Big news within the industry, this time in the form of an acquisition in the qualifications and certifications side of things. GQA Qualifications have acquired PAA/VQ-Set. Here is the full story from the GQA website:

GQA Qualifications is pleased to announce it has completed the acquisition of PAA/VQ-Set the awarding body for the Polymer, Engineering, Chemical and Pharmaceutical industries. The acquisition is a part of GQA widening its portfolio of vocational qualifications in complementary industry sectors and will underpin its on-going growth strategy to be known for providing industry relevant learning and qualifications’.

Change of Ownership of PAA\VQ-SET – A Communication from Ann Randall, CEO

I am pleased to announce that PAA\VQ-SET has recently been acquired by the Sheffield-based Awarding Organisation, GQA Qualifications Ltd, who specialise in providing vocational qualifications for the Glass, Construction and Print sectors. PAA\VQ-SET will become a part of GQA and will continue offering its usual qualifications and support for its Approved Centre Network.

Being part of GQA will significantly enhance the service to our centres by making on-line registration and certification facilities available, as well as being part of a larger organisation with a similar ethos to ourselves for customer service and innovative design.

This is an excellent opportunity for PAA\VQ-SET and the next stage in its development to provide its centres and learners with the technology to meet the challenges of the future.

I will be stepping down and Mick Clayton, Chief Executive Officer of GQA, will replace me in the day-to-day and strategic management. I will continue to support the transition process until September 2019. Peter Grice, Director and Company Secretary, will also step down from these roles but continue as an External Verifier, for the immediate future.

GQA CEO, Mick Clayton, says of the acquisition, “GQA and PAA\VQ-SET have always enjoyed an excellent relationship as like-minded specialist Awarding Organisations, and we feel that our experience and approach will build on the great work already done by Ann, Peter and the rest of their team, and further enhance qualification delivery within PAA\VQ-SET sectors”

I expect there to be no changes to the relationship with your Centre, or to your External Verifier, who you should contact as normal; GQA look forward to bringing you new and improved services over the coming years. Our Lichfield support staff will not be moving to Sheffield and responsibilities for centres, registration, certification and any other queries will be undertaken by GQA .

Due to the transfer of systems and procedures from Lichfield to Sheffield, there will be a 2-week period for PAA\VQ-SET Centres where registration and certification services will not be available, but procedures will be fully operational by w/c 2nd September 2019. GQA will look to minimise any inconvenience during this period but if you are aware of any potential issues this temporary pause may cause please contact Jodie Bradley at GQA on 0114 272 0033 or at PAA@GQAQualifications.com.

Each PAA\VQ-SET centre will be contacted individually by GQA advising them of the new arrangements and key contacts, however in the meantime please continue to use the usual email addresses and bank details with us as you had done previously.

I would like to thank all our centres for their support and wish you and your learners every success in the future.

On behalf of PAA\VQ-SET

Ann J Randall, Chief Executive

Further information on both Awarding Organisations is available at www.GQAQualifications.com and https://www.paa-uk.org/

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