Scarab:
I think the fully funded bit is running out, I’m sure it has to be done by the end of September to qualify. Might want to get in quick if you plan on doing it.Its the same scheme I’m getting my HIAB on for free, the NVQ was the other option.
The lady told me that the funding was going to end, but has now been secured for longer. I couldn’t speak for your HIAB course, but it sounds like we will be OK for a while at least.
Seems easy enough really, dont think i’d go out of my way to do it, but if my governer offered it i wouldn’t say no.
Saaamon:
Seems easy enough really, dont think i’d go out of my way to do it, but if my governer offered it i wouldn’t say no.
I’m hoping our lads will have the same attitude. It will be nice to put on our website (if we ever get one!) that all our drivers have an NVQ in driving goods vehicles.
I was discussing the DGV NVQ with a training company in Notts that does this for a living and from the information I was given it seems this is done over several weeks so I am curious as to how a DGV NVQ can be done in one day 
Helen why don’t you design a course that is beneficial to drivers, you know from reading the posts what is needed, i for one am sick to death of so called courses aimed at drivers and the haulage industry. which are extremely superficial to say the least. If you were to ask the people who do the job day in and day out including management i am sure a series tailored courses would meet with training approval and actually benefit the industry. i am sure the input would be constructive.
This course sounds familier…oh wait thats it, its called a Driving Lesson/Test. 
Helen Stevens:
Saaamon:
Seems easy enough really, dont think i’d go out of my way to do it, but if my governer offered it i wouldn’t say no.I’m hoping our lads will have the same attitude. It will be nice to put on our website (if we ever get one!) that all our drivers have an NVQ in driving goods vehicles.
we have had this at our place as said before chap says we have been driveing longer than him just do what you do best i now have the NVQ normal day at the office
I’ve done this and got my NVQ, there was nothing to it! A guy spent a full day and then another half day with me and just watched, he was friendly and we chatted all day (not about the job), he made a few notes during the day and that was about it. It did seem rather pointless but it did give me and all the drivers at the firm a day toward the dcpc so why not 
That was free for my employer too although the guy was based in the midlands somewhere
NVQ = Non Viable Qualification.
Like the DCPC, its not worth the paper its written on - free or otherwise.
As much as I think the DCPC is a waste of time in it’s current form, I fail to see why the taxpayer should subsidise employers who need to get their drivers some training time, that seems to be what is happening here 
Having said that if it’s going free I wouldn’t blame anyone taking advantage of it 
londonerupnorth:
I’ve done this and got my NVQ, there was nothing to it! A guy spent a full day and then another half day with me and just watched, he was friendly and we chatted all day (not about the job), he made a few notes during the day and that was about it. It did seem rather pointless but it did give me and all the drivers at the firm a day toward the dcpc so why not
Hi mate,
If you don’t mind me saying so, IMHO that’s the best summary of an NVQ that I’ve seen in a while. 
The whole idea of an NVQ is that it’s an assessment, NOT TUITION.
On the day(s) of assessment, the candidate either fulfils the criteria for the award of the NVQ certificate, or they don’t.
If a candidate doesn’t fulfil the criteria, it indicates a need for training, which the assessor would then discuss with the employer.
Hombre:
NVQ = Non Viable Qualification.Like the DCPC, its not worth the paper its written on - free or otherwise.
agree 100%,just done the nvq ,what a JOKE,had to do it to get free dcpc,any experienced driver will learn NOTHING,in fact its a,bit of an insult to your intelligence,some of the question could be answered by a 5 year old 
mavrick:
baby seal:
The examiner shadows you for a day and records you in your daily duties with a small camcorder asking you stuff as you go. You then had to answer some questions to camera and that was that. If anyone failed I’d question their ability to tie their own shoelaces, you could clump a customer then cause a fatal accident and still pass.That sounds like a very benefical course to nobody, sounds like the theorists have been let loose again. they really should take the tablets and stay indoors.
Hi Mav,
Problems and rumours arise when people use the wrong words to describe things…
An NVQ is NOT any kind of course… it’s an assessment.
There’s a world of difference between those two words.
There are no theorists involved, the person carrying out the ASSESSMENT doen’t need a teaching qualification or any knowledge of the subject matter, because they AREN’T TEACHING, but they do need an ASSESSOR’S qualification because they are ASSESSING against set criteria.
Not many people know this, but theoretically… an NVQ assessor could be assessing an LGV driver one day, then a care worker or milkman the next day, and a hairdresser on the following day.
I’ve checked my own qualifications and had a word with those in the know.
I found that, if I took some assessor qualifications, I could assess up to and including NVQ level 3 in many subject areas, but my interest ended at that point only because I have enough of my own work without going away from my core subject and because I wouldn’t fancy getting up at the time needed to go and assess a milkman. 
NVQ = assessment
DCPC = training
Hmmm… how did the NVQ get DCPC approval
Hombre:
NVQ = Not Very Qualified.Like the DCPC, its not worth the paper its written on - free or otherwise.
Fixed that for ya
ROG:
NVQ = assessment
DCPC = trainingHmmm… how did the NVQ get DCPC approval
Good question ROG.
Probably the same way that trainers who don’t know their subject manage to get approval, as far as I can see they hand over the cash and get approved
ROG:
NVQ = assessment
DCPC = trainingHmmm… how did the NVQ get DCPC approval
The NVQ doesn’t have DCPC approval. Read the original post again. You do the NVQ first. They give you a qualification (how much it’s worth is anybody’s guess). Then you get a day’s free DCPC afterwards.
ROG:
NVQ = assessment
DCPC = trainingHmmm… how did the NVQ get DCPC approval
Hi Helen,
Maybe there’s been some miscommunication, but this first part is correct:
Helen Stevens:
The NVQ doesn’t have DCPC approval.
What seems to have been miscommunicated is that new NVQs generally aren’t available as from January of this year. I think that NVQs commenced before this date can be completed though.
The idea of NVQs has been replaced by a Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF.)
A course within the QCF can count towards DCPC, because there is training and testing involved, so it’s very unlike the NVQ.
QCF is designed to address the complaints raised (including by posters on here) that the NVQ is simply a tick-box qualification and therefore isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.
More info on the QCF can be found here:
A UK ‘google’ search will bring up lots of hits with just the letters QCF as the search term.
dieseldave:
What seems to have been miscommunicated is that new NVQs generally aren’t available as from January of this year. I think that NVQs commenced before this date can be completed though.The idea of NVQs has been replaced by a Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF.)
A course within the QCF can count towards DCPC, because there is training and testing involved, so it’s very unlike the NVQ.QCF is designed to address the complaints raised (including by posters on here) that the NVQ is simply a tick-box qualification and therefore isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.
More info on the QCF can be found here:
That’s interesting. If you’re right then this qualification has certainly been missold to me. (Not that I’m paying any money for it, but you know what I mean.) I will have to check up on what I have been told. Thanks for that.
Helen Stevens:
That’s interesting. If you’re right then this qualification has certainly been missold to me. (Not that I’m paying any money for it, but you know what I mean.) I will have to check up on what I have been told. Thanks for that.
Hi Helen,
I think it’s possible that the college lady might have said NVQ when she meant something else and so it may have been nothing more than a slip of the tongue.
