For the past five years QCA Northern Ireland has been working closely with Northern Ireland business, voluntary and public sectors to develop case study examples of how NVQs have supported individual and business users. The case studies featured here have been drawn from this work and they represent the quite distinct themes adopted by us over the past five years. We are very grateful to all our case study contributors over the years. We think their stories make excellent reading and bring the use of NVQs to life and help those involved in the NVQ system understand how other organisations are benefiting from NVQs. We hope you enjoy these and learn from them.

Improving skills and qualifications - New thinking for reform

QCA Northern Ireland's annual conference held in March 2005 was well attended by 150 delegates representing business organisations, training providers and sector skills bodies. The conference focused on Improving skills and qualifications - new thinking for reform, and was held at an important time in the skills and qualifications agenda for Northern Ireland. The recent launch of the consultation on the development of a Framework for Achievement, proposing radical reform of vocational qualifications, coupled with the current consultation on a Northern Ireland skills strategy, puts skills and qualifications at the head of a challenging agenda. This event provided an overview of some significant developments already taking place in both skills and qualifications and gave QCA NI an opportunity to report on recent work we have carried out on e-assessment and enabled us to present examples of qualifications that are being tailored to meet employers' needs. The following case studies feature a range of public and private sector organisations:

• Bombardier introduces innovative NVQ programme
• Creightons of Finaghy Ltd - investing in people
• Montupet (UK) Ltd - quality and competence works for business
• Northern Ireland Fire Brigade - enchancing performance through people development

Workforce Development

At QCA’s Annual Conference held in Belfast during March 2004, a large audience representing business, education and training heard about how employers in Northern Ireland were using NVQs as part of their workforce development strategies. The case studies within our annual publication demonstrate the extent to which NVQs meet business as well as individual needs. The following case studies are taken from a range of public, private and voluntary sector organisations.

• The John Henderson Group
• Montupet (UK) Ltd
• Sperrin Lakeland Health and Social Care Trust
• Huhtamaki (Portadown) Ltd
• Toughglass
• McMullen Architectural Systems
• Extern

NVQs contributing to lifelong learning

These case studies are based on the important subject of lifelong learning and, in particular, workplace learning. NVQs are primarily designed to meet employer’s needs and to develop the right skills for particular jobs. Importantly too they are intended to offer individuals expanded opportunities to learn and develop themselves within a work context. This balance is a critical element of any organisation’s development programme and these case studies highlight the gains for both employer and employee, for business and the individual.

• Care Sector
• Charis Consultancy Services
• Orchardville Society
• Seagate Technology
• Quinn Group
• Ulster Industrial Explosives

Working together: a partnership approach to NVQs

These case studies, and the guide that accompanies them, illustrate through practical example how NVQ access and achievement can be aided through working in partnership.

• The NVQ Partnership Guide
• Business
• Care
• Catering
• Community
• Energy
• Engineering
• Health
• Landbased
• Plumbing
• Schools

NVQs: best practice implementation

These case studies, and the guide that accompanies them, highlight best practice implementation of NVQs in the workplace, and are drawn from a range of Northern Ireland business contexts.

• The NVQ Business Guide
• Cantrell and Cochrane Ltd
• Coolkeeragh Power Ltd
• The Cuan Licenced Guest Inn and Restaurant
• F G Wilson (Engineering) Ltd
• Graham and Heslip
• Hilton Meats
• Irish Fertilizer Industries
• H M Customs and Excise
• Huco Lightronic NI Ltd
• Job Centres
• John Graham (Dromore) Ltd
• Moy Park
• Northern Ireland Childminding Association