In this month's news:

• Start IT – Stay a little bit longer
• iTQ – And there’s more
• Some boring bits – can’t blind them with reason, do it with science
• Free advice and guidance sessions available

Start IT - Stay just a little bit longer

'Please tell me that you’re going to extend Start IT beyond September 2008' has been the request from centres looking to finalise their planning for IT qualification delivery for 2008/2009. The answer is we will. Also, as part of our work to make the programme meet the needs of our centres, we are also looking at how we can extend the options available and provide a more definitive path to iTQ.

In addition, work is being carried out to see how we can map Start IT to other qualifications being offered such as Skills for Life ICT at Entry Level 3 and the proposed Functional ICT programmes. The intention is to bring the Start IT qualification more up to date to include components that match the digital lifestyle many learners now live.

iTQ - And there’s more

You should have seen some marketing materials from us in respect of our current e-Quals 07 and iTQ campaign. If you have not yet booked a free advice and guidance visit, then don’t delay and find out how you can take advantage of making the most of e-Quals 07 and iTQ qualifications.
Two centres - one in London and the other in Essex – have already discovered the benefits that can be gained from using iTQs and have signed up for the coming year.

Here are some reasons why you should consider having an advice and guidance session that will provide you with many opportunities to generate more revenue for your centre;

• We offer employers their own bespoke units to meet their own system usage.
• Certificates will reflect client system used e.g. Medallion Accommodation Booking / Point of Sale (John Lewis).

iTQs can be adapted to an employer’s normal training needs

• Units to match your need and spikey profiles where required.
• APA for certificates already obtained, so training expenditure is on what is required not on units that are not needed.
• A sector specific unit from another area can be included, so it is not all about computers – finance unit, construction unit, health & social care unit, etc.
• Support from City & Guilds to enable centres to meet employer’s needs.
• Fully mapped e-Quals 07 to iTQ.

Assessment can be done in the most appropriate way for learner and employer

• iTQ Plus allows use of an e-portfolio.

iTQ is not aimed at IT professionals, but people who use or think they might use ICT in their everyday working lives

• Skills for employees or potential employees.

Some boring bits - if you can’t blind them with reason, do it with science

Employers will want to use any training budget in the most cost effective manner, there has to be something in it for them. But do they realise how much better their staff would be if they were using the systems better, from administration to warehouse?

Here are some statistics from the e-skills UK Technology Counts presentation

• 77% of people now use IT in their job.
• The proportion of employees describing the Internet as ‘essential to their jobs’ has doubled since 2001.

Employers with skills gaps report that 37% of their workforce do not have the IT user skills they need

• 47% of managers and senior staff.
• 36% of secretarial / administrative staff.
• 60% of employers reporting gaps stated these impact on their business.
• Employers forecast the need for increasingly high IT user skills over the next 3 years.
• A majority of the need for IT user development is at Level 2 and 3 – with prediction of 28% at Level 3 in 3 years time.

Employers report that almost 50% of vacancies they advertise require IT user skills

• Applicants most likely to be short of database skills.
• iTQ is supported by the e-skills Passport  the online tool for analysing training needs and recording progression.
• Study towards IT user qualifications for lower skilled workers and unemployed people can provide a route to improving literacy and numeracy, not just IT skills.

Money talks

• Fully exploiting technology is the single most important step the UK can take to improve productivity across the economy. The results could generate an additional £35 bn for the UK economy over the coming 5 -7 years.