29 Nov 2021
Key Facts
Qualification purpose
Prepare for employment
Qualification Grading Type
Pass
Assessment Methods
Why choose this qualification?
The Gateway Qualifications Fashion Industries qualification suite is aimed at learners who are seeking employment in the fashion industries or who are already in the fashion industry but are looking to develop new skills or hone existing ones. The suite of qualifications is written and structured to link technical and practical skills with creative skills in a way that will encourage and appeal to a broad range of learners.
The choice of available sizes of qualification and the range of units available within the individual qualifications is designed to give learners considerable flexibility of learning without constraining them to a specific route within the industry (for example, tailoring, pattern cutting, fashion design, garment construction).
The qualification suite will provide learners with the opportunity to explore different routes within the industry and thus to identify a suitable apprenticeship scheme or other opportunity, giving employers the confidence that entrants already understand the context of the industry and the employment roles and career opportunities it offers.
The Gateway Qualifications Skills for the Fashion Industries qualification suite enables progression to employment, further learning opportunities within employment, further study including internal progression within the suite, or to higher-level sector specific qualifications.
Level 1 qualifications are designed to introduce the knowledge and skills required by the sector, while Level 2 qualifications will equip individuals for entry level jobs in the sector and Level 3 qualifications will equip them for more skilled employment.
The qualifications within the suite can also be progressive and cumulative with the credits achieved within the Awards contributing to the Certificates and from there to the Diplomas.
The qualifications can also provide a stepping stone to further specific training and skills development through structured training programmes such as an apprenticeship or Foundation Degree.
The Certificate, Extended Certificate, Diploma and Extended Diploma qualifications have been developed with a choice of mandatory units that encourage the development of understanding of how the industry operates and how the individual’s abilities can be developed towards successful employment. These qualifications introduce the range of employment opportunities the sector offers and guide the learner towards industry-specific subjects in order for them to gain the appropriate skills and knowledge required by employers.
The Level 3 Diplomas are offer progression onto higher education programmes including Foundation Degrees.
Rules of Combination
Learners must achieve 54 credits to achieve the qualification. A minimum of 3 units worth at least 12 credits must be achieved from Group M; the remaining credits can be taken from Groups M or O. A minimum of 36 credits must be achieved at Level 3.
Learners cannot include more than one unit with the same or similar title. For full details see list of barred units which can be found in the qualification specification.
Units
The learner must achieve 3 units worth at least 12 credits from Group M.
Fashion Industry Production
Preparation for Employment in the Fashion Industries
The Different Markets for Fashion
The Fashion Industry
The learner may achieve up to 30 credits from Group O.
Fashion Design: CAD Colour and Pattern
Fashion Design: CAD Technical Illustration
Fashion Design: Development
Fashion Design: Development
Fashion Design: Illustration Techniques
Fashion Design: Illustration Techniques
Fashion Design: Presentation
Fashion Design: Presentation
Fashion Design: Research
Garment Construction: Detail Techniques
Garment Construction: Detailed Garment Construction
Garment Construction: Detailed Garment Construction
Garment Construction: Pockets and Collars
Garment Construction: Techniques
Garment Construction: Theory
Health and Safety in a Fashion Environment
Pattern Cutting: Drafting Techniques
Pattern Cutting: Garment Modelling and Fitting
Pattern Cutting: Manual Lay Planning
Pattern Cutting: Manual Lay Planning
Pattern Cutting: Manual Pattern Grading
Pattern Cutting: Pattern Adaptation
Pattern Cutting: Pattern Construction Blocks
Pattern Cutting: Pattern Design
Pattern Cutting: Pattern Design
Tailoring: Alterations
Tailoring: Alterations
Tailoring: Practical Skills
Tailoring: Tailored Garment Construction
Tailoring: Tailored Jacket Construction
Tailoring: Tailored Trousers Construction
Tailoring: Tailored Waistcoat Construction
Tailoring: Techniques
Tailoring: Theory and Techniques
What is the purpose of this qualification?
This qualification is designed to be taken by learners interested in pursuing a career in fashion but who need a substantial programme covering the different areas of the industry and build up their basic knowledge and skills before progressing to further learning. It is particularly suitable for:
• Young people who are aspiring to a career in fashion but are not yet sure in which precise area, and who intend to access level 3 qualifications or a level 3 apprenticeship but need a fairly extensive learning programme at level 2 before they will be ready to access level 3
• Young people and adults usually with prior attainment at level 1 and below, including those who have had a significant break from or disjointed experience of education, who wish to work in the fashion industry but need a fairly extensive grounding in the subject over an extended period before identifying the most appropriate job roles and applying for work or higher level courses.
What skills, knowledge, or understanding does this qualification develop?
This qualification includes the basic technical, practical and creative skills needed in the fashion industry, alongside knowledge of the fashion industry and the employment opportunities within it.
The content has been influenced by a number of relevant National Occupational Standards published by Creative Skill set, including Bespoke Cutting and Tailoring, Apparel Manufacturing Technology and Textiles and Material Design.
Learners must take at least two of the following units:
• The different markets for fashion
• Preparation for employment in the fashion industries
• Fashion industry production
• The fashion industry
Optional units focus on the specific skills required in four main areas of the fashion industry: tailoring; garment construction; fashion design; and pattern-cutting.
How is this qualification different from other, similar qualifications?
This qualification is part of a Level 2 suite which includes an Award, Certificate, Extended Certificate and Diploma. Learners should take the Diploma if they need a substantial programme of learning at level 2 and the opportunity to thoroughly explore specific progression options within the fashion industry, before moving into employment (with further training where possible), on to a level 3 Apprenticeship or on to a Level 3 qualification, as illustrated in the target learner profiles provided above.
Which sector does this qualification support?
This qualification is primarily designed to lead to further learning rather than employment. However some learners may progress to entry-level job roles, including to those with apprenticeships (Intermediate or Advanced Apprenticeship in Fashion and Textiles). Entry-level job roles, including those for apprentices, might include cloth cutter, sewing machinist, pattern cutter, dressmaker, pattern grader or handcraft tailor.
What are the progression options?
The qualification supports progression to Level 3 qualifications in fashion, such as the Gateway Qualifications Level 3 Diploma in Employment in the Fashion Industries or to an Apprenticeship in Fashion and Textiles (see above).
Progression & entry requirements
Learners do not need any prior qualifications or a specific level of attainment to take this qualification. It is available to learners aged 16+.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.