Nine out of ten new jobs require people with IT user skills. So having a good grasp of information and communication technologies is not an option but an essential skill in today’s fast moving world. This suite of qualifications has been developed to provide opportunities for learners to acquire a solid grounding and practical skills in ICT. They are aimed at people who need to use computers in their work, for study, at home or in the community. They are not limited to situations where people work at a desk or with a PC, since tailored programmes can be designed for people working with other IT systems such as those used in retail, engineering or manufacturing. The qualifications have been developed by e-skills UK, the Sector Skills Council for Business and Information Technology, and are aligned to the National Occupational Standards for IT users, the nationally recognised standards for IT use. Assessment of the units can be linked to work experience or work placement, giving the young person the opportunity to use evidence arising naturally from workplace tasks and activities.