The Qualifications and Credit Framework is a national education qualification that is highly recognised. Undertaken on a part time basis, the Vendors complete their course on their Big Issue pitch and supplement this with written work completed at the college. This has been a wonderful opportunity for the Big Issue to work with Bournemouth and Poole College. We initially set up an open day and Big Issue Vendors were able to meet with college representatives at the Bournemouth Big Issue office. This led to six vendors signing up to the course and three of those vendors taking advantage of our vendor support fund. Like the Big Issue magazine’s business model of self-help, vendors save and contribute up to 50% (20% minimum) towards the cost of the item required. The Big Issue Foundation, through our donated funds, then provide the remaining balance to help vendors increase their employment related skills, improve their financial management or improve their opportunities to engage fully with society.The Qualifications and Credit Framework is a national education qualification that is highly recognised. Undertaken on a part time basis, the Vendors complete their course on their Big Issue pitch and supplement this with written work completed at the college. This has been a wonderful opportunity for the Big Issue to work with Bournemouth and Poole College. We initially set up an open day and Big Issue Vendors were able to meet with college representatives at the Bournemouth Big Issue office. This led to six vendors signing up to the course and three of those vendors taking advantage of our vendor support fund, where the vendors paid 20% of the course fees and the Big Issue Foundation funded the other 80%.
Bill: “I wanted to complete this QCF to update my current CV. I also found this a great way for me to look at my customer service approach as a Big Issue Vendor. With the help of Big Issue Foundation staff and also Bournemouth and Poole College assessors, I was able to achieve this”.
June “I wanted to add to my CV by completing the QCF in customer service to help me find mainstream employment. From this I have learnt how to communicate more effectively with my customers and have improved my confidence in selling the Big Issue. I am now looking at other college courses that could further improve my skills”.
Zeph “I started the Level 2 Customer Service as I wanted to enhance my future job opportunities and better myself. This was a fantastic opportunity for us to work alongside Bournemouth and Poole College. The whole time I spent completing the qualification I felt fully supported by the Big Issue Foundation staff and QCF assessors, I now feel competent with my customer service skills and have the ability to progress in further education”.
Bournemouth and Poole College assessor, Roger Anthony said “It was a real pleasure to work with The Big Issue candidates and also to see the level of support given by their colleagues. Part of my role was to observe the candidates working on their pitch and demonstrating a variety of customer service skills. They always welcomed me with a smile! They all came to College for discussion groups and nobody was ever a minute late. The level of personal commitment demonstrated was fantastic, despite any personal issues they may have been dealing with. To be able to hand over their Customer Service Level 2 certificates was a delight; they thoroughly deserve this achievement.”
