Frequently Asked Questions

What does a Level 2 job mean?
A level 2 role is commonly seen as a new entrant job. It involves the application of skill and knowledge when performing a range of work in situations where some activities may be complex or non-routine and some individual responsibility may be required.

What does a Level 3 job mean?
A level 3 role is commonly seen as someone in a second job or someone who has progressed within an organisation. It involves more autonomy than level 2, the application of skills and knowledge when performing a significant range of work in a variety of situations where many activities are complex or non-routine and considerable individual responsibility.

Who develops the standards?
Standards development is led by Sector Skills Councils (SSCs). At present, a number of other recognised organisations known as Standard Setting Bodies (SSBs) also undertake standards development work. Both SSCs and SSBs have a UK wide remit.

Who owns the Standards?
Creative & Cultural Skills are responsible for their development and maintenance. However, the standards are freely available from www.ukstandards.org and Creative & Cultural Skills actively promotes and encourages their use.

Are Standards and Qualifications the same thing?
No. Anyone can use standards.Standards can be used for a variety of things such as writing job descriptions, identifying training needs and curriculum design and development to name but a few. However, there is a very close relationship between standards and qualifications as occupational standards inform the development of vocational qualifications. We do and will encourage all educational institutions to look at the standards when developing vocational courses for the creative and cultural industries. Standards form the basis of NVQs and SVQs - an awarding body adds assessment criteria relating to how and what they measure to ensure the candidate is achieving the specified level of performance defined in the standards.

What is an occupational analysis (or occupational map)?

An occupational analysis aims to provide a concise overview of the sector, and describes: the main employers and stakeholders, the numbers employed in the various sub-sectors, career progression and development for selected job roles, key trends and drivers for change within the sector and key characteristics of employment in the sector.

What is a functional map?

A functional map describes the broad work activities producing an outcome that take place across an occupational sector. It describes these work activities in general terms to gain a picture of the type of work that is carried out by individual members of staff. A functional map is the starting point for developing National Occupational Standards

There are lots of tasks I have to do in my day to day job which I cannot find reference to in the standards. Can I still use the Standards?
Of course, you can! If you can't find reference to all of the parts of the job you can always pick-and-mix the standards to suit your needs. Standards normally cover the key functions in a role, so it may well be that some of the smaller areas of your work are not covered by the standards. Standards are there to be adapted, and tailored to meet your needs. They are normally written generically to cover a wide range of roles and may need contextualising by changing the language or terminology to meet your own needs. You can either use the standards and units in their entirety, or pick appropriate parts from the units that are most relevant to you.

What's the usual structure of the Standards?
Standards are organised into units of competence. Each unit describes an area of work; the activities may be separated out into elements of related activities, with associated performance criteria and knowledge requirements listed.