Smurfit Corrugated, Tamworth There is no doubt that the new NVQ standards in Fibreboard Manufacture and Conversion will bring benefits to the Smurfit Corrugated Tamworth Plant for many reasons. Essentially the NVQ provides employees with a formal, nationally recognised qualification for their specific industry and job role. It will be a motivating goal for our longer serving employees to work towards as well as serving as a training and validation tool for employees who are new to the Plant and who are completing their training. The NVQ standards lend themselves to form the basis of a comprehensive training programme for new starters or employees who are multi-skilling. We have expanded the units and individual elements to form an effective training plan which provides us with structure and consistency. The NVQ will then serve as a validation tool to ensure that the training has been effective and that our Production Operators are highly competent. By providing a Level 3 for the first time those Operators who achieved their Level 2 some years ago now have a further challenge ahead of them and there is a logical progression. The clear difference between the levels 2 and 3 will enable the Plant to be able to offer NVQs to a greater number of employees who can work towards a set of standards that are appropriate to their skills and competence levels. The supporting documentation for the NVQ system is now simple and hassle free and Assessors are now freed from juggling endless forms and evidence. The onus having shifted to the candidate to compile their own portfolio will not only help the Assessors but will make the candidates more hands on in the process and more aware of the work that is necessary to achieve their NVQ. Certainly a training and development tool for the future! Nicola Haigh |