The NOCN Level 2 Award in Information, Advice or Guidance and the NOCN Level 2 Certificate in Information, Advice or Guidance aim to create a career pathway for learners in information, advice or guidance and to fill the acknowledged gap in provision for those giving information, advice or guidance at this level. Research undertaken by ENTO for the Sector Qualification Strategy1 identified that only a small range of qualifications were available to the advice or guidance sector with little or no choice at most levels.

The qualifications are an important innovation in that they have been developed to acknowledge and underpin the practice of those who may deliver information, advice or guidance as part of their role, while not employed primarily in that capacity. They provide flexible credit-based
qualifications that are responsive both to the needs of the learner (the employee) and the employer and show incrementally what a learner has achieved.

The qualifications will be beneficial in three key areas:

• To the learner, who will become better skilled and confident in information, advice or guidance delivery



• To the organisation, to which the learner is attached as the learner’s practice becomes more informed and confident



• To the client, who will receive a higher quality service.