piloted by Network Rail will be Track Engineering, focusing on technical competences in track engineering but also covering other areas such as Health and Safety. All the Network Rail workforce of 33,000 will eventually be involved plus agreed contractors and other stakeholders within the rail sector. As an awarding body Network Rail will retain control over its training needs and will ensure it has the best skilled work force for its core business. With this new status the business will be a key influencer in how employer training needs are met in the rail sector and help ensure good practice is commonplace across the industry. Network Rail is participating in piloting the QCA's new Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF), a new qualifications framework which will deliver a system of credit recognition that is easier for employers and learners to understand. Through the QCF, companies will be able to recognise work-based learning, identify skills gaps more easily and plan for employee progression. Working with the Awarding Bodies, commercial organisations will be in a position to deliver tailored qualifications, and, once they have passed QCA accreditation, become awarding bodies themselves. John Denham, Secretary of State for the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills said: "By accrediting high quality in house training schemes we can recognise the value of company training. This is an important step towards ending the old divisions between company training schemes and national qualifications, something that should benefit both employers and employees." Dr Ken Boston, QCA's Chief Executive said: "I am pleased to announce that Network Rail is one of the first three companies to gain QCA accreditation for its work-related courses. The commitment to training shown by these ground breaking companies supports their employees in gaining vital skills. This will not only benefit business planning but recognises the role the workplace plays as a learning environment." Professor Andrew McNaughton, Chief Engineer of Network Rail commented: “Becoming accredited as an Awarding Body as part of the Qualification and Credit Framework is a unique step for Network Rail. The ability to award nationally recognised, transferable qualifications will enable us to keep on setting industry standards for technical rail skills training in the UK and attract and develop highly trained and motivated people.”