Main findings

1. Nearly 1.1 million certificates were awarded in 2016 quarter 4, a decrease of 7% on the same quarter of 2015. This is the lowest number of certificates awarded during quarter 4 in the past five years. The decline is mostly due to a decrease in the number of certificates in functional skills and QCF qualifications.
2. The number of available qualifications in quarter 4 decreased by 5%; from 31,340 in the previous quarter to 29,866.
3. The qualification with the highest number of certificates this quarter was CIEH Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering (QCF) with 24,600…