NOS - National Occupational Standards

"In the coming years, the creative industries will be important not only for our national prosperity but for Britain’s ability to put culture and creativity at the centre of our national life."

Gordon Brown

CCSkills is working with Awarding Bodies, the Regulatory Authorities and other stakeholders to ensure that vocational qualifications and vocationally related qualifications are fit for purpose.

As part of the UK Vocational Qualification Reform Programme (UKVQRP), CCSkills is currently writing our Sector Qualifications Strategy (SQS). The SQS outlines current and future learning and qualifications needs of employers in the creative and cultural sectors. The SQS will be developed within the context of the credit and qualifications frameworks operating in each of the four UK nations and will be used to shape and influence qualifications education and training at all levels, including higher education and foundation degrees.

The SQS was submitted to UKCES on 1st September 2008 and we are now awaiting feedback. The submitted version of the SQS is available for download here:

Sector Qualifications Strategy (PDF document opens in new window)

Creative Blueprint: the Sector Skills Agreement for the Creative and Cultural Industries

Our vision is to make the UK the world’s creative hub. Achieving this vision comes from a strategy which is research-based and derived from the fullest understanding of how the sector operates. The Creative Blueprint is a key tool in shaping and implementing that strategy. The published Creative Blueprint documents for each of the four nations can be downloaded here:

Creative Blueprint England(PDF document opens in new window)

Creative Blueprint Northern Ireland (PDF document opens in new window)

Creative Blueprint Scotland (PDF document opens in new window)

Creative Blueprint Wales (PDF document opens in new window)

Creative Blueprint Wales Cymru (PDF document opens in new window)

The full documents for Stage 1 (Skills Needs Assessment) and Stage 2 (Understanding Supply) can be downloaded here:

Creative Blueprint Stage 1 - Skills Needs Assessment (PDF document opens in new window)

Creative Blueprint Stage 2 - Understanding Supply PDF document opens in new window)

In June 2008 we commissioned a report entitled 'Investigating the relationship between graded examinations and the performing arts sector'. This report is helping to inform the development of the Sector Qualifications Strategy and can be downloaded here:

Investigating the relationship between graded examinations and the performing arts sector (PDF document opens in new window)