The Standards, first published June 2010, represent a new level of professional practice across the industry. They can be used by employers to write job specifications and set benchmarks of good practice, by educationalists to develop new qualifications and training and by individuals to help them develop their careers in the industry. For further information or to view all the national occupational standards please visit the UK Standards website.
The units specifically relating to blacksmithing are:
They are statements of skill, knowledge and understanding needed in employment that clearly define the outcome of competent performance in a given trade, occupation or profession. They are the starting point for all craft qualifications; sitting at the top they ‘override’ everything in the qualification structure framework. NOS are statements of competence and all about ‘skills’; in themselves they are not ‘qualifications’, but are used for the development of qualifications.