More Than a Grade: Building Skills That Lead Somewhere

At a glance

Article summary

The Government’s new V Levels, including Finance and Accounting from September 2027, put vocational education on equal footing with A Levels. IAB argues a qualification should open a career, not just record a grade, and sets out how LCCI and IAB qualifications already give learners a practical, connected route from their first course into employment, further study and professional membership.

Every August, as GCSE and A-level results are published, we focus intensely on grades. We celebrate those who achieved what they hoped for and support those whose results did not go to plan.

But the question I always ask is: what happens next?

A qualification should do more than record what a learner knows. It should build confidence, develop practical capability and create a clear route forward.

Why V Levels are a welcome change

That is why I welcome the Government’s stronger focus on vocational education. The planned introduction of V Levels, including Finance and Accounting from September 2027, signals a welcome change. Practical skills are finally being recognised not as second best, but as essential to learners, employers and the economy.

For the IAB, this validates the strategy we are already pursuing.

Where LCCI qualifications fit

We believe qualifications must lead somewhere tangible. Learners should understand how their studies connect to employment, and employers should have confidence that qualified people can apply what they have learned.

This is precisely where LCCI qualifications fit.

LCCI provides practical entry points into bookkeeping, accounting and business. Learners can start at the right level, gain a recognised qualification and develop a useful skill at each stage.

Building connected career pathways

That progression matters. A school leaver, an existing employee, a career changer and a future business owner will have different starting points, but they all need a credible route forward.

Through LCCI and the wider IAB qualification portfolio, learners can progress from their first qualification into employment, higher-level study and professional membership.

What employers are really asking for

Employers consistently tell me that technical knowledge is only part of what they need. They want people who can apply that knowledge, use technology, communicate confidently, solve problems and exercise professional judgement.

Success does not have one shape

As learners and their families consider their options following this summer’s results, we should be clear that success does not have one shape. University is not the only ambitious choice. Vocational qualifications, professional education and employment can create equally powerful careers. The strongest route may combine all three.

The beginning of an opportunity

The Government is moving towards a more skills-led education system. The IAB is already positioned to support it because practical capability, professional progression and employment outcomes sit at the heart of our strategy.

V Levels

Frequently asked questions

What are V Levels?

V Levels are new Level 3 vocational qualifications for post-16 students in England. Each V Level is broadly equivalent in size to one A Level, combines applied learning with practical assessment, and can be studied alongside A Levels or other qualifications. First teaching is planned for September 2027, with Digital, Education and Early Years, and Finance and Accounting among the first subjects.

How do V Levels differ from T Levels?

T Levels are technical qualifications built around a mandatory industry placement and require significantly more guided learning hours. V Levels are vocational qualifications the same size as a single A Level, do not require a mandatory industry placement, and are designed to be combined more flexibly with academic subjects.

Will V Levels replace BTECs?

Over time, yes. Government plans set out that V Levels are intended to replace the existing suite of applied general qualifications, including BTECs, as they are phased in from September 2027. Existing qualifications remain funded during the transition period.

Does Finance and Accounting launch in the first wave of V Levels?

Yes. Finance and Accounting is one of the first subject areas confirmed for V Levels, alongside Digital and Education and Early Years, with first teaching from September 2027.

What are LCCI qualifications?

LCCI (London Chamber of Commerce and Industry) qualifications are practical, work-related qualifications in bookkeeping, accounting and business, stewarded by the IAB. They give learners a recognised entry point at the right level for their experience, from school leavers to career changers.

How do IAB and LCCI qualifications create a career pathway rather than a single course?

Learners can progress from an initial LCCI or IAB qualification into further study, employment and professional membership, rather than finishing a single isolated course. The IAB designs its qualification portfolio so each stage connects to the next.

Do I have to choose between university and a vocational qualification?

No. University, vocational qualifications, professional education and employment are not mutually exclusive routes, and many successful careers combine more than one. The right route depends on the individual’s goals and circumstances.