City & Guilds and EAL are working together to develop a new set of qualifications to build a better future in the built environment for you.
As we develop this new set of Construction and Building Services Engineering qualifications we will add to these frequently asked questions between now and when they go live in colleges and training providers in September 2021.
Qualifications Wales conducted a review of qualifications in the construction and built environment sector and published their findings in the Building the Future: Sector Review of the Qualification System in Construction and the Built Environment report. They found that a number of changes should be made to the system to simplify the landscape of qualifications making progression routes more clear, and in this fast-developing sector that the qualifications are aligned to what employers are looking for so learners can be prepared for the world of work.
The new qualifications at Level 2 will be available for first teaching from 1 September 2021, and Level 3 from September 2022.
If you are already studying for a qualification in construction or building services engineering before September 2021, you will not be affected by these changes. You will continue with your current study until the completion of the qualification. We will provide information to your centre to help you explore with them what progression opportunities may be available to you.
If you already hold a qualification currently required for your role and your Skills Card is valid, this will still be recognised and accepted to work on-site in the UK.
We will be working closely with the skills card scheme organisations to ensure these new qualifications provide the right level of skill to be added to the required list of national qualifications for the appropriate skills card.
City & Guilds | EAL are developing qualifications at Level 2 and 3, and WJEC are developing a GCSE, AS and A Level. These qualifications will provide you with a number of ways to build your knowledge, skills and competence to continue your learning, and work in the sector. There are routes suited to schools, colleges, employment as well as work-based learning.
Yes. Most of the qualifications offer a route to progress onto further study, while the apprenticeship qualification enables progression into a chosen trade in employment. The Level 2 progression qualification and Level 3 apprenticeship provide a range of pathways to choose from.
Yes. The new vocational qualifications have been designed to prepare you more thoroughly for employment. The qualifications will be based on nationally recognised occupational standards and because of this you will be qualified to work across the UK. The introduction of the Foundation and Progression qualifications will give learners a broad knowledge, understanding and a firm grounding across the sector at Level 2, while the apprenticeship will result in occupational competence to access a skills card. We will be working with the sector card scheme organisations to align with the relevant card schemes.
Yes, all of the new qualifications will be available in English and through the medium of Welsh. Please ask your training provider, college or school about how they plan to deliver the qualifications through the medium of Welsh.
City & Guilds and EAL have developed this Skills for Wales website as a single source of information for these developing qualifications.
You can also talk to your local college or training provider in Wales about them.
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