Skills News

Building Confidence, Connection and Craft: Why mentoring matters more than ever This National Mentoring Day, the Institute of Carpenters (IOC) and National Association of Shopfitters (NAS) are celebrating the craft within the craft, the passing on of skill, care and pride from one generation to the next: mentoring. It all started with IOC’s Mentoring Champions

At the National Association of Shopfitters (NAS), much of our most important work happens quietly – in meetings, consultations, and working groups that shape the future of our industry. While our members see the visible benefits of representation, guidance, and community, behind the scenes we’re influencing national policy, developing new qualifications, and ensuring that shopfitting,

Control over apprenticeships policy will move from the Department for Education (DfE) to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), following the government reshuffle last week. The change was confirmed by the new skills minister, Jacqui Smith, during an interview at the EuroSkills competition in Denmark. This shift means that responsibility for apprenticeship policy, the

With multiple high level changes taking place, you do not have to navigate them alone. Amanda Scott NAS/IOC UK Skills Led reports on the latest change — the new 8 Month Foundation Apprenticeship. Love it or loath it, it’s here, and with it comes a whole new range of criteria, eligibility, and funding changes for

The latest edition of the Construction Leadership Council’s (CLC) Connect Newsletter provides important updates for our sector, ranging from new funding for skills to safety reforms and digital innovation. Below, we’ve highlighted key developments for NAS members. 💷 Investment in Construction Skills At the Spring Statement, the Government announced £625 million of investment to tackle

We want to update you on some important developments from CITB that will affect how employers access funding for training. These changes are designed to streamline processes and strengthen support for levy-registered employers, with the ultimate aim of helping address the industry’s ongoing skills challenge. What’s changing and why CITB is simplifying its approach to

As part of a major reform of the Scottish education system, the Education (Scotland) Bill, published on 5 June 2024, sets out plans to replace the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) with a new body: Qualifications Scotland. Expected to be operational by Autumn 2025, Qualifications Scotland will take on all current responsibilities of the SQA. This

CITB has released a draft Competence Framework for Trade Supervisors as part of its 2025 review – and they want your input. The framework sets out the skills, knowledge, behaviours, and experiences expected of supervisors across the industry. 🗓️ Consultation closes 29 July 2025 Why This Matters for Shopfitters As the voice of the shopfitting

While mostly relevant to members of our partner organisation, the Institute of Carpenters, we decided to share the article here for interested NAS members. A Trailblazer Apprenticeship is an employer-led apprenticeship model in England that focuses on industry-defined standards and end-point assessments. Trailblazer apprenticeships are developed by groups of employers, known as “Trailblazer groups,” who