Rail Welding N/SVQ

Some years ago, through the IoRW, National Occupational Standards (NOSs) were established for rail welding. These standards were used as criteria for National, or Scottish, Vocational Qualifications and an awarding body called EAL (Emta Awards Ltd) established N/SVQs in rail welding based on the NOSs.
Although Network Rail have confirmed their wish to maintain the availability of these qualifications, and the NOSs that underpin them, they have not actually been taken up. Nevertheless, in order to maintain the profile of the importance of rail welding competence and to provide access to public funding, it is extremely important that these qualifications are maintained.
Semta, the Sector Skills Council that established the NOSs is now reviewing all the welding NOSs and they have asked IoRW to review the rail welding ones as part of that exercise.
The review will attempt to answer the following questions (only the rail welding parts):

• Are the current occupational pathways (job roles) still relevant and current in the N/SVQ structures?
• If not what changes are required?
• Are there any missing NOS that should be developed and be included in the N/VQs?
• Is the content of the NOS technically correct?
• Is there anything that should not be in the NOS e.g. redundant procedures/processes/equipment?
• Is it clear what must be completed in order to achieve the NOS?
• Can the outcomes specified in the NOS be achieved in the workplace?