Writing stories, telling tales: national vocational qualification (NVQ) candidates' experiences of NVQs

Abstract

This article discusses the results of a qualitative research study that examined clerical workers' experiences of National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) in two retail banks, which were piloting Level 2 NVQs in Customer Services and Banking. The research suggests that the implementation of NVQs within the two banks did not bring about the kind of changes in work-based learning envisaged by advocates of the qualification framework. NVQ candidates conceptualised the process of doing an NVQ as ‘writing stories’ about routine work tasks in order to accredit existing skills. The potential for learning new skills and developing greater flexibility in the workplace was found to be very limited. On a more encouraging note, the research also identified a number of positive outcomes of doing an NVQ.