Background

Working with the Qualification Curriculum Authority (QCA) on the trials of the Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF), Flybe has become an officially accredited training provider, achieving the high standards set for all awarding bodies and enabling it to award successful learners with accredited qualifications designed specifically for its business needs.

Problem

As a busy airline working across over 160 routes and out of 53 airports throughout the UK and Europe, there are many distinct parts to the business all with different training requirements. For much of its training, there are currently few officially recognised qualifications that are suitable.

This impacts the business in several ways. For staff who receive training that isn't officially recognised, their career progression, within Flybe and externally, can be compromised because they can't provide valid proof of all the skills learnt on the job. This makes it more difficult to link different parts of the business where an employee's skills could be utilised effectively elsewhere, lowering business efficiency. In addition, training employees without an end result, i.e. a qualification that is on their CV for life, can be detrimental to morale and staff effectiveness.

Process

Flybe currently offer over 300 courses available to Flybe employees, with an initial QCF pilot commencing in the middle of 2008. With courses covering everything from engineering and cabin crew training to call centre and ticket desk training, many have the potential of being structured and awarded as QCF qualifications. All the courses will be based on Flybe's current training and modified, where needed, to achieve the QCA's awarding criteria for the QCF, which all awarding bodies need to attain. Run and evaluated by its current training teams, each course will cater for Flybe's staff and the specific needs of the business and will deliver end qualifications from Level 2 (equivalent to GCSEs grade A*-C) right up to Level 4 (equivalent to a University Degree).

Becoming an accredited training provider raises the profile of Flybe within the airline industry as a committed employer, increasing the recognition for its staff for the training they complete whilst improving the businesses efficiency in a highly competitive industry.

Quote

Simon Witts, Director of Safety, Quality & Training from Flybe comments: 'As an airline which carries out many different types of training, we wanted to gain credit for this through a qualification framework across the business. Through the trials of the Qualifications and Credit Framework and by becoming an accredited training provider we will have the ability to deliver officially recognised courses specifically designed to cater for our staff and business needs, increasing our competitiveness and recognising the hard work of our employees.'