29 Nov 2021
Key Facts
Qualification purpose
Prepare for employment
Qualification Grading Type
Pass/Merit/Distinction
Assessment Methods
Why choose this qualification?
The objective of the Gateway Qualifications Improving own Employability Skills suite of qualifications is to support learners to improve their own employability skills, with a view to increasing their chances of employment in the future.
The qualification is suitable for learners who are currently studying, in order to prepare for employment, and have the opportunity to learn through experience of a work environment. It will prepare learners for any type of employment as its focus is on generic employability skills. However, for most learners, the next step will be to further learning, rather than directly to a job.
The qualification is available at three different levels (Levels 1, 2 and 3). Learners are likely to benefit from the Level 1 Award if the majority of their learning programme is at Level 1 and/or if they have no or very limited previous experience of learning in a working environment.
Learners do not need any prior qualifications or specific levels of attainment but must be aged 16 or over to take the qualification.
Rules of Combination
Learners must achieve the single mandatory unit, totalling 3 credits.
Units
Learners must achieve the single mandatory unit, totalling 3 credits.
Improving own Employability Skills
What is the purpose of this qualification?
The primary purpose of this qualification is to support learner to improve their own employability skills, with a view to increasing their chances of employment in the future. This qualification is suitable for learners if they are currently studying, in order to prepare for employment, and who have the opportunity to learn through experience of a work environment.
What skills, knowledge, or understanding does this qualification develop?
For this qualification learner will take one mandatory unit which covers:
• Responsibilities and working patterns associated with a particular job role
• Working with due regard for health and safety
• Working to professional standards
• Reviewing own learning gained from a work environment
How is this qualification different from other, similar qualifications?
This qualification is available at three different levels (Levels 1, 2 and 3). Learners are likely to benefit from the Level 1 Award if the majority of their learning programme is at Level 1 and/or if learners have no or very limited previous experience of learning in a working environment.
Which sector does this qualification support?
This qualification prepares learner for any type of employment as its focus is on generic employability skills and their ability to continue to improve these. However, for most learners, the next step will be to further learning, rather than directly to a job.
What are the progression options?
This qualification will support learner to progress to Level 2 vocational qualifications in any sector (e.g. Gateway Qualifications Level 2 Certificate in Skills for Childcare) or to a more general employability skills qualification at Level 2 (e.g Gateway Qualifications Level 2 Certificate in Employability Skills). Learners might also progress to a Level 2 Apprenticeship in any sector. The Award will be particularly helpful to an individual in enabling learner to get the most out of any workplace learning opportunities on future courses.
Progression & entry requirements
Learners do not need any prior qualifications or specific levels of attainment but learner must be aged 16 or over to take the qualification.Funding information
There are now two main sources for funding information, a straightforward ESFA Qualification Search and the more detailed Find a Learning Aim website.
The new Find a learning aim (FALA) service provides a search tool that you can use to check the funding status of any qualification, framework, unit, standard or T Level:
View this qualification on the ESFA’s Find a learning aim website
The Education and Skills Funding Agency search provides funding information on qualifications. It does not provide funding information for units, non-regulated activity and work placements, for this information please use Find a learning aim (FALA).
View this qualification on the ESFA Qualification Funding Search
How to find a learning aim
If you’re not sure how to use the new find a learning aim website, we’ve created a handy walkthrough to help you:
How to Use: Find a learning Aim
We have done our best to collate and summarise the key information, and wherever possible we alert our providers to changes in funding policy.
This funding information is provided in good faith and it is always advisable to check directly with the funding agencies before committing to delivery.
The following support materials will help you to deliver this qualification.
Special Considerations and Reasonable Adjustment Forms