We are committed to working with employers and industry representatives within the creative and cultural industries to set professional standards of practice.

There are many different professions within the creative and cultural industries, with a variety of specialist or technical skills needs. Where it is necessary or useful to set professional standards of practice, we support this process in three different ways:.

1. Setting National Occupational Standards
   We identify the baseline competencies required to do a specific job within a profession. Once approved by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, these Standards are in the public domain for by employers and education providers.
2. Developing vocational qualifications
   We have developed apprenticeship frameworks that set out the baseline knowledge and skills needed to enter a profession. The process involves in-depth consultation with the sector and, once set, our qualification becomes an accredited way of proving that a level of professional standard has been met.
3. Providing accessible and high-quality professional development opportunities
   We signpost training opportunities through the Creative Choices website, and work to ensure that training is as accessible as possible to the creative sector. The National Skills Academy network is committed to working in partnership to drive up the quality of training on offer.