Level 3 Award in Essential Work Skills

NCFE-accredited online courses for Post-16 and schools leading to a Level 3 Award in Essential Work Skills. 
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Transforming Life Skills education

Post-16

Four self-paced online units for Study Programmes (16-19) and Adults (19+) leading to an NCFE Customised Qualification.

Schools

Short online units for Year 10 and KS5 help learners gain knowledge, skills and confidence for a successful career. All units come with an NCFE-endorsed certificate, leading ultimately to a Level 3 Award customised qualification.

Why Choose Our Qualification?

  • UNIT 1 - Futureproof Career Skills: We guide learners in identifying their strongest Portable Skills—those that will remain valuable regardless of industry changes—ensuring they can adapt and succeed in any career path. 
  • UNIT 2 - Financial Literacy: We help learners to make informed financial decisions, setting them up for a lifetime of financial security and independence. 
  • UNIT 3 - Public Speaking Confidence: Our programme empowers learners to speak confidently in public, a crucial skill in both personal and professional life.
  • UNIT 4 - Winning Mentality: We instil a mindset geared towards success, helping students develop the resilience and determination needed to overcome challenges.
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8 Portable Skills needed in every industry

Hear from our partner colleges

In this 5 minute video, Nicola Shipman, Curriculum Leader,  Petrit Shala, Course Team Leader and the fantastic T Level learners at South Essex College share their thoughts.
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Learner quotes

T Level Digital Production, Design & Development at South Essex College

"The most important thing I have learnt on National Talent Academy are the Portable Skills, such as marketing, sales, project manager. The courses teach you valuable life skills for the future"
Reece B - age 17
"The most important things I have learned from NTA are the transferable skills. These allow me to feel confident when going into the job sector as I believe I will be able to do my tasks comfortably."
Casey H - age 17
"The most important thing(s) I have learnt are being able to negotiate and to take constructive criticism when feedback is given to me. I rate the National Talent Academy course positively as it has provided meaningful certifications."
Amber H - age 20
"The most important thing I have learned on NTA is the importance of good public speaking and how my words and actions when delivering important speeches affect the audience - including using body language to tell a story. I enjoyed the experience of completing the courses."
Anastasia A - age 17
"The most important things I have learned on NTA are the Portable Skills. It has allowed me to be more aware of these Portable Skills.  I have also learnt other skills that I wouldn't think I would understand. It has given me the opportunity for better knowledge not just surrounding IT but other skills that are useful in the future".
Ethan L - age 17
"The most important thing that I have learned through the National Talent Academy Course is how to use spreadsheets to budget my money and also improve my public speaking skills. The course is beneficial as it gives the students an opportunity to explore different career options"
Divyamary S- age 18
"The most important things I have learned from NTA are the transferable skills. These allow me to feel confident when going into the job sector as I believe I will be able to do my tasks comfortably"
Casey H - age 17
"The most important things I've learned on NTA are Portable Skills, making good financial decisions, finding a futureproof career and also how to give a speech. Effective lessons and good mentors"
Dumitru C - age 18

"The most important things I have learned is how to become financially free in 2 steps (save money & buy an income producing assets) and how having a strong character helps you stand out from the crowd. I found this course very beneficial and know it will help me in the future in any industry I choose to work in."
Kezban Y - age 19
"The most important thing(s) I have learned on National Talent Academy are speaking skills and the skills that I need for the future of my career. Especially the Portable Skills as I have developed a basic understanding of critical skills that I can use in real world scenarios. This course has improved my knowledge and IT skills for my career."
Aaron L - age 17
"The most important things that I have learned on NTA are that I can learn new skills that I will be able to carry over to any job I have, this will allow me to become more of a valuable asset to the company I work for. It's very good that I am able to get a qualification online from my room!"
Bradley D - age 19
"The most Important things that I have learned on National Talent Academy are how to better prepare and carry myself when it comes to interviews and speeches. Also how to stand out more and be noticed by peers and higher ups. National Talent Academy has wonderful courses that help people prepare themselves for the future. It helped me a lot. Now when I think of the future I don't feel as anxious and scared as I used to."
Daron C - age 17
"The most important things I have learned on National Talent Academy are learning to speak confidently. It is a great website, and I think that learning like this with videos and worksheets is great. I really do think this is proactive."
Samuel C - age 17
"The most important thing that I have learnt on NTA is the ability to conduct public speaking to large audiences. I believe that the videos were best suited for me because I prefer learning through someone giving me the information, which I can then use for later learning. This helps me be more proactive during learning sessions"
Joshua C - age 17

CASE STUDY: South Essex College
T Level learners and their tutors share their experience of using National Talent Academy within their study programme.

Case Studies

  • Post-16: South Essex College, Basildon 
  • KS5: Bow School, Tower Hamlets
  • Y10: Bridlington School, East Riding of Yorkshire

Nicola Shipman, Curriculum Leader, South Essex College with T Level group

NCFE Certificates

On completion of the Level 3 Award, learners will receive a certificate of achievement, which has been accredited by NCFE as a Customised Qualification. 

Video CV examples

Learners record a video CV to demonstrate their Essential Work Skills to potential future employers. 
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Flexible Delivery, Maximised Impact

Delivered mainly online, our qualification is designed to free up tutor time while providing a rich, engaging learning experience for learners. This flexibility allows educators to focus on what they do best—supporting and mentoring students—while the online platform delivers high-quality, interactive content.

Aligned with existing funding streams

This qualification fits perfectly within existing funding streams, ensuring it’s a viable option for your college or school and a valuable addition to your curriculum offering.

Become a delivery partner

The National Talent Academy is actively recruiting delivery partners for the National Talent Award Level 3 in Essential Work Skills. 

The Future is Now—Join Us in Shaping It

Now is the time to invest in the future of your learners. By adopting this qualification, you’re not just providing an education; you’re empowering learners to succeed in a rapidly evolving world.

Register for information about becoming a Delivery Partner

Let’s collaborate to give your learners the edge. Get in touch today to find out how this qualification can transform your curriculum and make a lasting impact on your learners’ futures.

Info Pack includes:

  • Content overview - 9 min video
  • Delivery Partner overview - 5 min video
  • A4 Flyer - 1 page PDF
  • Quick Guide - 5 page PDF
  • Benefits for: Young People (16-19), Adults (19+), Y10 & KS5 Learners - PDFs

Delivery partner discussion

Currently recruiting delivery partners for January starts (limited places) 

Considering becoming a delivery partner? Our 30 minute partnership discussion covers:
  • Overview of the qualification 
  • Benefits for delivery partners and learners
  • Online platform
  • Implementation and support 
  • Sources of funding  
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

Book a time

Or email us at hello@nationaltalent.org.

Partners

Futureproof Careers Framework

National Talent Academy units are based on our Futureproof Careers Framework, which is designed to give your learners the edge in an environment of rapid change. 

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About Us

National Talent Academy provides endorsed online courses for essential work skills. The courses are the result of many years of R&D including partnerships with Manchester University and Morgan Stanley leading to a Futureproof Careers Framework. 

National Talent Academy was founded in 2020 by Cambridge graduate David Jaffa, who previously founded SAM Learning, an online learning tool for GCSE and KS3 used in hundreds of English secondary schools, and Penda Learning, an online Science and Math tool for US schools. David received the BETT Outstanding Achievement Award for his lifetime achievements in EdTech.