Occupational Awards Ltd, a new awarding organisation that develops and awards regulated qualifications across a range of sectors, has issued the first batch of certificates for learners of its first approved centre, Didac Ltd.

OAL has been working closely with employers, colleges and training providers since its set up in May 2015 to deliver high impact qualifications which are needed to support improved employee performance and business growth. This service is delivered with OAL’s Approved Centres like Didac.

Didac is a specialist training provider to the furniture, wood and merchanting sector and achieved approved centre status with OAL in August 2015. The company provides a range of tailored services and programmes to meet employer and learners’ needs, including funded programmes such as apprenticeships, unemployed workplace programmes and commercial programmes such as wood machine training, health & safety, and industrial training.

OAL has announced that seven of Didac’s learners have achieved a number of qualifications and unit credits such as:
• Jack Stokes, an apprentice at East Brothers, Wiltshire, has achieved the Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Sawmilling and the Level 2 Award in Timber and Panel Products and their Uses qualifications.
• Four learners have achieved the Level 2 Award in Health and Safety in the Workplace qualification from MWC Group, Wiltshire.
• Two learners have achieved the Level 3 Award in Health and Safety in the Workplace qualification from MWC Group, Wiltshire.

All Occupational Awards industry qualifications are developed in conjunction with National Occupational Standards (NOS), the foundation for vocational skills in the workplace. Vocational qualifications have NOS at their heart and are used to define the competencies an individual worker requires in order to do their job effectively and productively. NOS are developed by employers in the industry, for the industry.

Jon Gibson, MD at Didac, says: “Didac is pleased that these are the first cohort of learners to achieve their qualifications with Occupational Awards Ltd. As a specialist provider, it is important to offer employers and learners suitable and relevant qualifications to meet their individual and business needs.”

Lisa Williamson, MD at Occupational Awards, comments: “OAL is very pleased to award these qualifications to all learners. It is a great achievement for Didac as a centre and OAL as a new awarding organisation.

“If you are an employer or training provider and have identified a need for qualifications that is not being met, or you just want to begin working with a regulated awarding organisation with a difference, please get in touch and we’ll help you find the right solution.”