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This article describes some of the issues confronting the National Office Skills Formation Advisory Body (NOSFAB) in the development of national competency standards. This body has been established to act as the national voice on training and education matters for clerical and office occupations in industry and commerce. The issues include: (1) identifying the common core competencies; (2) ensuring that all relevant industries and organisations are consulted; (3) taking account of the diversity of training in this sector while facilitating the formal recognition by training providers of skills acquired on the job; and (4) showing how core clerical/administrative competencies may provide the basis for career paths in a range of different occupations, such as management, personnel, computers and accounting. The author writes that for too long the clerical and administrative functions have been taken for granted, and the process of competency standards development provides an opportunity to highlight the contribution these employees make to the productivity of an enterprise.