QMS: IQ CQF Business Case
Customised Qualification
Business Case Form
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QMS: IQ CQF Business Case
Industry Qualifications Customised Qualification
Business Case Form
Industry Qualifications (IQ) has a very important objective, which is to ensure the standards of the
qualifications that it certificates. As part of that commitment to quality assurance and ensuring no learner is
disadvantaged, IQ provides advice and guidance to support centres and their learners with their education,
training and development goals.
IQ’s Customised Qualifications (CQs) are subject to all the quality assurance requirements of a nationally
recognised Awarding Organisation. CQs are qualifications that have been customised to meet the needs of
a particular market or a particular range of learners or a particular employer or stakeholder.
CQs allow education and training providers to work with IQ to design customised qualifications that are fit
for purpose and quality assured. CQs can support progression in employment, training, lifelong learning
and the particular requirements of your market or learners. All customised qualifications must meet the
development criteria, as published in the IQ Customised Qualification Development Guide, which can be
downloaded from the website in the dedicated page for customised qualifications under ‘more information’.
Before you start to develop your CQ, you are advised to discuss your education / training development
needs with your IQ Business Development Manager who will be pleased to work with you, guide you
through the process and explain the fees we charge for customised qualification development.
Once you have submitted this completed form along with any relevant attachment(s), IQ will carry out an
initial review, ask for additional information if necessary, the application will then be submitted to the
approval panel who will either:
1. Approve to next stage
2. Ask for additional information
3. Recommend a non-customised route or alternative
4. Or in some circumstances, decline the proposal
For further information please contact IQ on [email protected]
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QMS: IQ CQF Business Case
Business Case Form
Before completing this form please check you have completed the following
Tick
completed
Read the IQ Customised Qualification Development Guide available on our dedicated page for customised
qualifications under ‘more information’.
Contact and discuss this development with your IQ Business Development Manager
Read the CQF Fact sheet and fees
Please provide the name of the IQ contact you have discussed this proposal with if applicable
Name:
Please complete all sections.
Section 1: Centre Information
Existing Centre
Number:
Centre
Name:
Applicant Name:
Position:
E Mail:
Tel No:
Section 2: Qualification Information
If this is a replacement for an expiring CQ, please state the original qualification number
Qualification Title:
Level:
Qualification Size: (enter X in one box)
(Award – 10/120hrs: Certificate – 130/360hrs: Diploma – 370plus
hrs)
Award
Certificate
Diploma
Qualification Description:
Sector (please insert one sector from the CQDG):
Do you wish the qualification to be regulated? Yes/No and why?
Areas that the qualification is to be offered:
Northern
England
Wales
Ireland
Grading: (enter X in one
Pass / Fail
box)
International
only
Scotland
Pass / merit /
distinction
Section 3: Unit Structure (add rows as necessary)
Unit
Size
in
hours
(TQT)
Unit
Level
(entry,
1-7)
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Unit no
(if
appropri
ate)
Unit Title
Tick one of the two
options for each unit
Mandatory
Optional
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QMS: IQ CQF Business Case
Section 4: Industry Demand and Support
Qualification duplication:
As a responsible Awarding Organisation we need to ensure that we are not contributing towards duplicating qualifications. Please
let us know if your customised qualification is in a similar area to qualifications that are currently available and how your
customised qualification is different.
Aim and purpose of qualification (please refer to our Customised Qualification Development Guide on the dedicated page for
customised qualifications under ‘more information’.
Market need
Please outline the research and consultation you have carried out to prove a market need for your customised qualification (i.e.
why does the market need you to develop this customised qualification). Please attach any supporting evidence/information.
Sector support/Letters of support
Please let us know who in the sector supports the development of your customised qualification. To which bodies in the sector (eg
key employers, key clients, trade associations, professional bodies, sector skills councils etc) have you presented the customised
qualification and do they support your application (i.e. do they agree with the content and level of the qualification). Please attach
supporting evidence/information - this can include minutes of meetings or emails. Letters of support from relevant parties must be
on headed paper and state the aims and purpose of the qualification and the benefit that the qualification will give to candidates,
employers, sector etc
Section 4: Learner Target
Learner Demand
How many new learner registrations do you estimate in the first 3 years of operation?*
*Please be as accurate as possible as over-estimation may affect future approval.
Year 1:
Year 2:
Year 3:
Age group
What is the minimum age requirement for the qualification(s): 16+, 18+, 21+, 25+(enter X in one box)
16+
18+
21+
25+
Target Learner
Who are the target learners for your customised qualification (e.g. age range, previous qualifications/experience)
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QMS: IQ CQF Business Case
Section 5: Delivery & Links
Delivery
Please outline the delivery methodology of your customised qualification (e.g. classroom, workshop, work-based delivery, on-line
or distance learning etc.)
Assessment
Please outline the preferred assessment methodology (e.g. work-based assessment, portfolio, assignment, observation of
performance, multiple choice tests etc.).
Links to other qualifications/standards/NOS
Please outline any links or mapping between your customised qualification and any British Standards/National Occupational
Standards, progression to or from existing IQ or other qualifications
Section 6: Declaration by Head of Organisation
I, the undersigned affirm that:
 The information provided above regarding the proposed customised qualification, is provided in good faith and is correct at
the time of submission.
 The application is fully supported by market research and the estimate of learner registrations is realistic.
 The proposed customised qualification and units are the centre’s own work (i.e. they are not plagiarised), and the centre
has the right to use them.
Name:
Position:
E Mail:
Tel No:
Signature:
Date:
Friday, 14 July 2017
Once you have completed this form, your business case will be reviewed by the approval panel and you will be advised of the
outcome by your IQ Business Development Manager. If your organisation is not yet an approved centre you will also need to
complete an IQ centre approval form at this time.
Please email this form together with any supporting documents to IQ at [email protected]
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