THE BENEFITS

EMPLOYERS

Introducing Business and Administration NVQs can impact positively on your business and can be used very flexibly to support:

• improved profitability
• increased flexibility
• reduced wastage
• better customer satisfaction and improved customer loyalty
• improvements to performance indicators and more efficient use of resources
• more effective staff development and increased staff morale

CANDIDATES

By gaining a Business and Administration NVQ individuals are likely to benefit from having a:

• 
  clear description of the work standards they need to meet
• heightened awareness of their job role and responsibilities
• chance to obtain objective appraisal and constructive feedback from their manager/ supervisor
• sense of achievement of a job well done
• greater confidence to do their job well

WHO ARE THE ADMINISTRATION NVQs FOR?

Over 7.5 million people in the UK are involved in a significant range of administrative tasks as part of their day to day job responsibilities. The Business and Administration NVQs have been designed to meet the needs of everyone whose job role involves some administration. Typical examples of employees with administrative responsibilities include: Administrators, Managers, Supervisors, Company Secretaries, Civil Servants, Police Officers, Health Workers, Researchers, Sales and Marketing Personnel, Stores Controllers, Secretaries, Clerks, IT Operators, Business Support Personnel, Receptionists, Telephonists, Filing and Record Clerks.

The Administration NVQs are awarded at four levels:

• Level 1 is suitable for people who have routine or predictable job roles, work as part of a team and ensure the provision of information and resources to others.
• Level 2 is aimed at people with a significant range of work activities performed in a variety of contexts. Whilst some activities are routine some may be complex and the person is expected to take responsibility for their work role and have a degree of autonomy in that role.
• Level 3 is targeted at people with a broad range of varied work activities and are involved in developing, implementing and maintaining administrative services for customers and clients. The work will often be technical and there is a considerable degree of responsibility and autonomy even though they may often require guidance.
• Level 4 is for people who have a wide range of complex technical or professional activities to perform in a variety of contexts with a substantial degree of personal responsibility and autonomy. They will often be responsible for the work of others, the allocation of resources and the development, implementation and monitoring of administrative services within their organisation.

WHAT ARE NVQs?

NVQs are qualifications based on nationally recognised standards of competence. The standards clearly describe what a person is expected to do in an administrative job role. The qualifications focus on employees’ performance at work. The standards for the Business and Administration qualifications have been developed by the National Training Organisation for Administration, the Council for Administration. The qualifications prove that people holding the NVQ certificate are competent because NVQs:

• are entirely work-related
• have no age or previous qualification barriers
• are relatively easy to undertake at work
• can be done at an individual’s own pace.

In order to obtain an NVQ a candidate must provide evidence that they have consistently met the qualification standard over time and across a range of circumstances to meet changing demands. Candidates are expected to have sufficient understanding to enable them carry out tasks competently.

BUSINESS and ADMINISTRATION NVQ LEVEL 1

To achieve the full award, candidates must complete four units in total from two mandatory units and two optional units.

Mandatory Units

• Carry out your responsibilities at work
• Work within your business environment

Optional Units

• Welcome visitors
• Handle Mail
• Store and retrieve information
• Use IT to exchange information
• Word processing software
• Make and receive telephone calls
• Use office equipment
• Ensure your own actions reduce risks to health and safety
  

BUSINESS and ADMINISTRATION NVQ LEVEL 2

To gain the full qualification candidates are required to complete five units, including the two mandatory units.

Mandatory Units

• Carry out your responsibilities at work
• Work within your business environment

Optional Units

• Ensure your own actions reduce risks to health and safety
• Manager customer relations
• Manager diary systems
• Organise business travel and accommodation
• Deal with visitors
• Process customers' financial information
• Operate credit control procedures
• Store, retrieve and archive information
• Research and report information
• Organise and support meetings
• Use IT Systems
• Use IT to exchange information
• Word processing software
• Spreadsheet software
• Database software
• Presentation software
• Specialist or bespoke software
• Use a telephone system
• Operate office equipment
• Prepare text from notes
• Prepare text from shorthand
• Prepare text from recorded audio instructions
• Produce documents
• Work effectively with other people

BUSINESS and ADMINISTRATION NVQ LEVEL 3

To achieve this qualification you must complete six units from either Option 1 or Option 2. Option 1 consists of 2 Mandatory core units, 1 unit from Group A and 3 units from Group B. Option 2 consists of 2 Mandatory core units and 4 units from Group B.

Mandatory Units

• Carry out your responsibilities at work
• Work within your business environment

Optional Units Group A
(Please see option information)

• Ensure your own actions reduce risks to health and safety
• Manage diary systems
• Organise business travel and accommodation
• Use IT Systems
• Use IT to exchange information
• Database software
• Presentation software
• Specialist or bespoke software

Optional Units Group B
(Please see option information above)

• Supervise an office facility
• Procure products and services
• Managing and evaluate customer relations
• Managing the payroll function
• Completing year end procedures
• Monitor information systems
• Run projects
• Research, analyse and report information
• Plan, organise and support meetings
• Make a presentation
• Organise and co-ordinate events
• Word processing software
• Spreadsheet software
• Website software
• Artwork and imaging software
• Design and produce documents
• Plan and implement innovation and change
• Develop productive working relationships with colleagues
• Provide leadership in your team
• Prepare text from notes
• Prepare text from shorthand
• Prepare text from recorded audio instructions
  

BUSINESS and ADMINISTRATION NVQ LEVEL 4

To achieve the Level 4 qualification you must complete six units by choosing Option 1 or Option 2. Option 1 consists of 2 Mandatory core units, 1 unit from Group A and 3 units from Group B. Option 2 consists of 2 Mandatory core units and 4 units from Group B.

Mandatory Units

• Carry out your responsibilities at work
• Work within your business environment

Optional Units Group A
(Please see option information above)

• Manage and evaluate customer relations
• Research, analyse and report information

Optional Units Group B
(Please see option information)

• Manage an office facility
• Manage contracts
• Negotiate and agree budgets
• Monitor and review the implementation of corporate objectives, strategies and policies
• Inform and facilitate corporate decision making
• Evaluate internal and external factors and promote partnership working
• Manage risk
• Create and manage information systems
• Manage projects
• Chair meetings
• Promote innovation and change
• Develop productive working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders
• Allocate and monitor the progress and quality or work in your area of responsibility
• Recruit, select and keep colleagues
• Provide learning opportunities for colleagues
• Provide leadership in your area of responsibility
  

Please feel free to contact our marketing department for further information.