POST-16
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Four self-paced online units for Study Programmes (16-18) and Adults (19+) leading to an NCFE Customised Qualification.

WEBINAR
Transforming Learner Aspirations: Real Results from Two College Success Stories

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It's all about giving learners a better future!

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  • Self-confident  
  • Proactive 
  • Competent public speakers
  • Financially literate 
  • Know their strongest Portable Skill
  • Video CVs

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Study Programmes (16-18)

Essential Work Skills provide valued practical skills to help learners succeed in their careers and demonstrate their value to potential employers.  

  • Supports a variety of Study Programmes  
  • Flexible delivery, mostly self-paced 
  • Engaging online format 
  • NCFE-accredited
  • Complete Personal Development package

Adults (19+)

Essential Work Skills provide adults with the tools to enhance their employability, secure a stable financial future and build confidence - all through a flexible online platform that fits around their busy lives. 
  • Flexible online platform, mostly self-paced 
  • Engaging format 
  • NCFE-accredited
  • Supported through the ASF 
  • Flexible online platform, mostly self-paced 
“Our online delivery format works well even in settings with staff gaps or where staff may not feel confident teaching essential work skills.” David Jaffa, Founder, National Talent Academy

Typical Groups

Our programme is ideal for learners whose main qualification is listed below, although it will work with other groups too. We expect these lists to grow as we roll out in more colleges. 

Study Programmes (16-18)

  • T Level
  • Level 3 Certificate/Diploma 
  • A Level 
  • Business
  • Information and Communication Technology
  • Engineering 

Adults (19+)

  • HE
  • Access to HE
  • ESOL Level 1 and Level 2 
  • Business
  • Information and Communication Technology
  • Engineering

Delivery and Certification

  • A Bespoke Qualification – An unregulated offer designed to sit alongside core qualifications, whilst also meeting Study Programme funding criteria with a light-touch administrative approach.
  • Blended Learning Model – Colleges control the mix of Delivered Hours and Self-Study. Common models are ostensibly made up of 15 delivered hours and 20 self-study hours for Level 3 learners, but colleges can flexibly adjust this balance based on learner independence and staff availability.
  • No Attendance Register Needed – Rated at 35 hours by NCFE, completion reports on the online platform serve as auditable attendance records. This allows learners to work independently off-site, potentially reducing staffing requirements.
  • Simplified Certification Process – Learners submit just four pieces of evidence, with tutors simply confirming completion rather than formally assessing. All evidence is submitted online, requiring no additional paperwork from colleges - thereby minimising tutor workload. National Talent Academy handles light-touch IQA and NCFE issues the final certificates. 

Why Choose Our Qualification?

35 hours (Total Qualification Time) including an optional 5 hour Statutory unit. 
  • 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.
  • UNIT 5 - Statutory option: "Thriving in Modern Britain: Democracy, Safety, and Wellbeing" (5 hours; coming Sept 2025).

NCFE Customised Qualification

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8 Portable Skills needed in every industry

Download Info Pack

See how this qualification can make a lasting impact on your learners’ futures.

Info Pack includes:

  • Quick Guide - 3 page PDF
  • Content overview - 9 min video
  • Benefits for Young People (16-18) - PDF
  • Benefits for Adults (19+) - PDF

Case Study: South Essex College

T Level learners and their tutors share their experience of using National Talent Academy within their study programme.
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Petrit Shala, Course Team Leader and Nicola Shipman, Curriculum Leader, South Essex College share their experience. 

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Video CV examples

Learners record a video CV which can be shared with potential employers to demonstrate their Essential Work Skills. 

Partners

Learner quotes

T Level Digital Production, Design & Development

"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

Level 2 Plumbing

"I think that there were many positive ideas and I could use them to boost my future goals."
"Very interesting compared to a tutorial."
"Very helpful and showed me things I can do when I'm older and the risks I can take and do to have a better future for me and my family."
"Gave good ideas and the right mindset to make money."
"Thought provoking arguments 5/5"
"Great ideas of other ways to earn money not by working so extra income"
Cameron
"Great lesson, motivated me and great advice"
Terry
"Very interactive lesson. I enjoyed the learning of the way of making money"

"Insightful - makes you think about investing in more detail"
Callum

Futureproof Careers Framework

National Talent Academy units are based on our Futureproof Careers Framework designed to help learners thrive in environment of rapid change. 

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