WORKING PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN ABC AWARDS and EMFEC MEMBERS Cathie Smith Director of ABC Awards

What is EMFEC/ABC Awards Group?

• • • EMFEC is 100 years old – and was an awarding organisation ABC started in 1998 – in 2002 became a limited company with charitable status Wholly-owned by EMFEC – FE sector owned AO

Overview of ABC Awards’ portfolio • • • Ofqual regulated AO All qualifications are now on QCF and are by definition, regulated Award on average 35,000 qualifications per year

Qualifications and Sectors • • • • • Over 600 qualifications Entry level to Level 6 – 14 + Apprenticeship components Diverse range of qualifications in11 sectors Rationalisation process

Centres • • • 900 approved centres 500 active Mix of FE Colleges, Universities, Private Training Providers, Employer organisations

Other stakeholders • • • • • 250 moderators and external examiners Sector Skills Council network Employers Professional Bodies Other associations

Highest performing sectors As at February 2013 1.

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Motor Vehicle Design and Craft Practical Languages Counselling Animal Care Retail

Working within a policy context • • • • • Employability Enterprise Apprenticeships Study Programmes/Traineeships FE Loans

Other activity • • • • • Employer engagement Higher Level Apprenticeship development Innovation Code development work Partnership with our centres Responding to market/customer demand

Centre Satisfaction Survey (1) Quantitative – – – – – Overall rating of ABC Awards – 8.24/10 Areas for improvement – website/support materials Selection of AOs – favourable net balance towards ABC Functional Skills Encouraging further use of ABC Awards marketing

Centre Satisfaction Survey (2) Qualitative – – – – Overall rating – 8.75/10 Recommendation of ABC – 81% very likely Strengths – administration, customer service, practical portfolio Areas for improvement – communication/marketing/focused business development

Business Development • • • Recruitment – 5 staff Customer-focused approach Support with new initiatives eg study programmes

Proposal • • • • Use EMFEC’s policy team and ABC Awards National /regional/local emphasis Set up working group to explore development/packaging opportunities Redefine existing qualifications and/or develop new products in partnership

Discussion • • • • What do you want from your awarding organisation?

What can we do to help you?

How do we take this forward?

Timescales?

Contact details Cathie Smith [email protected]

Tel: 0115 854 1632 Mob: 07875 381937