A pioneering range of tailor-made, work-based learning programmes, designed to meet the specific needs of employees and businesses and resolve the current skills gap, has been launched by awarding body Edexcel under the title BTEC Career Path.

The programmes are designed with individual organisations or industry bodies so that only relevant, job specific material is covered. BTEC Career Path can also structure existing training and comprises complete packages of learning materials, online testing, assessment and awards.

The flexible framework allows employers to target where training is needed and provides their staff with a career path that teaches them essential skills they need to do their job while also gaining formal recognition for their learning.

The benefits to employers are wide-ranging, providing them with motivated staff that has the skills and knowledge essential for them to carry out their roles competently.  It helps them to improve efficiency, introduce new technologies and manage organisational change.

Sue Prosser, General Manager for Employers at Edexcel, said: “The Government and businesses want a solution to the skills gaps hindering the growth of this country. BTEC Career Path will go a long way to achieving this. 

“By supporting employers with ready made training, development and assessment packages or working with them to create individual company solutions, we will give their workforce recognised career progression, reduce recruitment costs and improve efficiency and competitive position. 

“Employers can be confident that not only are they investing in the performance of their staff, but that this investment is focussed in the right places.”

Edexcel has developed the first BTEC Career Path Awards though a pilot with Qualifi, a Business to Business to Consumer certification, assessment and training consultancy.

The framework, which is highly innovative and dynamic in design and delivery, has been developed for the Contact Centre industry and has had endorsement from industry leaders all over the world as a quick and effective way to improve their retention and customer service standards.  Contact Centre professionals can access learning materials, learning support and computer based tests that will enable them to achieve BTEC Career Development Certificates relevant to their career progression.

Jason Goodyear, Operations Director at Qualifi, said: “What Qualifi and Edexcel have created is a programme that tackles the real industry issues common to, and affecting all, organisations within it. It is concerned with raising standards and working towards developing this troubled sector into a valued profession.”

For more information, please visit the BTEC Career Path website - www.bteccareerpath.com