SVQs - information for candidates
Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs) tell you exactly what you have to do in a job to do it well. They are based on national standards drawn up by people from industry, commerce and education. So if you have an SVQ, then you have a way of proving that you do your job well, to national standards agreed by the industry or commercial sector you work in.
SVQs tell employers:
- you can do your job confidently and well
- you are motivated, confident and ambitious
- you are ready to take on responsibility
- you are committed to your work
Who can do SVQs?
All kinds of people do SVQs, you might:
- be a new recruit with lots to learn
- have lots of experience but no way to prove it
- be taking part in a training scheme at work
- studying part-time
- have a qualification like a degree and would like to complement it with practical, vocational skills.
What's available?
There are SVQs for nearly all occupations in Scotland, from forestry to IT, management to catering, journalism to construction. And because they are available at five levels of difficulty - whether you are just starting out or have years of experience -there is an SVQ for you. Meaning that SVQs help you to progress throughout your working years.
What should you do now?
If you are in a job, talk to your boss about SVQs. There may be a programme set up in your workplace or, if not, your employer can contact us:
- 0303 333 0330
- completing our contact form
We can help to set up SVQ programmes, whether your company employs two people or 2,000. And if you're not working at the moment, you might be able to do an SVQ through a training provider or through an initiative like Skillseekers - contact your local careers office or browse the Learndirect Scotland website for details.