NVQ in marshalling

[Stevespurr]

I have just read through the artical,

" Students will have to pass a basic training course before taking part in 20 motorsport activites at MSA-sanctioned venues under the tuition of trained MSA instructors who will be employed by Myerscough"

So how do you become employed by Myerscough?

[Sheila M]

Originally posted by Stevespurr
I have just read through the artical,

" Students will have to pass a basic training course before taking part in 20 motorsport activites at MSA-sanctioned venues under the tuition of trained MSA instructors who will be employed by Myerscough"

So how do you become employed by Myerscough?

Sounds like you have to be an MSA Trainer

[Tony_J]

My first post on this thread!
'unless of course professional qualifications equals professional employment and we all know where that thread leads to'.
Does Mysercough College have the necessary staff? They certainly have the enthusiasm for motorsport. The last two Rally Marshal National Training days have been held at the college and with excellent facilities.

[Tracey]

I think it's a shame that work is being done to bring people in to marshalling, but nothing is being done in terms of retention.

[Circuitmarshal]

About bringing people into marshalling, it's taken me years to get onto circuits.
Why? because I didn't know how, knew about BARC but not that they had marshals, plus now I'm doing it found out about others as well.
Oh I got into it from rally radio, just happened meet up with someone that works on the bank as well.
So lucky to find out what to do.
Trying to make it easy for people that want to join us, early days yet but try my home page!
Hoping to link to these forums soon, so will be better then.

[Micky.H]

If this is the usual case with the media, then not all the facts will of been given. Rather than just knocking the idea within this forum, why not try pass your concerns onto Mike so that he can answer them constructively.

If anybody knows Mike 'personnally' - is he a forum reader?, if not then ask him if a contact point could be given.

[Hepatic]

i had exactly the same problem trying to find out how to start in the first place. I ended up seeing some marshals at the gold cup last year with the website on the back, so i had a look on there and applied.

The profile of marshalling needs raising, but it's hard work. I think this NVQ is a good idea as it can only improve the profile. The national press could help too, doing the odd interview here and there with people behind (or is that "in") the scenes. Retention is a problem everywhere, not just marshalling. The problem is most people are only interested in the big series, so can't be arsed going to "crappy" little meetings. If they had bothered they'd soon see if far better racing than things like F1 and maybe they'd stay longer.

Alot of new marshals don't come until the 1st big meeting, then get one hell of a shock when they realise just what it's like at a busy meet and decide they don't want to bother anymore. If they came to a clubbie meet 1st (like i did) they'd see a far more relaxed atmosphere, better racing and might even enjoy themselves...

[Stephen Green]

Then you will be pleased to know that I and 3 others have been asked to write a small column in Motorsport News. MN are starting a 'club' page and they will appear in there starting I believe next week.

Now, moving swiftly back to the subject...NVQ's. I will endeavour to find out whether Mike is able to post answers to the many questions raised here.

[scorch]

SkyRedButton pointed somthing out that I think people have missed and I quote 'An NVQ is a work based qualification requiring the collection of work based evidence signed by the employer and used towards the building of a portfolio.'

To me that reads like the existing gradeing scheme, you have a gradeing card that holds the record of your 'work' based evidence and is signed by the Observer, (who you effectly work for on post)

[MikeM]

Stephen, I will be interested to see this new column. I hope it can be used to address "getting started" issues as it seems to be a real problem - per above comments and the recent letter in MSN.

Good luck to Mike F and his new scheme. I agree that with the current BMMC training and grading schemes in place it would be nice to see these recognised more widely - also with an NVQ??

[ss_collins]

It seems to me the MN is the marshals paper - I know one who like to spot her marshalling mates in the pics every wednesday

Maybe SG could persuade them to run a marshals wanted bit in every issue - saying wher marshals are needed and giving a contact number - the ralles do this a bit already.

[Stephen Green]

Well you notice I didn't mention who one of the other scribes is going to be Sam *wink*

[mazda59]

I agree circuitmarshal .
Many people aren't aware there are marshals at race meetings despite saying they have watched motor racing for umpteen years . I only found out through a fellow marshal what it involved before joining the ranks
OH & mention to people that u spend ur weekends as a marshal at Oulton & they think it is a certain ' theme - park ' lol ....

[PipSqueak111]

I concur with scorch. It doesn't to me sound too far removed from the current scheme for getting an upgrade. You turn up, you do a good job, and you get a tick in the box.

An NVQ is a 'vocational' qualification, not necessarily a professional qualification. Found this definition in a dictionary for 'vocation':
"An inclination, as if in response to a summons, to undertake a certain kind of work, especially a religious career; a calling."
I'd say that for many of us marshalling is a calling, and I know motorsport is practically a religion for alot of people.

Formal recognition of our skills and ability in a form recognised by others is a good thing I think. If I go to a job interview and I'm asked what my interests are and I tell them I'm a marshal, they'll either look at me blankly or the word 'anorak' will pop-up. If I were to present them with an NVQ for the same activity it puts it in another light. It shows that you can handle responsibility, show commitment and put in the effort to achieve something. If I've enjoyed those 20+ hours on the bank at the same time, that's a bonus.

I'd like to find out more about it, but from what little I've heard so far, I'm happy to keep an open and positive mind on it.

Phill

[Andrew Gunnell]

Like every one else I would like to know some more information at NVQ.

But having marshalling at part of a qualification is not new. I have just finished a Foundation Degree in Motorsport Engineering, where I had to write a diary on what I did and what I learnt over six events.

An idea on getting more marshals is to put a full page advert in all programmes at all events saying "NO MARSHALS, NO EVENT" or something along those lines.