To coincide with GCSE results day, the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Qualification (IfATE) has announced details of the fourth cycle of its Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) approvals process.  

The government announced plans in 2020 to improve level 4 and 5 qualifications and make it far easier for employers and learners to identify which training programmes are high quality and meet their skills needs.  

HTQs are approved qualifications that will be set apart from other qualifications by a government-backed quality mark. The quality mark will only be granted when Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) panels of industry experts are confident the qualification meets the Institute’s criteria and will deliver the knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) employers need.  

The first wave of fully approved HTQs just for the digital sector will go live next month (September) and the last wave of approvals was announced in February this year.  

This fourth cycle for approvals will be open on 8 May 2023 and run until 30 June 2023. It will be for courses to be taught from 2025 and will cover standards in care services and the following new areas in addition to those announced in earlier stages.  

• Agriculture, Environmental & Animal Care,   
• Catering & Hospitality,  
• Creative & Design,  
• Hair & Beauty,   
• Protective Services,   
• Sales, Marketing & Procurement,  
• Transport & Logistics  

Jennifer Coupland, chief executive of IfATE, said: “It is fantastic to see good progress being made with HTQs and I would like to pass on my very best wishes to the first students starting on them in the new academic year. 

“The rollout of HTQs will help guarantee a supply of much-needed higher-level skills. Take-up of Level 4 and 5 training is much lower in England than in other countries and we need to turn that around. 

“This latest approvals window will be an important opportunity to secure prestigious recognition of your qualification and I would like to urge as many awarding organisations as possible to make submissions.” 

IfATE will communicate standards in scope and engagement events and webinars for cycle four in due course. We have communicated the dates today to provide applicants with sufficient time to prepare ahead of the window opening.