When quality assurance fails: why procedures alone do not protect qualification standards The credibility of a qualification depends on confidence that every certificate has been properly earned. Policies, procedures and sampling plans all contribute to that confidence, but their existence does not in itself guarantee effective quality assurance. The real test is whether an awarding
Effective prerequisite programmes provide the foundation for non-food HACCP Two recent developments from very different sectors demonstrate an important principle of HACCP: effective hazard management begins with strong prerequisite programmes. One concerns a cosmetic product recalled because its fragrance concentration exceeded the safety limit for a leave-on facial product. The other is new government guidance
Effective prerequisite programmes provide the foundation for non-food HACCP Read More »
Before you assess competence, you need to define it Organisations often begin workforce-development projects by asking what training people need or how their performance should be assessed. There is an earlier question that needs to be answered: What does competent performance actually look like in this role? Without a clear answer, training can become a
Before you assess competence, you need to define it Read More »
One Product, Seven Marketplaces: Could Your Recall System Find Every Route to the Customer? A recent product-safety investigation provides a useful reminder that traceability must extend beyond manufacturing batches and distribution records. The Office for Product Safety and Standards investigated a type of “pimple-popping” toy supplied with a sharp needle or syringe. Although some versions
Assessment quality under the spotlight: what recent announcements mean for training providers Recent announcements from Ofqual, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Skills England all point towards the same conclusion: effective vocational assessment depends on competent people, reliable evidence and quality systems that work in practice. For training providers, awarding organisations, assessment centres and employers,
Keeping Non-Food HACCP Current: Lessons from Recent Product-Safety Developments Recent UK product-safety developments demonstrate why hazard analysis must extend beyond the product formulation or manufacturing process. One chemical product was recalled after incorrect instructions stated that users should apply three tablets instead of one. The excessive dose could cause skin reactions. This shows why label
Keeping Non-Food HACCP Current: Lessons from Recent Product-Safety Developments Read More »
AI and vocational assessment: does the evidence still prove competence? Artificial intelligence is becoming part of everyday work and learning. It can explain unfamiliar subjects, help learners organise their ideas, improve written communication and identify gaps in their knowledge. For vocational assessors, however, the central question is not simply whether AI has been used. It
AI and vocational assessment: does the evidence still prove competence? Read More »
Are workplace assessors ready for apprenticeship assessment reform? Changes to apprenticeship assessment in England are beginning to move from policy into practice. The reformed approach will allow assessment to take place at appropriate points throughout an apprenticeship, rather than relying solely on a separate assessment at the end. This should create a more flexible and
Are workplace assessors ready for apprenticeship assessment reform? Read More »
Two Recalls, Two Different Hazards: The Value of Non-Food HACCP Two product recalls published by the Office for Product Safety and Standards on 16 September 2026 demonstrate why structured hazard analysis is valuable across non-food manufacturing. The products and hazards were very different, but both cases concerned contamination that should be considered when evaluating materials,
Two Recalls, Two Different Hazards: The Value of Non-Food HACCP Read More »
Apprenticeship assessment is changing: Developing the Workplace Assessors of the Future Apprenticeship Assessment Is Changing: Developing the Workplace Assessors of the Future The way apprenticeships are assessed in England is changing. The traditional end-point assessment model is being replaced by a more flexible approach known as apprenticeship assessment. Under the new arrangements, assessment may take
Apprenticeship assessment is changing: Developing the Workplace Assessors of the Future Read More »
