Career Opportunities

Jobs That Will Be In Demand This Year

Katie Gray Assessor Training, Career Advice, Career Opportunities, News 0

If you are looking for a change of career in 2022, then this is the sign you have been looking for! The pandemic has caused a surge of new ‘micro-trends’ that will influence demand in the short term. But, there are many job roles that will stay the same as they have for years gone by.

It goes without saying that tech jobs are on the rise. A global digital transformation has occurred. This isn’t just the change to hybrid learning which requires the correct technology, but also things like the reduction in test-based learning. The education sector has seen the biggest shift and needed to adapt. This is why it is one of the most exciting industries to begin a career in. Let’s have a look at some of the other industries which are high in demand for new staff.

Healthcare

This is probably the first sector that springs to everyone’s minds when it comes to a lack of staff. The pandemic has made this issue even more clear. Recent figures have shown that healthcare jobs will far exceed the current crisis.

Nursing is actually the most employable degree. A total of 94% of students getting a job within only 6 months of completing their degree! As a starting point, students should have a diploma in Nursing. so the more students completing the course the more Assessors will be needed too.

Mental Health

As well as physical healthcare providers being short of staff, the demand for mental health jobs has increased substantially following the lockdowns during the pandemic. With more and more people opting for private counsellors due to the long NHS waiting list, the more counsellors are needed.

Teaching

We have already touched on the topic of education; but at the moment there is a real lack of talent. Secondary school teachers in particular are in a real short supply. There is a lot of room for career progression with teaching, as you will see with both our Level 3 Award in Education & Training and our Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training. If you are even considering going into teaching or education we highly recommend you have a look at both of these courses.

Supply Chain

This industry has always had its challenges. Not only has the pandemic affected the supply chain and logistics, but so has Brexit. Job security will never be an issue in this industry; whilst digitalisation will start creeping in over the next few years, workers are still needed for the operations side of things. From business analysts, to planning and distribution managers and logistics managers.

The barrier to entry is also fairly low in this industry. In fact, basic business management and leadership courses would give you a good head start in this field.

Web Development & Marketing

With the world going digital, there has never been a more important time for businesses to be visible online. That means a huge increase in demand for website developers and marketers too. With remote working becoming a new thing, it is even easier to pick up these sorts of jobs at the moment too.

If you are considering a career in digital marketing, then a Digital Marketing Apprenticeship is the best place to start. Allowing you to receive on the job training, whilst getting paid and developing your skills within the industry. Why not take the first step towards a career in an incredibly ‘future proof’ sector?!

Assessors

Of course this blog wouldn’t be complete without the mention of Assessor qualifications. The great thing about most of the industries we have mentioned is that an apprenticeship is one of the best entry levels into a new field. As well as earning while you learn, you can gain real life work experience in a supportive environment. Remember, all apprentices need to go through End-Point Assessments, so Assessors are always going to be in need.

If you would like any further information on becoming an Assessor, then please give our expert team a call on 01205 805155.

Returning to Work After Maternity Leave

Katie Gray Assessor Training, Career Advice, Career Opportunities, News 0

The transition of getting back into work mode after having a baby can be very challenging. Not to mention brings with it a lot of mixed emotions. From worrying about childcare; to whether you will remember what to do in your old role. You are not alone, and these thoughts are completely normal (and to be expected after being on maternity leave for so long). We have put this blog together to give you some help and support if you are returning to work after maternity leave.

Don’t Rush Things

Taking your time is key when going back to work. If you aren’t ready, then don’t force yourself. It is rare that you will be jumping straight back into the same role. So, you may even need to spend some time doing extra learning or training to get you up to speed. This can make you both physically and mentally exhausted so prepare yourself!

If you can, try and transition back to work at reduced hours to begin with. Whether you can use any accrued holidays or just start with part-time hours, you need to ease yourself into work again otherwise you will quickly feel overwhelmed. This is also a great way to manage childcare with your other half – you can always tag-team which days you both work.

Communicate With Your Employer

Keeping an open relationship with your employer is incredibly important when returning to work after maternity leave. They need to be made aware of any problems you are having or any additional support that you require. By opening up that dialogue from the start you can manage their expectations early on. You need to put your well-being first, so don’t be afraid to be honest with any help you need.

If your situation changes and you decide to return to work earlier than planned, or if you extend your leave then your employer needs to know well in advance. It is also worth knowing that childcare can be a difficult thing in its own right. Sometimes babysitters may not turn up, or your child may be ill. If this is likely to happen with you then let your employer know so they can be mindful of your situation and give you added flexibility within your role.

Working From Home

Now with the option of working from home, this can be very helpful for those returning to work after maternity leave. Although it can also be a curse; you may want to escape the world of babies for a bit by going to the office! Setting good boundaries is key to begin with. Plus, remember to have a flexible mindset. Your baby isn’t going to know that they need to be quiet because you have an important meeting. Just make sure you get used to using the mute button!

Step Into Assessing

If you really aren’t sure whether you want to return to your old job after maternity leave then you could always consider a complete career move and start your journey to becoming an Assessor. With the freedom of being able to work the hours you choose, and the opportunity for career progression you might wish you had made the switch sooner! For more information about how to start your Assessor journey, give us a call on 01205 805155.

Becoming an Assessor in 2022

Katie Gray Assessor Training, Career Opportunities, News 0

The start of a new year brings with it the promise of lots of new things. Gym memberships, diets, resolutions to change and become a better person… the list goes on. To some people it may even be the start of a new career, or the decision to level up and gain more qualifications. If you haven’t thought about becoming an Assessor, then now may well be the time to explore your options. Let’s have a look into the career of an Assessor in more detail.

Role of an Assessor

If you are looking to diversify your skills and help people achieve their potential, then the role of an Assessor is the perfect fit for you. You will be responsible for supporting, guiding and assessing students as they go through their vocational qualifications. Collecting evidence will be a big part of your job. You need to collate this in order to ensure your learners have all the requirements they need in order to pass their qualification.

Some of the other core responsibilities of an Assessor include:

Planning and delivering training / workshops
Observing and assessing candidates in their workplace
Providing feedback and advice to students
Signing off awards when all requirements have been met

Benefits of Becoming An Assessor

After working and speaking with many people undertaking their Assessor qualifications, the overarching motivator for becoming an Assessor has been the flexibility it provides. Some Assessors work on a part-time basis alongside their current job. Others work on temporary contracts when they have the capacity to take on extra work.

As well as a more flexible work-life balance, being an Assessor will enable you to work from various locations at hours that suit you. Many Assessors become freelancers which means that you set your own work schedule. If you want to you can do all your paperwork in the comfort of your own home, then just spend the day out assessing learners and collecting evidence. The time is completely yours.

During the past year, the Government have provided lots of additional funding to encourage businesses to take on apprentices. This means that there is an even bigger need for qualified Assessors. So there really has been no better time to become an Assessor as they are in demand!

How To Become An Assessor

There are several Assessor qualifications available, which include:

As you can see, these qualifications allow you to Assess learners in a variety of working environments. The CAVA (Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement) is the only current qualification that will fully qualify you as an Assessor in your area of expertise though.

That is another point worth mentioning – you can’t assess learners in any old subject. You must have some track record in the vocational area you are hoping to assess. Ideally this should be a qualification, but if you have enough years of experience then that will suffice.

Distance Learning With Brooks & Kirk

If you are serious about a career in assessing then please take the time to browse through the Assessor qualifications section on our website to find out more about each one. If you still feel that becoming an Assessor is the right choice for you, then we can help prepare you for the next step. All of our courses are delivered online, but that doesn’t mean you are left to your own devices. You will receive unlimited tutor support from our team of experienced industry practitioners, and with our bespoke Virtual Learning Environment, you can study anywhere and at any time.

For more information on how to get enrolled on an Assessor course, please give us a call on 01205 805155.

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3 Reasons to Become an Assessor

Katie Gray About Our Assessor Training, Assessor Training, Career Opportunities, News 0

With the New Year in sight, there has never been a better time to look at changing your career. What better choice than to become an Assessor? Now you may be thinking where on earth do I fit that in around my busy schedule? You’ll be surprised to hear that Assessor qualifications are flexible enough to fit around any hectic lifestyle. Even if you just have one hour a day, that will quickly enable you to progress and become an Assessor.

So now that we have convinced you that you do have time to complete an Assessor qualification, what makes this career so appealing? Here are 3 reasons why you should become an Assessor.

Work From Home, At Your Pace

Most NVQ Assessor jobs are 100% home-based at the moment. Of course as restrictions ease this will change slightly when travelling to learners is required. Travelling still only makes up about half (or less) of your hours. In some cases, you won’t need to leave the comfort of your own home.

Let’s use the 50% travelling time as an example. What this means is that for just over 2 working days will be spent on the road, but the rest of the week is at home. Take off your current daily commute to work (which is probably a lot less economical than being on the road consistently for a couple of days), and your stress levels will also be much lower!

Increased Pay

This benefit alone should be enough to persuade you to consider a career in assessing. The average salary of an Assessor is around £32,500 per year. Of course this depends on lots of external factors including where you live; the experience you have; and the employer themselves.

Remember you always need to work out your cost of living and compare this with the money being offered for a job. You have to be able to live within your means, but if becoming an Assessor is the pay-rise you are willing to work towards, then the sooner you get started the better!

More Apprenticeships, More Jobs

You will have probably noticed lots of talk about apprenticeships during the past year, with the Government providing lots of funding to encourage businesses to take on apprentices too. What this means is that there are more people undertaking apprenticeships. How does this correlate with becoming an Assessor though? Having this qualification can open up a few different doors:

IEPA (Independent End-Point Assessor)
EPA (End-Point Assessor)
EPAO (End-Point Assessment Organisation)

All apprenticeships require the input of an End-Point Assessor who is responsible for carrying out the final assessments with the apprentice, to ensure the Apprenticeship Standard has been met. As long as you are qualified and experienced within the specific sector in which you wish to assess, you could go down the route of becoming an IEPA too. An IEPA is a bit more specialised than a general Assessor though. If you would like to find out more about this then give us a call on 01205 805155.

So there you have it, the top 3 reasons to become an Assessor. Whether you are looking to take the next step in your career, or are looking for more of a work-life balance then the time to become an Assessor is now!

Our ‘Course Bundles’ are now LIVE

Katie Gray Assessor Training, Career Advice, Career Opportunities, Education and Training Course, End-Point Assessment, Internal Quality Assurer 0

Are you looking for a career change but aren’t sure which qualification you need to take? Luckily for you, we have the solution! We have put together some new course bundles to help you work towards your dream career.

Whether you are looking to become an EPA, a Quality Manager, an Assessor, or an Internal Quality Assurer, we have the qualifications that you need. Oh, and – we have also added a bit of discount on these course bundles too, helping to save you some pennies! Here is some more detailed information about the new course bundles.

CAVA & EPA Bundle

The CAVA & EPA bundle gives you access to the following qualifications:

If you are looking to become an End-Point Assessor, this course bundle is perfect for you. To become an Assessor of any type you will need to complete the CAVA course. Then if you are looking to specialise as an EPA, the award will give you the skills and knowledge to effectively do this.

As well as having these two qualifications, it is important that you are competent in the subject you are wanting to assess in. This means that, for example, if you have experience in working in the Health & Social Care sector, you would not be able to assess a Management course – and vice versa.

CAVA & Lead IQA Bundle

For anyone wanting to become a Quality Manager, we have created the perfect course bundle for you – CAVA & Lead IQA bundle. This gives you access to the following courses:

The lead IQA course is the most highly regarded IQA qualification, and covers three core units which will allow you to both understand and carry out the role. You will be qualified to not only quality assure qualifications, but also implement IQA processes and manage other IQA staff.

CAVA & AET Bundle

Are you wanting to become a tutor or trainer in the education sector? This CAVA & AET bundle is the perfect choice for you. It gives you access to the following qualifications:

The Level 3 AET will give you all the knowledge and skills required to deliver teaching sessions to students. It is a nationally recognised qualification, so it is essential to have if you are wanting to work with a training provider. Lots of non-educational jobs have a teaching aspect these days, so by having the Level 3 AET as well as CAVA will demonstrate you have the full host of skills.

CAVA & IQA Award Bundle

Finally, we come to the CAVA & IQA bundle. We would advise that anyone looking to become an Internal Quality Assurer chooses this qualification bundle. The following courses are included:

The CAVA qualification will give you the knowledge and understanding, allowing you to become a qualified Assessor. The IQA award will then enable you to quality assure both assessments and assessment decisions. You would not be able to be a Lead IQA/Quality Manager with this course though; the Level 4 Certificate is required for that job role.

If you have any questions about any of these course bundles, or would like to find out more information please give the team at Brooks & Kirk a call on 01205 805155.

How to Become a Freelance Assessor

Katie Gray Assessor Training, Career Advice, Career Opportunities 0

With so much uncertainty at the moment when it comes to the world of work, many people are taking the plunge and launching their own businesses. Giving them financial freedom and more flexibility to fit work around their lifestyle. Becoming a freelance Assessor may sound like a daunting prospect, but sometimes you have to take that leap of faith in order to move forward in life.

Imagine a life that isn’t based around the monotonous 9-5 structure, where you can fit in that lunchtime gym session or walk in the park with a friend mid-afternoon. To begin with, yes, you may not have financial stability as you start to build the business up, but that will come in time. So how do you turn this fantasy into a reality? Let’s have a look at the steps you need to take in order to become a freelance Assessor.

Qualifications You Will Need

If you are wanting to become an Assessor, you firstly need to take some qualifications to demonstrate that you have the skills and knowledge required in order to assess learners. The best qualification for this is the Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA) as it is the most comprehensive, and is the only course that will fully qualify you as an Assessor.

There are 3 core units that form the CAVA qualification:

Understanding Principles & Practices of Assessment
Assess Occupational Competence In The Work Environment
Assess Vocational Skills, Knowledge & Understanding

Another qualification that is often studied alongside CAVA is the Level 3 Award in Education and Training (AET). This course is ideal for anyone wanting to teach adult learners, which is why it works in tandem with Assessor qualifications. So if you are considering freelancing for colleges or Apprenticeship Training Providers, it is best to achieve both qualifications.

Showing Competency

As well as having an Assessor qualification under your belt, you will also need to be able to demonstrate occupational competency. Putting this into simple terms, what we mean is you need to show that you have experience in the industry or field that you plan on assessing in. So even if you gained the CAVA qualification, but had no experience within Health & Social Care, this wouldn’t give you the right of passage to assess Health & Social Care apprentices.

What A Freelance Assessor Does

It is likely that you will be working with more than one candidate at a time, so good time management and organisational skills are essential. The main responsibility of a freelance Assessor is to visit the apprentice in their place of work, and assess whether their skills meet the standards of the apprenticeship.

As well as observing and monitoring their progress, you will need to firstly identify what the apprentice knows, and what they are capable of doing. Once you have determined this, you can come up with an action plan to help give the apprentice the skills and knowledge they require.

Regular Freelance Assessor Schedule

We have written several ‘day in the life’ style blogs where we have looked at a standard day for an Assessor, so feel free to go back through and have a read of those. As a rough guide, here are some of the typical activities that a freelance Assessor is involved in:

Planning and delivering vocational training programmes
Observing and assessing apprentices in their place of work
Grading the documentation from the apprentice
Keeping a record of the apprentice’s progress
Providing regular feedback to the apprentice

If you are ready to take the next step and become a freelance Assessor, the team at Brooks and Kirk are here to support you through the process. Get in touch today to find out more about the right Assessor course for you, and we can get you enrolled straight away. Call us on 01205 805155.

Why Should I Become an Assessor?

Katie Gray Assessor Training, Career Advice, Career Opportunities, News 0

Making any career move can be a daunting decision. If we have caught you looking through our website we are assuming that you might be considering becoming an Assessor. Now, you may be wondering whether a career in assessing is the right choice for you; and we want to help with that. We will be giving you all the information you need so that you can make an informed decision. We aren’t here to sell you a course for the sake of it!

Improving Your Work-Life Balance

We have already taken a deep dive into why people become Assessors, but that was some time ago so here is a little recap for you. This past year has made us all realise just how important family and flexibility within our jobs are. It is important to prioritise your happiness, and sometimes that isn’t simple with a 9-5 job. This means you need to invest in yourself, and what better way to do that than by getting more qualified? Not only will this allow you to progress within your chosen field, but becoming a qualified Assessor may well open up a higher rate of pay too.

Qualified For Life

Qualifications aren’t something that can be taken away from you. Once you complete the Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA), you will be fully qualified to assess learners in their place of work as well as in learning environments. If you think about an Assessor qualification as an investment in yourself, it is a very permanent investment. Whereas if you were to invest in stocks and shares, there is no guarantee that you wouldn’t lose all your money!

Keeping Skills Updated

We often harp on about how important it is to keep your CPD record up to date, and for good reason! In the ever-changing workplace, you can’t rely on jobs and roles remaining stable. So, the more you can do to keep your skills up to date the better. If it comes down to letting one person go from the company, and you are up against someone who is more qualified; who do you think they will let go?

Gaining an Assessor qualification will not only give you more security within your job, it will also help you to be more adaptable. By ensuring your knowledge, skills and behaviours are up to date, you will have all the tools needed to cope with any changes that might come your way.

You Could Go Solo

With lots of industry experience and an Assessor qualification under your belt, there is nothing to stop you from becoming your own boss and venturing into the world of freelance assessing. Now, this does take someone who is highly motivated and good at managing their own time. But it means that you can work whenever suits your routine. So if you want to go for a dog walk when the sun is out at lunchtime, you would have the freedom to do that. Much better than being chained to an office chair all day!

Compliance At Work

You may have noticed that in recent years there has been a much bigger emphasis on ‘tick box exercises’. Since the introduction of GDPR, businesses have all been forced to document, record and check everything properly. This responsibility often falls onto the Assessor – whether you are working with candidates, clients or colleagues. Assessors are the ones who sort everything out and make sure that the company is complying with the requirements set out by either the EPAO or the awarding body.

So there you have it, our top reasons on why you should become an Assessor. Get in touch if you would like any more information on any of the Assessor qualifications that we offer. We are also more than happy to run through the roles and responsibilities of an Assessor in more detail – call us on 01205 805155.