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Education & Training

National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ's)

The North East Polymer Centre, based in Stockton-on-Tees, has recently been established by Stockton Riverside College in order to support the region’s polymer industry in the areas of education, training and technical assistance.

As part of our education and training provision, the centre offers National Vocational Qualifications, commonly known as NVQ’s, and this factsheet provides an outline of their content and structure, together with details of the NVQ’s offered by the centre.

What are NVQ’s?

NVQ’s are occupational qualifications based on standards of competence set by the industry. Highly work-oriented, they are designed to show that an individual can perform a job competently and that they understand the process involved. Each NVQ is given a level that shows how the different qualifications relate to each other and identifies clear progression routes

Nationally recognised, the majority of our NVQ’s are offered by the Polymer Awarding Body (PAB) and accredited by the Qualifications Curriculum. Authority.

How are NVQ’s structured?

All NVQ’s have the same basic structure, setting out what a candidate must be able to know and do to achieve an occupational standard.

Each job area is divided into individual topic units, for example ‘Health, Safety and Environment’, with each unit composed from a series of specific elements, as indicated above

What are the levels given to NVQ’s?

There are 5 levels of NVQ’s, rising from the simplest structured, known as Level 1.
We will generally offer NVQ’s up to Level 3, with the higher levels 4 & 5 delivered according to demand. The competencies required at Levels 1,2 and 3 are as follows:

(In Diagrammatic Form)

Level 1
Deals with competences in a range of varied work-related activities. Most will be routine and predictable types of operation

Level 2
Deals with competences in a range of varied work-related activities, operated in a variety of contexts, with some operations being complex and non-routine. Some level of responsibility is required to be taken by the candidate

Level 3
Deals with competences in a broad range of varied working activities, operated in a wide variety of contexts, with most operations being complex and non-routine. Some level of responsibility is required to be taken by the candidate and they must also have control or guidance for other people within their role

What NVQ’s are available?

Some of our more popular NVQ’s are shown below, however, please enquire if you do not see the area of work in which you operate as others are available:

Moulding – different methods, e.g. injection, blow, extrusion, etc
Handling and packing products
Machine-based processes
Assembling products
Packing, storing and maintaining stock
Finishing and moving products
Mount moulds/dies to procedure

What jobs are covered by NVQ’s?

Within the polymer industry a wide range of occupational areas are covered by NVQ’s. Some typical examples are as follows:

Material and product handling (logistics)
Finishing products
Machine operating
Assembling products
Machines setting
Work area supervisors

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