SVQ Food and Drink Operations (Meat and Poultry Skills) SCQF level 5

Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs) recognise competence in job-related skills and are based on National Occupational Standards.

This SVQ covers areas such as handling of livestock, primary meat processing, secondary processing/butchery, and butchery sales.

Developed by the National Skills Academy for Food and Drink (NSAFD), the sector skills council (SSC) for the food and drink manufacturing sector, the SVQ in Food and Drink Operations (Meat and Poultry Skills) at SCQF level 5 qualification is awarded by SQA in partnership with NSAFD, or SQA in partnership with the Scottish Craft Butchers.

This qualification is available through employers and training providers.

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Why deliver this qualification

Learners will gain an internationally-recognised qualification that guarantees that they have the skills, knowledge and abilities required to carry out their role successfully. Employers will also benefit from their employees being proficient.

Assessment is carried out in the workplace. This minimises any time learners need to be away from their work.

Learners can progress to a range of qualifications including vocational or higher education.

The SVQ can be offered in any of the following modes:

  • full-time
  • part-time (for example, day-release)
  • open and distance learning

Having other qualifications within the food and drink suite can contribute towards the achievement of this award.

Who does this qualification suit

This SVQ is suitable for:

  • learners who may have just left school
  • individuals who are currently in employment and who wish to obtain a formal qualification
  • employees who wish to complete short, continuing professional development courses

Access

Entry is at the discretion of the centre.

Candidates should be in a job or placement where they are carrying out relevant tasks and responsibilities which allow them to gather the required evidence.

No prior qualifications are required to undertake this qualification, although experience in, or a knowledge of, the subject would be an advantage.

Progression

The SCQF level 5 award could provide progression to:

  • NPA in Food and Drink Manufacture at SCQF level 6
  • HNC in Food Science and Technology at SCQF level 7
  • a management or leadership qualification
  • degree level study at a higher education institution
  • career development employment in the food (meat and poultry) sector

Approval

Centres without devolved authority must come forward for approval and should contact SQA’s Business Development Team for guidance.

Assessors and verifiers must be able to meet SQA’s general requirements for technical and/or occupational competence as outlined in the Systems and Qualification Approval Guide.

How to assess

For general information, please refer to the document Information for Assessment of Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs). For detailed guidance on how to assess this particular SVQ, please refer to the assessment strategy.

Where can you take this course?

Qualification content and delivery tools

Current

Information about the qualification(s)

Qualification Structure

Group award code: GW0A 22, GW0G 22

The SVQ in Food and Drink Operations (Meat and Poultry Skills) at SCQF level 5 consists of 8 optional units.

For details of the units making up the SVQ, please refer to the qualification structure.

National Occupational Standards

Unit information for this qualification is available on our Unit Search.

Core Skills signposting

Core Skills mapping is carried out by the SSC responsible for the development of an SVQ. It is a requirement of SQA Accreditation that every SVQ submission includes information on where possible opportunities for candidates to develop Core Skills exist across the mandatory units.

Centres should note that mapping is not audited or validated against the Core Skills framework/units so is not accepted by SQA awarding body as evidence towards achievement of the Core Skills units.

Modern Apprenticeships

This SVQ is a mandatory component in Level 5 Food and Drink Operations.

SQA also offers the following components of this apprenticeship:

SVQ in Food and Drink Operations (Meat and Poultry Skills) at SCQF level 5

Unit title SCQF 3 SCQF 4 SCQF 5 SCQF 6
Core Skills: Communication F425 04 F426 04 F427 04 F428 04
Core Skills: Numeracy F429 04 F42A 04 F42B 04 F42C 04
Core Skills: Information and Communication Technology F42D 04 F42E 04 F42F 04 F42G 04
Core Skills: Problem Solving F42H 04 F42J 04 F42K 04 F42L 04
Core Skills: Working with Others F42M 04 F42N 04 F42P 04 F42R 04

Information about delivery, assessment, quality assurance and support material

Assessment strategy

Candidate Guidance and Portfolio

Lapsing

Information about the qualification(s)

Qualification Structure

SVQ in Food and Drink Operations (Meat and Poultry Skills) at SCQF level 5 – GR63 22

SVQ in Food and Drink Operations (Meat and Poultry Skills) at SCQF level 5 – GR62 22

This group award has been replaced.

It entered its lapsing period on: 30 June 2025

It finishes on: 30 June 2027

The SVQ in Food and Drink Operations (Meat and Poultry Skills) at SCQF level 5 consists of two mandatory and six optional units.

The SVQ in Food and Drink Operations (Meat and Poultry Skills) at SCQF level 6 consists of one mandatory and seven optional units.

For details of the units making up the SVQ, please refer to the Qualification Structure.

National Occupational Standards

Centres/candidates undertaking these Courses should also refer to the full National Occupational Standards for information relating to the overview and scope.

Unit information for this qualification is available on our Unit Search.

Core Skills signposting

Core Skills mapping is carried out by the SSC responsible for the development of an SVQ. It is a requirement of SQA Accreditation that every SVQ submission includes information on where possible opportunities for candidates to develop Core Skills exist across the mandatory units.

Centres should note that mapping is not audited or validated against the Core Skills framework/units so is not accepted by SQA awarding body as evidence towards achievement of the Core Skills units.

Awarding partnership arrangements

GR62 22 SCQF level 5 and GR63 22 SCQF level 5 are jointly awarded with Scottish Craft Butchers.

GR61 23 SCQF level 6 is jointly awarded with NSAFD.

Modern Apprenticeships

This SVQ is a mandatory component in the Level 2 Food and Drink Operations Modern Apprenticeship.

SQA also offers the following components of this Apprenticeship:

F427 04 Core Skills: Communication SCQF level 5
F42P 04 Core Skills: Working with Others SCQF level 5
F42K 04 Core Skills: Problem Solving SCQF level 5
F42F 04 Core Skills: Information and Communication Technology SCQF level 5
F42B 04 Core Skills: Numeracy SCQF level 5

Information about delivery, assessment, quality assurance and support material

Assessment strategy

Assessor's guidelines

Candidate Guidance and Portfolio

Useful links