NOS are developed for employers by employers through the relevant Sector Skills Council or standards setting organisation
Increase business productivity- use NOS to:
- improve the quality of goods and services
- improve the skills of your current and future workforce
- describe the skills you need in your workforce
- assess the skills your workforce currently has
- set objectives for performance and appraisal
- develop training and recruitment plans to fill any identified gaps and shortages
- support the development of procedures and systems for carrying out specific tasks
Selection and recruitment - use NOS to:
- reduce the costs for recruitment by facilitating the selection of new employees
- develop job descriptions/person specifications identifying the key skills for a particular job/role
- develop job advertisements
- help retain staff (individuals recruited with the appropriate skills are more likely to stay with an organisation
Staff development and training - use NOS to:
- identify the skills needs for your staff
- develop training plans and courses to meet both organisational and individual learning needs
- develop induction programmes
- support the development of in-house training and competency frameworks as NOS specify in detail what constitutes good practice
- evaluate the benefits of external training courses by defining the expected outcomes
- link to the requirements of professional bodies
Benchmarking - use NOS to:
- provide an excellent basis from which to develop benchmarking exercises either internally or to compare with other similar organisations
- meet the indicators for external accreditation, such as Investors in People
- ensure common standards of performance and quality when partnering with other organisations/agencies
- demonstrate the competence of the organisation when tendering for projects or applying for funding
To find out more about how you can use NOS, please contact the relevant Sector Skills Council or standards setting organisation for your sector.
Click here to see which NOS are under review in the next few months, and see how you can get involved. This includes links to current live consultations.
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NOS frequently asked questions See how NOS can help:
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