SKILLS FEDERATION LAUNCHES #COVID_19 #APPRENTICESHIP PORTAL IN BID TO PROTECT #VOCATIONAL TRAINING DURING THE #CORONAVIRUS EMERGENCY  In a bid to protect the UK’s apprentices and vocational training during the Covid-19 lockdown, the Federation for Industry Sector Skills & Standards has created a ‘Covid-19 Apprenticeship Portal’ where employers and training providers are invited to submit workable solutions for training and assessment during the crisis, initially via a survey. The Federation will then take to regulators for urgent approval and share as best practices across the sector.

Federation appoints new Chief Executive with radical brief to change direction and put Employers’ Skills Issues on the agenda  The Federation for Industry Sector Skills & Standards has appointed public affairs expert Matt Lambert as its new Chief Executive Officer with a brief to raise awareness of the Federation with Government, industry and the public and put the employer’s perspective on skills needs at the top of the political agenda. The Board of the Federation, which represent employers’ interests in skills in a wide range of industries, has asked Lambert to implement a major change in direction by ensuring that labour market intelligence and employers’ insights into skills needs is a key part of the Federation’s work from now on.

The Assessors Guild, headed by Sam Taylor, plan a conference not to be forgotten on the 13th of November. On the day, attendees will be able to dive into the world of assessment and policy on a mission to make policy practical.

Assessment is about making judgments about learners’ competence through evidence that links to relevant outcomes relating to specific subjects or roles. This may be standards or qualification driven.

The Assessors Guild is the Professional Membership Body for the assessor and quality assurance practitioner community. Assessors, both formative and End Point are at times under-represented and need professional recognition, particularly as this section of vocational and technical educators are crucial to the success of learners learning a trade or skill.