SIAS is proud to announce that Jamiko Karya Kreasi has officially become the first SIAS Approved Centre in Indonesia, marking a significant milestone in SIAS’s growing international footprint and its commitment to expanding access to internationally recognised STEM and technical qualifications.

The approval establishes a new pathway for learners and professionals in Indonesia, supporting the development of skills aligned with the needs of modern industry.

The partnership reflects SIAS’s commitment to working with organisations around the world to strengthen skills provision, support workforce development and create opportunities for learners to build portable, industry-relevant skills.

Steve Smith, Managing Director of SIAS, said:

“We’re delighted to welcome Jamiko Karya Kreasi as our first SIAS Approved Centre in Indonesia.

This is an important milestone for SIAS as we continue to build our international network and work with partners who share our commitment to developing relevant, high-quality skills for the future.

By bringing SIAS accredited programmes to Indonesia, Jamiko Karya Kreasi will help create new opportunities for learners and support the development of a skilled workforce equipped to meet the changing needs of industry.”

Through its network of Approved Centres, SIAS works with training providers and industry partners to deliver programmes designed around the needs of employers and the future workforce.

Together, we are #AlwaysMovingForward.

For more information about SIAS qualifications and becoming a SIAS Approved Centre, contact partnerships@siasuk.com or visit www.siasuk.com.

SIAS is pleased to welcome Tyne North Training as a SIAS Approved Centre, expanding access to SIAS qualifications and supporting the development of future-ready skills.

As a SIAS Approved Centre, Tyne North Training will deliver SIAS qualifications designed to help learners develop the knowledge and skills they need to progress into further learning, apprenticeships and employment.

The partnership brings together Tyne North Training’s focus on skills and workforce development with SIAS’s forward-thinking approach to qualifications, creating opportunities to support learners and employers across the region.

Steve Smith, Managing Director of SIAS, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Tyne North Training to our growing network of SIAS Approved Centres. Strong partnerships are at the heart of what we do, and working with organisations that understand the needs of learners and employers is essential to keeping skills moving forward. We look forward to working with Tyne North Training to create opportunities for learners and support the development of the workforce industry needs.”

David Collins, Chief Executive Officer at Tyne North Training said: “We are all delighted here at Tyne North Training to become a SIAS Approved Centre. The accreditation process was handled efficiently and completed promptly, the hallmark of SIAS.

As an independent training provider with a long history in the sector, we are proud to be working alongside SIAS, an organisation at the forefront of the apprenticeship assessment reforms and with a commitment to working in collaboration in education and industry.

Cementing our already good relationship with EPA, and now having the availability of meaningful qualifications, will enhance our offer and be of benefit to our learners and employer”

Tyne North Training’s appointment as a SIAS Approved Centre further strengthens the growing SIAS network and expands access to industry-relevant qualifications that support learner progression and employer needs.

For more information about becoming a SIAS Approved Centre, contact partnerships@siasuk.com.

We’re delighted to share that SIAS, a founding member of the UK Qualifications Alliance (UKQA), has formally signed an accreditation and partnership agreement with the Punjab Board of Technical Education (PBTE).

The agreement marks the first formal implementation agreement following the landmark Memorandum of Understanding signed in June between UKQA, the Skills Development & Entrepreneurship Department of the Government of Punjab and Certif-ID International.

Following the UKQA delegation’s visit to Lahore in August, this latest step moves the partnership from strategic ambition into operational delivery.

Together, UKQA members will work with partners across Punjab to support access to internationally benchmarked qualifications, helping training providers develop skilled learners whose capabilities are aligned with the needs of both local and international employers.

The wider programme is expected to support approximately 20,000 learners, creating new opportunities for skills development, progression and employment across priority sectors.

SIAS will now begin progressing centre approval and qualification accreditation arrangements with PBTE, initially focusing on industrial process, energy and high-integrity systems. The agreement also provides a framework for the other UKQA founding members – EAL, Innovate Awarding, SFJ Awards and VTCT Skills – to progress towards their own arrangements with PBTE across their respective occupational sectors.

This is an important step towards building a comprehensive, internationally credible skills ecosystem across Punjab — supporting learners, training providers, employers and wider workforce mobility.

We’re proud to be part of UKQA and look forward to seeing this partnership develop and deliver meaningful opportunities for learners and employers in Punjab and beyond.

Steve Smith, Managing Director, SIAS and Chair, UKQA

“This agreement is an important moment because it moves our partnership with Punjab from ambition into action. From the outset, our shared objective has been clear: to combine the very best of UK awarding expertise with Punjab’s ambition for its people, creating high-quality skills pathways that respond to employer need and open genuine opportunities both within Pakistan and in international labour markets.

“I’m incredibly proud that SIAS is the first UKQA member to move into formal delivery with PBTE, but this is only the beginning. We now, as UKQA, have an opportunity, working alongside the Government of Punjab, PBTE and our wider partners, to deliver something at real scale – something sustainable, internationally credible and, most importantly, capable of changing lives.”

Adnan Chattha, Chairperson, Chief Minister’s Task Force on Skills Development

“Under the visionary leadership and clear direction of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, we are transforming Punjab’s skills system to meet international standards and the evolving needs of global employers. The signing of this MoA between SIAS and PBTE is a significant milestone in that journey, enabling our youth to gain credible, internationally recognised qualifications and access better employment opportunities at home and abroad. Our ambition is to position Punjab as a global hub for skilled manpower—turning skills into jobs, mobility and lasting prosperity.”

— Adnan Chattha
Chairperson, Chief Minister’s Task Force on Skills Development

Dr Faisal Mahmood, Chairman, Punjab Board of Technical Education (PBTE)

“Signing this agreement with SIAS marks an important milestone in our journey towards international recognition of Pakistan’s technical qualifications. At PBTE, we are committed to aligning our qualifications with global standards, enhancing international mobility, and creating better opportunities for our skilled youth.”

— Dr Faisal Mahmood
Chairman, Punjab Board of Technical Education (PBTE)

Attendees

The agreement was formally executed during an online signing ceremony on 9 September 2026 by Steve Smith, Managing Director of SIAS and Chair of UKQA, and Dr Faisal Mahmood, Chairman of the Punjab Board of Technical Education.

The signing follows the UKQA delegation’s visit to Lahore in August and reflects the shared commitment of both organisations to move rapidly from partnership development into operational delivery.

Attendees included Adnan Chattha, Chairperson of the Chief Minister’s Task Force on Skills Development; Mike Dawe, Consultant to UKQA; Azka Munir, Head of Programme Design at the Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF); and representatives from UKQA partner organisations and PBTE.

Follow UK Qualifications Alliance (UKQA) for further updates on this important programme.

#UKQA #SkillsDevelopment #Punjab #InternationalSkills #Qualifications #WorkforceDevelopment #SkillsForJobs #GlobalSkills #InternationalMobility

SIAS is pleased to welcome Lakes College as a SIAS Approved Centre, expanding access to SIAS qualifications and supporting the development of future-ready skills.

As a SIAS Approved Centre, Lakes College will deliver SIAS qualifications designed to support learners in developing the knowledge and skills needed to progress in a changing industrial landscape.

The partnership brings together Lakes College’s commitment to education and skills with SIAS’s forward-thinking approach to qualifications, creating opportunities to support learners, employers and the industries they serve.

Steve Smith, Managing Director of SIAS, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Lakes College to our growing network of SIAS Approved Centres. By working together, we can help ensure learners have access to qualifications that reflect the changing needs of industry, while supporting employers and training providers to build the talent needed for the future. We look forward to working closely with Lakes College as we continue to challenge convention and keep skills moving at the speed of industry.”

Lakes College’s appointment as a SIAS Approved Centre further strengthens the growing SIAS network and expands opportunities for learners to access industry-relevant qualifications that support their future progression.

For more information about becoming a SIAS Approved Centre, contact partnerships@siasuk.com.