UK: Footwear Industry Collaborates On Occupational Standards

Footwear, shoe repair, leather producing and leathergoods companies have been playing a major part in the National Training Organisation's push to get new National Occupational Standards approved. These standards underpin all training provision at operator level and, for the first time, job roles are now being reflected in the new standards."Operatives should be able to recognise their job role outlined in the opening paragraph of the standards," said Wendi Reid, the project co-ordinator for footwear. "We have tried to look at the standards from an employer's point of view to ensure they are able to recognise and value the qualifications that are developed in the near future."