Updates to legionella qualifications

Posted on July 31, 2015 by Press Office

HABC has recently undertaken a full review of its legionella qualifications to ensure they still meet the requirements of the industry, our regulators, our Centres and, of course, the learners taking these qualifications.

We have taken this opportunity to make improvements to the assessment pack and increase the guidance supplied to Centres in relation to the delivery, assessment and internal quality assurance (IQA) processes required for these qualifications.

New assessment materials
The assessment packs and accompanying tutor, assessor and IQA (TAI) packs have been updated, so some of the tasks are now even more relevant to learners. Additionally, more guidance has been provided on acceptable answers from learners, as has further guidance on delivery options, assessment and quality assurance processes.

The updated documents for both the assessment and TAI packs have now been placed on the relevant qualification pages on the HABC website. Please note that you will need to be signed into the website with your membership profile to be able to access them.

The assessment and TAI packs for each of our legionella qualifications are available via the links below:

It is recommended that Centres running any of these legionella qualifications start using these new packs immediately.

If you have any queries relating to the contents of this email, please contact your account manager who will be pleased to help.

Extra qualifications to be funded by SFA

Posted on July 31, 2015 by Press Office

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) has announced that it will fund 12 more HABC qualifications further to those already announced.

HABC had already obtained agreement from the SFA for the funding of 48 qualifications earlier in the year, but has now had confirmation for another 12 after a successful appeal.

The qualifications, which will have funding available from 1 August 2015, are:

HABC Level 2 Certificate in Preparing to Work in Adult Social Care (QCF)
HABC Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care (Adults) for England (QCF)
HABC Level 2 Certificate in Hospitality and Catering Principles (Food Production and Cooking) (QCF)
HABC Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Food and Beverage Service (QCF)
HABC Level 3 Diploma in Management (QCF)
HABC Level 3 NVQ Certificate in Spectator Safety (QCF)
HABC Level 2 Certificate in Driving Goods Vehicles (QCF)
HABC Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People’s Workforce (QCF)
HABC Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Beverage Service (QCF)
HABC Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Food Service (QCF)
HABC Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Contact Centre Operations (QCF)
HABC Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Customer Service (QCF)

The additional 12 qualifications will be added to the 2015/2016 simplified funding rates catalogue.

To access the list of all funded qualifications, click here

If you are a HABC Approved Centre and have any questions regards qualifications and funding, please contact your account manager directly.

National food safety conference this September for Doncaster

Posted on July 30, 2015 by Press Office

Some of the UK’s top experts will be descending on Doncaster this September for a national conference to tackle the issue of food fraud.

Fighting Food Fraud , held at Doncaster Racecourse on 17 September 2015, will feature Professor Chris Elliott , author of the Elliott Review into the Integrity and Assurance of Food Supply Networks – the UK government’s report into the horsemeat scandal of 2013 – and will look at how businesses can best protect the public and themselves.

Professor Elliott will be joined by Andy Morling, the recently appointed head of the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) Food Crime Unit , who will discuss its role and impact so far, plus John Figgins, BRC Technical Specialist, who will provide an insight into compliance with newly issued food safety standards.

The conference, which is expected to attract over 100 leading food safety specialists from some of the UK’s biggest retailers, caterers and manufacturers, is being organised by the Doncaster-based Highfield Awarding Body for Compliance (HABC) , one of the UK’s leading awarding organisations.

Professor Elliott said, ‘Food fraud has fast become one of the key issues for the food industry. From suppliers such as farms and abattoirs, to manufacturers, packagers and supermarkets, even to caterers, restaurants and licensed premises – every business in the chain is affected by food fraud and the negative effect it has upon consumer confidence. It is up to businesses to understand the types of food fraud and its indicators, its penalties and consequences, and why protecting the wider food industry begins with businesses informing and protecting themselves’.

Nikki Griffiths, Director of Sales at Doncaster Racecourse said, ‘We are very happy to be welcoming HABC to Doncaster racecourse to hold the Fighting Food Fraud Conference in September, and we are hoping this is the start of a series of events held here for HABC’.

Tickets cost £170 plus VAT, or £130 plus VAT for HABC members.

To book your place, phone 0845 2260350 or email info@highfieldabc.net For more information, go to www.highfieldabc.com

For regular updates, go to Twitter and www.facebook.com/HighfieldABC
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. Highfield Awarding Body for Compliance (HABC) is one of the UK’s leading awarding organisations, offering over 200 qualifications covering a wide variety of industries including food safety, customer service, health and safety, licensing, security, stewarding, retail, logistics, catering and hospitality.

Successful jump for Team Skyfall raises £1200

Posted on July 13, 2015 by Press Office

After a successful jump by our team in Dubai in June, it was the turn of Team Skyfall here in the UK last weekend!

Taking place on 11 July 2015 at Hibaldstow Airfield in North Lincolnshire, the skydive saw Highfield team members Amiee Saul (Corporate Customer Service Manager), Sean Asquith (Print Manager), Claire James (Corporate Account Manager) and Holly McLean (Quality Administrative Assistant) take the plunge from 15,000 feet – nearly two miles up – to raise money for Visually Impaired Children Taking Action (VICTA).

Since 2013, Highfield has been helping to support the charity, which works to provide equipment, services and events that help blind and visually impaired children and young people develop socially, emotionally and educationally, as well as offering their parents a vital network of support and information.

Claire James said, ‘What a fantastic experience! This was a great opportunity to not only challenge ourselves but also to raise funds and awareness for such a worthy cause as part of Team Skyfall. We’d like to thank everyone who has supported us and kindly donated to VICTA. Now there’s photographic evidence that the task was carried out it’s not too late to donate! Feel free to laugh at my embarrassing freefall pictures!’

So far Team Skyfall has raised nearly £1200, but you can still donate to VICTA by clicking here .

Well done Team Skyfall!

SIA clarifies identification requirements after DVLA changes

Posted on July 13, 2015 by Press Office

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has clarified its identification requirements for licence applications after changes introduced by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

The clarification comes after the DVLA stopped issuing paper counterparts to the driving-licence photocard this June in England, Scotland and Wales, causing some confusion amongst Centres as to what would be accepted as part of the SIA’s Group A and Group B identification requirements.

After enquiries to HABC from Centres, the SIA has confirmed that it will accept:

A driving licence photocard and its paper counterpart as a valid Group A document regardless of whether they were issued by the DVLA in Great Britain or the DVA in Northern Ireland
Just the photocard as a valid Group A document if it was issued by the DVLA in Great Britain. However, it will not accept it as a valid Group A document if it was issued by the DVA in Northern Ireland
A Northern Ireland DVA photocard on its own as a valid Group B document
A paper counterpart on its own as a Group B document, regardless of whether it was issues by the DVLA in Great Britain or the DVA in Northern Ireland.

The SIA will not accept a two-part driving licence as both a Group A and Group B document.

For further information, click here .

50% discount on courses from Water Conditioning Services UK Training Academy

Posted on July 10, 2015 by Press Office

The Water Conditioning Services UK Training Academy has announced that it is going to be working in partnership with Cogent Skills and the Science Industry Partnership to offer eligible companies a discount of up to 50% on the training costs for each learner enrolling on its programmes.

The provider, which is a HABC Approved Centre , is offering the discount on a number of programmes, including the HABC Level 2 Award in Legionella Awareness (QCF) and the HABC Level 3 Award in Legionella Control for Responsible Persons (QCF) .

The Science Industry Partnership is an employer-led initiative designed to enable science and engineering-based businesses to develop their existing workforce.

For more information and to assess your eligibility, click here or email trainingcourses@highfieldabc.net

Sunny start to summer for MPD

Posted on July 10, 2015 by Press Office

It was a sunny start to the summer as Midlands Professional Development (MPD) took one of the top prizes at the Pera Training SSW Awards.

The Nuneaton-based organisation, which is a HABC Approved Centre , took the award for best Skills Support for the Workforce (SSW) Provider after being nominated by Pera for their outstanding support and delivery of training within the SSW contract.

There was also a special mention for MPD learner Margot Roberts of Way Ahead Support Services, who was a highly-commended finalist for the ‘Most Achieved SSW Learner’, for her ‘pivotal’ SSW journey from a reluctant learner to demonstrating new-found confidence in her abilities as a result of her training.

The ceremony took place on 25 June 2015 at the Hinckley Island Hotel in Leicestershire. The SSA Awards are an exclusive celebration of the skills support and learning made possible by the European Social Fund, Skills Funding Agency and Local Enterprise Partnership , and are designed to recognise employers and learners alike who have utilised skills development in the workplace to help make a difference.

For MPD, it was the culmination of a two-year SSW scheme in which the organisation helped employers from a range of priority sectors to access expert, tailored training. So far, over 4000 learners in 1200 businesses have benefitted from the project.

Claire McKenzie, MPD Associate Directors, said, ‘Winning this award is a marvellous achievement for the company and well-earned reward for the hard work of a great team’.

For more information, click here .

PRESS RELEASE: Professor Elliott to warn businesses at food fraud conference

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Press Office

UK food businesses must take up the fight against food fraud or face another scandal – that will be the stark warning from one of the UK’s top experts at a conference this autumn.

Professor Chris Elliott will tell delegates at the Fighting Food Fraud conference on 17 September 2015 , Doncaster, that the fight has only just begun and can only be won with a coordinated effort.

The Professor, who was author of the government’s report into the 2013 food fraud scandal, The Elliott Review , and is Director of the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University Belfast , will address the challenges posed by the review and look at how businesses can best protect themselves whilst maintaining supply chain integrity and food authenticity.

He will be joined by Andy Morling, the recently appointed head of the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) Food Crime Unit , who will discuss the role of the unit and its impact so far plus John Figgins, BRC Technical Specialist, who will provide an insight into compliance with issue 7 of the BRC Global Standard for Food Safety .

The conference is being organised by Highfield Awarding Body for Compliance (HABC) , one of the UK’s leading awarding organisations for food safety qualifications . Richard Sprenger, HABC Chairman and author of Hygiene for Management and the Food Safety Handbook , said, ‘Food authenticity has come under close scrutiny recently from food retailers, manufacturers and consumers. Food law enforcement must be delivered effectively so that consumers can have confidence in the food they eat. With ongoing work to identify potential food fraud, this has fast become a key topic within the food safety industry’.

The conference takes place at Doncaster Racecourse on 17 September 2015. Tickets cost £170 plus VAT (£130 plus VAT for HABC Centres).

To book your place, phone 0845 2260350 or email info@highfieldabc.net

For regular updates, go to Twitter and Facebook
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. Highfield Awarding Body for Compliance (‘HABC’) is one of the UK’s leading Awarding Organisations, offering over 200 qualifications covering a wide variety of industries including food safety, customer service, health and safety, licensing, security, stewarding, retail, logistics, catering and hospitality.

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Monthly Archives: July 2015