The Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) will affect training across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It aims to make gaining qualifications more flexible by using a unitary system to track a learner's progress.

It is hoped the system will allow units to be cherry-picked to suit a company's needs, with staff building up credits at their own pace to earn higher qualifications.

Three types of qualification are to be issued with one to 12 credits for an award, 13 to 36 credits for a certificate and 37 credits or more for a diploma.

Each credit represents around 10 hours of work and there will be levels of difficulty ranging from entry level to level eight.

Richard Bloxam, print industry champion at Proskills, said: "The system is built around the principal of the amount of time required for a learner to achieve a credit.

"A notional 10 hours of learning equals one credit. This credit could be at an easy level, but be very broad, or be at a higher level and be very specific – they would both require 10 hours of learning time to achieve them, so they would both attract one credit."

He added: "The printing industry is very fortunate that it already has comprehensive qualifications that are specific to the industry from pre-press to finishing and everything in between.

"We are also in the process of developing new standards at entry level and higher level to allow progression within the industry. This means that there will be little need for companies to have their own training programmes recognised since there will be a programme to suit them."

Terry Watts, chief executive of Proskills UK, said: "Prior to these reforms, much of the millions of pounds invested by the industry into developing employees' skills would have gone unrecognised.

"Now, with the new Qualifications and Credit Framework, these skills and qualifications will stay with the individual throughout his/her working life, and can be tailored and enhanced to suit the current and future requirements of both the business and individual learner, without having to start again from scratch.

"This marks a significant step forward in terms of utilising work-based skills training and achieving recognised qualifications."

Proskills is currently working on establishing a National Skills Academy for its sectors, which include building products, coatings, extractives and glass, with print being the largest of these.

Also see:
Apprentices in print urged to enter Proskills awards scheme
Proskills and BPIF defend training schemes