News from the Manufacturing Sector

The role involves responsibility for the maintenance and submission of units to qualifications regulatory bodies, for qualifications based upon National Occupational Standards produced by Cogent. “We are delighted to take on this responsibility which provides a clear signal of our commitment to the sector” said Raymond Clarke, Chief Executive of IQ. “We look forward to working with key stakeholders in the sector to ensure that polymer qualifications meet the needs of employers”.

Industry Qualifications (IQ), the UK’s first mutual awarding organisation has been approved by qualification regulator Ofqual, to offer NVQ’s in polymer processing at levels 1, 2 and 3. IQ, which is led by former PTL Chief Executive Raymond Clarke, has been established to provide a very different relationship between centres and their awarding organisation based upon partnership, involvement and quality.

“On a personal note, I am delighted to have the opportunity to re-engage with the polymer sector,” said Clarke. “The experience of working for a centre offering polymer qualifications during my time at PTL has been helpful to the work that has been taken forward within IQ, but even so, progress on polymer qualifications could not have been achieved without the support and expertise of the Polymer Training and Innovation Centre (PITC) at Wolverhampton College. Our delivery model is designed around mutuality, but we are intent on providing a premium branded award at competitive rates.

Georgina Parker, Director of Business Strategy, Contracts & Commercial at City of Wolverhampton said “We are delighted to be working with IQ and regard this as the first step in an important developing relationship. PTIC has significant plans to strengthen its apprenticeship offer and continue with its highly successful programme of publicly subsidised NVQ delivery in companies. The relationship with IQ will increasingly help us assist polymer companies working outside of the UK. We are confident that IQ will work with PITC and other leaders in the polymer sector to provide a flexible response to meeting the sectors training and education needs.”