Jargon buster

Apprenticeship
Training scheme lasting at least one year involving either a job and wage, or work placement with training allowance. Apprentices work towards a National Vocational Qualification at level 2 and in most cases a technical certificate.

Advanced Apprenticeship
Training scheme lasting at least two years involving full-time employment with an appropriate wage. Apprentices work towards a National Vocational Qualification at Level 3, Key Skills and a technical certificate.

FE
Further Education.

ICT
Information and communication technology. Up-to-date term for describing work involving computers, the internet, telephone systems and electronic communication.

IT
Information technology. Older term used to describe work involving computers, printers and hardware, before the internet was as widely used.

JIVE
A partnership of 10 organisations in England and Wales creating change for women and girls in engineering, construction and technology.

NVQ
National Vocational Qualification. Qualification based on National Performance Standards, which describe what a competent person is expected to do in a particular job.

Occupational segregation
The concentration of women and men in very different kinds of jobs.

Sex stereotyping
Making assumptions that women and men should play different roles in society.

Skills shortages
This occurs where there are not enough qualified (skilled) people to fill jobs available.