EBC's NCFE accredited learning with WNF
One of the programmes being delivered through Essential Steps to Employability offers a vaste suite of accredited learning opportunities through NCFE to provide participants the change to either earn their first qualification or undergo a new accredited learning programme.
EBC is an accredited centre for NCFE and under Essential Steps to Employability is initially offering three qualifications. The Courses are:
EBC also has the opportunity to design a bespoke accredited qualification as Essential Steps to Employability develops. A Taste for Enterprise - NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Enterprise Capabilities Just like businesses in the private sector, organisations in the voluntary and community sector are enterprises in their own right. They, too are small businesses – some of them not that small – but they work in the beyond profit, or not-for-profit sector. As such they, and their staff and volunteers, have to demonstrate the same entrepreneurial drive shown by the budding Richard Branson’s of the private sector. In fact, because of the tough funding environment in which they are working, organisations in the voluntary and community sector often have to be more enterprising and innovative than their private or public sector counterparts. A Taste for Enterprise seeks to harness a spirit of enterprise and to offer participants the opportunity to have their creativity, flair, dynamism and ability to be entrepreneurial celebrated. The programme offers a recognised qualification, accredited by the national awarding body NCFE , which rewards individuals’ efforts and acknowledges their entrepreneurial flair whilst seeking to develop transferable skills and knowledge which can assist a beneficiary in their journey to work, education or training. Many of the people being targeted through Essential Steps to Employability we will be working with will have a weak CV – gaps caused by criminality, having alcohol or substance misues issues – but do have real potential to be innovative and solve hard problems on a daily basis in order to survive as a ‘rough sleeper’ or succeed in a de-tox programme. This element of Essential Steps to Employability is designed to recognise those skills and is suitable for the ‘more able and ‘more focussed’ clients we expect to identify through Essential Steps to Employability and to provide them with their ‘first success’ in building or rebuilding their CVs. The overall aims of A Taste for Enterprise is to see candidates:
Successful participants on the A Taste for Enterprise programme will gain the NCFE’s Level 2 Award in Developing Enterprise Capabilities. The programme is ideal for candidates who can benefit from understanding what enterprise capabilities are through planning, implementing and evaluating project work in the context of enterprise. Supported by EBC's assessors, candidates are assessed in one mandatory area - understanding and exploring enterprise capabilities. The NCFE qualification offered through A Taste for Enterprise provides candidates with a broad overview of enterprise capabilities and the characteristics that are present in successful entrepreneurs. Critically this qualification also seeks to introduce candidates to the idea that enterprise capabilities are not only found in business environments (for profit organisations), but in social enterprise environments as well (not for profit organisations, charities, etc) and also within the public sector. After exploring enterprise capabilities candidates work as a group to complete a project of about eight hours duration, which can be done through simulation. Portfolios of evidence of the work done are built up by candidates who are supported by EBC’s assessment team. Assessment can take place in a variety of settings and each candidate will be supported through 30 hours of guided learning hours. BACK TO MAIN ESSENTIAL STEPS TO EMPLOYABILITY PAGE NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Sustainable Development To secure this qualification candidates must work through two mandatory units:
Candidates study the basic principles of Sustainable Development:
The course also provides participants an opportunity to apply enterprise skills, as well as developing teamwork, communication and improving own personal learning. Participants can investigate and examine issues that are of direct concern to them with the qualification designed to be a flexible tool to deliver sustainable development learning. During the programme participants research a topic relevant to their experiences and priorities e.g environmental, community, workplace, quality of life. They are then provided with an opportunity to identify actions that will improve this situation using sustainable means. BACK TO MAIN ESSENTIAL STEPS TO EMPLOYABILITY PAGE Valuing Volunteering - NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Volunteering Volunteering can often be the first steps towards paid employment and develops a wide range of the key employability skills required to secure paid work. Valuing Volunteering seeks to recognise the efforts of people involved in volunteering. Valuing Volunteering offers the opportunity to gain a recognised NCFE qualification, which recognises an individual’s efforts as a volunteer within a community or organisation. The programme offers participants the opportunity to gain a qualification which equips them with the mix of skills, knowledge and understanding required to bring them closer to fulfilling their personal goals. Valuing Volunteering is an ideal one for those who are contemplating undertaking volunteering activities or who already have some experience. Supported by EBC assessors, candidates are assessed in two areas, both of which are
Candidates do not need to have any formal qualifications to complete the qualification, but they must be working as volunteer in their community. Portfolios of evidence of the work done in the community are built up by candidates who are supported by EBC’s assessment team. BACK TO MAIN ESSENTIAL STEPS TO EMPLOYABILITY PAGE Partnerships in Action EBC is working with a number of key partners to make sure we offer the activities being delivered under Essential Steps to Employability to those most at need of our support and help. These include:
The essential skills for employability Essential Steps to Employabilty offers a number of innovative, practical and interactive programmes and activities designed to build up key employability skills needed by everyone - whether they are in work, looking for work or just taking their next steps to finding work. These skills are recognised by both leading employer groups and the Learning and Skills Council as essential for anyone either wanting to enter the workplace or already employed. They include:
To get an overview of all our work with adults click here EBC specialises in designing bespoke programmes to meet individual organisations' needs and those of the clients they work with. If you cannot find the programme you're looking for please contact us to discuss your specific needs. BACK TO MAIN ESSENTIAL STEPS TO EMPLOYABILITY PAGE Copyright EBC (2010): All information stored in any form in the website about EBC projects, services and materials are the intellectual property of and copyright to EBC and must not be copied or reproduced without expressed consent from the EBC Chief Executive in written or electronic (email) form. Unit 22, North East BIC, Wearfield, Sunderland Enterprise Park (East), Sunderland, SR5 2TA, Tyne and Wear. Phone: (0191) 516 6411 Fax: (0191) 516 6412. Email: info@ebcltd.org.uk Alternative email: educationbusiness@hotmail.com |
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EBC is now delivering its latest project for adults - Essential Steps to Employability - thanks to funding from Sunderland City Council's Working Neighbourhoods Fund (WNF). It is one of the many projects being run across the city under the Just the Job initiative - designed to get people back into work. 
