N/SVQ POSITION STATEMENT

The current N/SVQs in Procurement will cease to exist from 30 June 2006. Under QCA regulations, no new candidates can be accepted after 30 June, but existing candidates registered on the Level 2 NVQ must complete their qualification and claim certification before 30 June 2008. Those learners registered on Levels 3 and 4 must complete their qualifications and claim certification before 30 June 2009.
A new suite of NVQs in Supply Chain Management, submitted by Edexcel as the Awarding Body, has been approved by QCA and will be offered from 1 July 2006. These will be available at levels 2, 3, 4 and 5.

SQA have indicated that SVQs will also be made available in SCM (they have a joint working agreement with Edexcel).

The Level 4 NVQ in Supply Chain Management will provide a route to MCIPS with certain conditions:

Candidates must take 5 Mandatory Units

Candidates must take 3 units from M5 — Ml 9 (identified as those most relevant to CIPS)

Candidates must take 2 other units from M5 — M27

Candidates must have at least three years experience in a position of responsibility in purchasing and supply management, in accordance with the QCA level descriptor for Level 6.

At present there is no additional membership proposition for holders of the Level 5 NVQ, but this issue is currently being debated by the CIPS Council. In the meantime, candidates who achieve the Level 5 NVQ and have not previously been members of CIPS, will be entitled to apply for MCIPS providing they have had a minimum of three years experience in a position of responsibility in purchasing and supply management.

It is proposed that providers encourage their candidates on the existing NVQs to register with CIPS as students/associates in order to ensure that the current membership proposition is honoured. Providers will also be encouraged to phase out the existing NVQ candidates as soon as possible.

It is proposed that providers encourage candidates on the new NVQs to register with CIPS as students/associates in order to benefit from CIPS knowledge and information banks to support their NVQs.

In line with the QCA's NQF, the following equivalences will exist:
NVQ level 2 in SCM will equate in level to the CIPS Level 2 qualification.
NVQ level 3 in SCM will equate in level to the CIPS Level 3 qualification.
NVQ level 5 in SCM will equate in level to the CIPS Level 7 qualification.

This does leave a dilemma for those who achieve NVQ level 3 and who may then wish to transfer to a CIPS qualification ladder. If they meet the criteria, they should be encouraged to continue the NVQ route, but many will not and they will have to achieve CIPS levels 4, 5 and 6 to gain MCIPS.  Candidates can continue to claim 2 unit exemptions from the new CIPS Level 4 if they change routes.

Apprenticeships are established as a result of an agreement between the individual learner, employer, Sector Skills Council (SSC) and the regional Learning and Skills Council. They include on the job training and an NVQ at either Level 2 (Foundation) or Level 3 (Advanced). Enquiries should be directed in the first instance to the local LSC.  Skills for Logistics will act as the lead SSC and liaise with CIPS, as the specialist organisation, as and when required,