At Brooks & Kirk, we have been training assessors for quite a few years, over 20 to be little more precise. In that time we have trained many people to be assessors. Recently we have been asked who becomes an NVQ Assessor? That may seem like an obvious question until you actually think about it. We had a good idea but wanted to back this with evidence so we went out and got some. We have done a survey of a cross section of our previous learners and here are the results.

Our research has shown us that there are five different reasons people gave for training to be an NVQ Assessor. However, most people fell into at least two of the types.

So here goes our definitive answer as to the question ‘who becomes an NVQ assessor?’

Who becomes an NVQ assessor – the battle weary.

This group of people said that they trained to be an NVQ assessor because health problems meant that they found it difficult to continue in their current role. An example of this is a Health and Social Care Assessor who left working in care because she developed a bad back. We also had this reason given by many in the construction trades. From Electrical Installation Assessors with bad knees to Plastering and Tiling Assessors with dodgy shoulders.

Of all the learners we surveyed who fell into this type the most peculiar was a Hair and Beauty Assessor. After 20 years in the profession and for no apparent reason, suddenly developed an allergy to the chemicals they were using. Not being able to do her job left her a little red faced, both physically and metaphorically.

Who becomes an NVQ assessor – the work life balancers.

Many of our past learners gave the reason of work life balance for their training to be an NVQ assessor. Childcare obligations or care of close family members were the most common causes for looking to make a change to their work life balance. The cost of childcare or cost of caring for an elderly relative meant their income was all but vanishing. The flexibility they enjoyed being a freelance NVQ assessor enabled them to continue earning and still carry on being the care provider. Other members of this group were those who had decided to move from full-time to part-time working. We have to say sadly but not surprisingly nearly all of this group were female. It looks like somethings will never change.

Who becomes an NVQ assessor – the knowledge givers.

You might think this is a very strange group. Surely every NVQ assessor wanted to be a knowledge giver. Well yes, they did. The difference between this group and the other groups is that this was either their primary reason or indeed, their only reason for training to be an NVQ assessor. They liked doing their job, were able to carry on doing their job and simply wanted to share their knowledge and skills with the next generation coming through. Many of them simply became in-house assessors for the company they already worked for. For them, it was all about the joy of sharing knowledge often without any material gain.

Who becomes an NVQ assessor – the career changers.

This groups reason was the most straight forward. They either simply fancied a change of career or circumstances forced them to have a change of career. Many were getting a little bored with their current role and just liked the idea of a new challenge. For them, training to be an NVQ assessor was a quick and relatively easy way of effecting a career change without wasting all the knowledge and skills they had built up over the years. We also saw a lot of career changers between 2008 and 2010 when people from the finance sector trained with us. The strange twist of fate is that now Accountancy Assessors and Financial Service Assessors are in huge demand and attracting the best salaries. Just shows you can always make money from money.

Who becomes an NVQ assessor – the second incomers.

Our last group was also pretty straight forward. They wanted more cash. The reasons they wanted or needed more money were of course varied. Pay bills, little luxuries or supplement their early retirement. Working freelance as an NVQ assessor allowed them to take on extra work without having to give up either their other job or in fact too much of their free time.

So there you have it our industry leading research has shown the people train to be NVQ Assessors for one of, or a combination of, five different reasons. What will yours be?