City & Guilds Professional Recognition Award

The Professional Recognition Awards programme, developed by The Livery Companies Skills Council, enables individuals to work for and to be assessed for a City and Guilds Professional Recognition Award. This accredited qualification, at Level 4, is based on the provision of evidence of achievement in the candidates work and does not involve new learning or attendance at a course. It enables the successful candidate to use the post-nominal letters LCGI (Licentiate of the City and Guilds Institute). The award is not about technical knowledge, but about the development of general but fundamental skills in a career (leadership, communication, team working, problem solving etc). The scheme has been tested in a pilot and is now being rolled out.

The scheme may be of particular interest to young people pursuing a career in the polymer industries, for example following an apprenticeship, or to those who have considerable experience and competence, but no formal qualification.

Key Features:

• A vocational route to higher level professional recognition
• At the level of Higher Level Apprenticeships and Certificates of Higher Education
• Successful candidates receive two awards; a City & Guilds qualification, regulated and recognised by Ofqual, and post-nominal letters that can be used for life; LCGI for Level 4
• Digital credentials are also included on certification
• Doesn’t involve new learning or attendance at a course - evidence is collected from recent work experience & projects

Benefits:

1. Nationally recognised badge of recognition
2. Develop life skills –communication, self-reflection, problem solving, working with others.
3. Continuing Professional Development & the opportunity to progress further
4. Digital credentials are included in certification
5. Show candidate’s added value to present and future employers

Roll-out of the C&G Professional Recognition Award Level 4 will commence in early Summer 2024. The plan is to run two five-month programmes of 10-15 candidates each year. The cost per candidate will be £850, and this will be covered by the individual candidates thus demonstrating their commitment and in recognition of the award benefits. Some Livery Companies or employers may wish to financially sponsor individual candidates.

Delivery:

• Delivery will be provided through OneFile ePortfolio
• A contextualised standard can be provided– developed by mentor
• Candidates work at their own pace in their own time
• Induction and OneFile training is included at the start of the programme
• Full support materials are accessible in the OneFile Resources area
• Mentoring support is provided with one-to-one sessions with regular progress checks and feedback
• Assessment and quality assurance are carried out remotely through OneFile
• OneFile monitors activity, progress and unit achievement

To achieve a Professional Recognition Award candidates must provide a concise portfolio of evidence which demonstrates their competency for each standard:

• Standard 1: Commitment to Professional Standards
• Standard 2: Communication and Information Management
• Standard 3: Leadership
• Standard 4: Professional Development
• Standard 5: Working with Others
• Standard 6: Managing Customer Relationships

Philip Hilton from the Worshipful Company of Horners presented the scheme at the most recent BPF Education & Skills Committee and the feedback was very positive. 

If you'd like to hear more about the scheme and learn how you can get involved, please contact Mrs Jo Mabbutt - [email protected]. 

To learn more about the BPF Education & Skills Committee, please contact Mary Aiken-Wood - [email protected].