Work-Based Qualifications

Vocational Qualifications, Online Courses, Coaching, Personal and Professional Development

What are Work-Based Qualifications?

Vocational or work-based qualifications are work-related qualifications available in the United Kingdom and cover a wide range of career areas. They are based on professional standards that have been developed across each sector agreed by a cross-section of people working within each industry.

These accredited qualifications are designed to enable the learner to acquire knowledge and skills that meet recognised standards necessary to perform a particular job. Work performance is assessed through the production of evidence and by on-the-job observation rather than exams.

Each qualification is broken down into units covering different aspects of a particular job, they are flexible enough to allow you to use some units gained for one job to count towards qualifying for another if you decide to change careers. Work-based qualifications are available in five levels with the lowest being Level 1 with Level 3 to may be used to apply for University and other higher education courses.

Aim Higher Training is an accredited centre for work-based qualifications approved by the awarding body NCFE and we are fully compliant with all aspects of approval and adherence to awarding body standards.

Benefits of Work-Based Qualifications

For Individuals

Flexible learning so students can learn and progress at their own pace working towards achievement of an accredited qualification
Increase your employability by developing skills that employers want, making it more likely that you increase your likelihood of finding your ideal job
Demonstrate practical skills and show that your knowledge is up to date
Develop transferable skills such as time management, team working, good communication and administrative skills
Earn while you learn – avoid student or adult learning loans
Level 3 qualifications are a widely recognised route to university entrance and other higher education opportunities
Takes less time to get qualified and helps you decide what sector is right for you
Well developed knowledge and skills have been proven to lead to promotion and higher earning potential
Enrolment is not dependent on previous exam achievements so offers a great experience to upgrade skills and increase confidence

For Employers

Work-based qualifications provide valuable tools for business and employee development and can support the upskilling of employees
Better trained staff has been proven to lead to improve employee performance, increased motivation and lower staff turnover and higher productivity
Increased skill levels and improved knowledge leads to increased confidence amongst employees and supports business efficiency and growth
Work-based qualifications set high standards for employees to benchmark their performance against leading to improved performance by individuals and the business overall
Work-based learning is an affordable and accessible form of learning for employees and managers can be directly involved as mentors and support

Reasons to study with Aim Higher Training and Development

Aim Higher Training are a well-established training provider with over 10 years’ experience of successfully delivering accredited work-based qualifications
We aim to deliver a high-quality learning experience through distance learning and coaching support to help you reach your qualification and career goals
Your coach/assessor will provide detailed feedback on your written work and the evidence you produce so that you can learn and improve at your own pace.
Learning is flexible to your needs and time constraints and can be adapted to facilitate your development and achievements
Our work-based qualification courses are career focused and offer great employment and career development prospects

Your Learning Journey with Aim Higher Training and how the process works

1. Express your Interest

Express your interest in a qualification. Aim Higher Training will ask you to complete a training needs analysis to ensure that we recommend the right qualification at the appropriate level.

2. Register

Register for your recommended course and organise payment. Once received we will give you access to resources and learning plans so you can start your studies.

3. Study Coach

We assign you a coach to guide your learning, provide assessment plans to follow and give you regular support through coaching sessions aimed at supporting your learning and helping you to achieve your qualification.

4. Work at your own pace

Each assessment plan may cover one or more units across a range of assessment methods, and you will be able to work at your own pace and arrange meetings that fit into your schedule.

5. Guidance

Your coach guides you through the programme supporting your learning, guide your progression and supports you to collect evidence to support the qualification. You will be expected to provide a range of evidence types to support how you demonstrate competence against the standards in your job role.

6. Evidence

You present your evidence for assessment. All your written evidence is presented to your coach and you upload attachments such as samples of records, screen shots, photographs, video, audio recordings and witness testimonies.

7. Approval

Your coach approves your evidence and assesses your submissions for assessment. Once approved you will be encouraged to map your evidence to the relevant units and your coach will provide you with feedback.

8. Quality assurance

Our internal quality assurers review assessment decisions while you are studying. At the end of your programme external quality assurers from NCFE will audit the whole process and approve your portfolio evidence for certification.

9. Certificate

Once the qualification is complete your certificate will be claimed from NCFE and will be sent to your home address.

How Assessment Works

To achieve a Vocational or work-based Qualification (VQ), you must demonstrate to your coach/assessor that you can satisfy the assessment criteria and achieve the learning outcomes for each unit of your chosen qualification. To do this you must put forward evidence which clearly demonstrates your competence over time to your coach/assessor.

The assessment process is the joint responsibility of you, your coach/assessor and Aim Higher Training and Development and will start once your register for your qualification and the initial assessment process has been completed.

In the first stages of your qualification, you may explore and define your development needs and identify any additional training required. It will set the scene for the future assessment of your evidence and this will be agreed between you and your coach/assessor.

During your time on the programme, you may be observed in the workplace to assess your competence in your job role. Assessment of work-based qualifications is designed to take account of each learner’s needs and experiences and to give credit for previous achievements. This is called Recognition of Prior Learning and is a process which ensures that you remain competent at the skills required for the qualification, even if you achieved it in the past and this will be established during the initial assessment process.

Online Distance Learning

Online Distance Learning means that you study on your own, at home or in the workplace. You are encouraged to learn in work time with permission or in your own time, reading material supplied and completing online assessment activities with regular support from your coach/assessor. You will also need support from your line manager or workplace mentor, and we will encourage you to get as much support as possible while you are following the programme.

Your coach/assessor will support you whilst completing your qualification and will guide, advise and offer comprehensive feedback on the work and evidence you produce. Your coach/assessor can be contacted by phone or online and meetings will be held virtually. Some qualifications may require observations in the workplace and your coach/assessor will arrange to do this at your convenience.

We encourage all our learners to take out student membership of relevant professional organisations such as the Chartered Management Institute or Institute of Customer Service so they have access to additional libraries of resources and we will provide guidance on good sources of support to your learning.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many hours per week should I allow to work on my work-based qualification?

We offer a flexible distance learning approach to completing a work-based qualification and each qualification is designed so that you can progress at your own working pace. The time it takes to complete a work-based qualification can vary depending on your own working pace and environment as well as the size and level of your qualification but on average we recommend 4 to 5 hours of study a week plus the time you action. The Guided Learning Hours (GLH) can be found in the Course Summary section for each qualification.

What are the entry requirements to register for a work-based qualification?

Work-based qualifications do not usually have any formal entry requirements, in relation to prior qualifications. However, we recommend you check the qualification you are interested in for more details as this will give you a good idea about what is required. To successfully complete a work-based qualification, it is essential that you are currently working in a relevant position in the sector you wish to undertake a qualification and that you are able to read and write English to a satisfactory level.

We will support your through our initial assessment process to ensure that you are on the right level of qualification based on your development needs and that the job you do must be varied enough to fulfil the requirements of each of the units within the qualification you choose. The mandatory units within each qualification confirm the tasks and functions you must be performing to complete the vocational qualification.

Do I need to be working to register for a vocational or work-based qualification?

Vocational study is often referred to as ‘work-based’ and this means you should be currently working in the sector in which you wish to undertake a qualification before you can register and successfully complete the qualification. For example, if you would like to complete a work-based qualification in Customer Service, you must be currently working in a customer service role.

The job you hold does not have to be permanent or full time and there is no ‘time limit’ on how many hours you must work during the week and many of our learners have completed their qualification while working in a temporary or voluntary position. The most important thing is that the job you do must be varied enough to fulfil the requirements of each of the units within your qualification.

What does the term Guided Learning Hours mean?

This is an estimate of the number of hours a learner will reasonably be required to spend in preparation, study or any other form of participation in education or training, including assessment, which takes place as directed by – but not under the immediate guidance or supervision of – a lecturer, supervisor, tutor or other appropriate provider of education or training. For work-based qualifications this can include hours spent working in a relevant job role.

Can I register for a work-based qualification if I live outside of the UK?

We usually only offer work-based qualifications to learners based in the United Kingdom as the qualifications are based on UK national standards and some assessments are completed in the workplace.

You may however still register and work towards some of our qualifications if you are not UK based as you will learn new knowledge and skills and we will adapt our programmes to meet your development needs. However, please be aware that any qualification your achieve may not be recognised in countries outside the United Kingdom.

Do I need to attend workshops or classroom sessions?

We offer a distance learning qualification which can be completed in the workplace or at home. We offer face to face support sessions using online technology and there may be some workshops or group support sessions based on learner needs.

Your coach/assessor will keep you updated about the scheme of work or study programme and let you know about any such planned sessions in good time, so you can arrange to attend. Some programmes may require a workplace observation, and this will be arranged based on your schedule with your coach/assessor.

When do I have to complete my qualification?

All the qualifications we offer have a total qualification time attached to them based on the number of hours it is suggested the qualification will take to achieve and this influences the time we assign to support our students. Work-based qualifications can be suspended on request for personal or other reasons and picked up again later. If you do not complete your qualification by the stated end date you may be able to apply for an extension although this will incur additional fees for coaching and assessment.

How can I pay for my work-based qualification?

Unfortunately, Aim Higher Training and Development does not have access to any funding for work-based qualifications and we do not accept Student Loans of the Advanced Learner Loan for work-based qualifications.

Qualifications fees are usually paid on acceptance of your registration. We do however offer payment plans based on monthly installment plan which can be set up as a direct debit or standing order. Please let us know when you register for your qualification if you would like to use this option?

What are next steps once I register for a qualification with Aim Higher Training?

Once your expression of interest has been accepted, we will contact you and complete an initial assessment with you to ensure you are on the right qualification at the correct level.

Once you register for your recommended programme you will receive a welcome email with information about the resources and study materials you will use while on the programme. You will also receive a welcome email from your coach/assessor who will share their contact information and get in touch so you can agree a date for your first meeting.