BUSINESS has had a direct input into new qualifications that are set to be rolled out in 2008.

Members of North Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry learned about proposed changes for qualifications for 14 to 19-year-olds, in what has been billed as the biggest school reform for decades.

Deborah Dent, diploma policy adviser at the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), was guest speaker at the chamber's networking lunch, at The Hampshire Centrecourt, in Chineham, where she discussed how the reforms will have a stronger focus on skills and more emphasis on literary, numeracy and ICT skills.

She talked about changes to GCSE and A-levels to make them stronger, more robust and modern, as well as how exams are managed.

The main change, however, will be a specialised diploma. This will initially be available in five subjects - construction and the built environment, IT, creative media, health and social care, and engineering - and it is hoped that 14 specialist subjects in different industry areas will be offered by 2013.

Mrs Dent said the reforms are designed to meet employers' needs by placing a much stronger emphasis on skills as well as content.

She explained: "A young person starting key stage four at the age of 14 will be able to choose a set of GCSEs or a specialised diploma or a combination of both."

Commenting on the diploma, she said: "It's got the essential elements that employers have been asking for, when they say we need young people who have got functional skills, aptitude and communication skills, the personality and the drive to succeed in business'.

"We are moving away from the emphasis on conceptual thinking, writing and analysis, to an addition of doing, applying and thinking through practical problems."

Mrs Dent added that the new qualifications have been designed by industry sector councils, through diploma development partnerships.

"Whichever sector you work in, there is a council looking at skills for your area of activity, and ensuring there is a diploma that allows young people to develop these skills," she said.

The networking lunch was followed by the NHCCI's AGM, at which David Evans, a partner and head of the commercial department at Lamb Brooks Solicitors, was re-elected as president for the third year.