The dissertation outlines the background to NVQ development and implementation against the background of change in vocational education policy and relates this to the growth of the hospitality industry. The review of literature examines works concerned with NVQ approaches to delivery and assessment systems, discussions on the direction of vocational education and in particular the relationship of this to liberal education and training, and reports and articles which analyse the problems and strengths of NVQ delivery and assessment in catering training and education.

The study includes analysis of data from questionnaires and observations of education and training in the sector. The data includes the comparative viewpoints of candidate, lecturers, employers and training providers across a broad spectrum of establishments. The results indicate views that the majority of the candidates are very satisfied with NVQs, that training in industry is more realistic but subject to the quality of the establishment. College education is more structured and at a slower pace with more educational content

The discussion examines the narrowness of the NVQ curriculum, the problems of competence standards, and the educational content of Hospitality and catering NVQs. The conclusions suggest a grading approach to NVQ to enable standards to be represented fairly and to encourage excellence, development of Key skills and broader based educational content in line with "life long learning", and discusses the problems of the Hospitality Industry in terms of recruitment in retention in relation to employers attitudes and approaches. Finally the report suggests that a re-evaluation of the relationship between employers and colleges and colleges and training providers would be appropriate.