The National Outsourcing Association (NOA), the industry association and professional body for outsourcing, today launches the outsourcing industry’s first Level 2 qualification with founding client Capita. The qualification, 75% of which is achieved through work-based learning, provides the first broad-based standard for the UK’s 3.1 million employees in organisations which deliver outsourced services to the public and private sectors.

Capita, the UK’s leading outsourcing service provider, is the NOA’s first Learning Centre and founding client for the Level 2 Award following a three-month pilot across 60 employees within Capita Insurance and Regulatory Services.

The NOA has also been working closely with Capita on the development of the qualification to ensure that it is aligned with the real needs of service providers and their clients.

Kerry Hallard, CEO, National Outsourcing Association, said: “This qualification is a game-changer for the outsourcing industry. Outsourcing has oft been viewed as the accidental profession – something people find themselves in. Additionally, staff development and retention is the number one issue for the outsourcing industry today, as it continues to evolve to consistently deliver value-add, business transformation and innovation. This qualification recognises excellence in outsourcing skills and helps position outsourcing as a professional career of choice. But more than that, this qualification can up-skill the three million plus people currently working in outsourcing in the UK today and further help grow and improve this dynamic industry’s performance within the UK economy”.

Andy Parker, Capita chief executive, said: "The qualification is centred around engaging, work-based learning and has successfully wrapped a framework, best practice, assessments and independent verification around the day job. Following the pilot, we now plan to embed the qualification within our employee learning and development programme across Capita. The qualification will serve as a differentiator for talent in the industry, provide assurance to customers of outsourcing services, bridge the skills gaps for people transferring into outsourcing companies from the public and private sector and recognise excellence across the industry."