Apprenticeship Reforms — progress so far

Apprenticeshipsofferamazingopportunitiestoyoung

peopleandtobusinesses—almostnineoutofevery

tenapprenticeshipemployershopingtoachieve

businessbenefitstellusthatapprenticeshipsdeliver.

Butinacompetitiveglobalmarket,wecannotstandstill.Wewantto

goevenfurthertomakeEngland’sapprenticeshipprogrammethebest

intheworld.Weareputtingemployersinthedrivingseatindesigning

apprenticeshipssothattheyfocusonexactlytheskills,knowledgeand

behavioursthatarerequiredinyourworkforceofthefuture.

Justoverayearafteritsinitiallaunch,ourTrailblazersarealready

supportedbyover1,000employersin100sectorswhohavedesigned

morethan120publishedapprenticeshipstandards.Thisisafantastic

achievementfromallinvolved.

Iwanttocontinuetobuildonthismomentumandenthusiasm,with

moreemployersrecognisingthebenefitsofapprenticeships,getting

involvedindesigningstandards,testingournewfundingapproaches

andemployingapprentices.Thiswillhelpyoungpeople’sskills,our

businessesandthewidereconomytocontinuetogrow.

Nick Boles MP

Minister for Skills and Equalities

Thereformshaveshoneabrightlightonthevalueof

apprenticeshipsandcomeattheperfecttimewhen

businessesareincreasinglylookingtogrow.More

employersarerealisingtheconnectionbetween

businessgrowthandapprenticeemployment.How

elsecanyougrowifyoudon’thavetherightraw

talent?Apprenticesareexactlythat.Iamafanofapprenticeships

andthat’sbecauseIhaveseenformyselfthatastrategyforgrowthis

bestcombinedwithastrategyforskills–formethathasalways

involvedemployingapprentices.

ApositivefromthereformsareTrailblazers.Achunkofmy2014

wasspenthelpingshapethenewcraftapprenticeship.Withthe

helpofcolleaguesinthesectorandhundredsofsmallbusinesses

weconsideredwhatneedstobedeliveredandhow.Thiselement

istheheartofthereformswhicharetrulyemployerled.Theyalso

provideaperfectspringboardforbusinessestotaketheleapandhire

anapprentice.BybeinginvolvedinTrailblazersabusinesswillhave

greaterownershipoftheapprenticeshipstandardandthereforea

betterunderstandingofitsvalue.

Iamoptimisticthatweareatthecuspofmovingthenumberof

apprenticeshipstothenextlevelthankstotherecognitionoftheir

valuebySMEsandtheoverwhelmingcommercialbenefits.

Jason Holt CBE

CEO and Apprenticeship Ambassador, Holts Group

ToyotaManufacturingUKispleasedtohavebeen

involvedintheearlydevelopmentofthenew

apprenticeshipsandwearecurrentlytraining24of

thefirstapprenticesagainstthisnewstandard.This

hasgivenusanumberofbenefits.

Whilstourapprenticeshipswerealreadyhighlyeffectivewerecognised

thatbyworkingwithcolleaguesfromacrossourindustrywecould

sharebestpracticeandincreasethequalityofapprenticeshipstothe

verybestinternationalstandards.Wenowhaveapprenticeshipsthat

meettheneedsofawholerangeofemployers,fromlargecompanies

likeourselvestooursupplychainandsmallerfirms,ensuring

consistenthighqualityandtransferableskills.

Thiscollaborationhasenabledustoworkwithcompanies,some

ofwhomareourcompetitorsinthemarketplace,toensurethat

weallhaveaccesstothebestpossibletrainingforourindustry.

Thisisprovidingwidespreadbenefits,tousasabusiness,tothe

manufacturingindustryandtotheeconomyasawhole.

Ibelievepassionatelyinthevalueofapprenticeships.Asaformer

apprenticemyself,andasamemberoftheApprenticeshipAmbassador

Network,Iwouldurgeyoutogetinvolvedwithapprenticeships.If

youarenotalreadypartofagroupdevelopingnewapprenticeship

standardsthenitisworthinvestingthetimetodoso.Ifyouhavenot

employedanapprenticebeforethennowisthetimetodoso.

Tim Freeman

Director and Apprenticeship Ambassador, Toyota Manufacturing UK

Forewords

2

9 out of 10apprenticeship employers hoping to achieve business benefits tell us that apprenticeships deliver.

Wesetoutourplansforimplementingreformstoapprenticeshipsin

The Future of Apprenticeships in England: Implementation Plan

(Oct2013),tomaketheprogrammeevenmorerigorousandresponsive

toemployers’requirements.

Apprenticeships already offer great opportunities for business and young people with consistently high satisfaction rates but we want to go even further to make England’s apprenticeship programme the best in the world.

Overview of the reforms

3

We said that Progress to date

Apprenticeshipswillbebasedonstandardsdesignedbyemployers

Over1000employersareinvolvedindevelopingstandardsfortheiroccupationsinover100sectorsthroughTrailblazers.

Publishedstandardshavebeeninabroadrangeofsectorsfromjournalismtolaw,bankinganddentalhealth.

Apprenticeswillneedtodemonstratetheircompetencethroughrigorous,independentassessmentdesignedwithemployers

8sectorshavedevelopedagreedassessmentplansfor15standards.

Whereprofessionalregistrationexists,theseapprenticeshipswillprovidealltheevidencerequired.

Apprenticeswillbegradedratherthansimplypassingorfailing

Allagreedassessmentplansincludegrading.Employersdesigningtheplanshavetheflexibilitytogradeallorsomeoftheapprenticeship.

Wewillsimplifythesystemandreducebureaucracyforemployers

ApprenticeshipStandardsaregenerallynomorethan2pageslong.

Fundingtrialhasreducedtheratesfromhundredsto5caps.

Givingemployersdirectcontrolofapprenticeshipfundingremainsacoreandnon-negotiablepartofourreforms.

Morewillbedonetopromotethebenefitsofapprenticeshipstobothemployersandpotentialapprentices

TheGet In. Go Farcampaignhashadamajorfocusonyoungpeoplebutalsosmallbusinesses.Todatevisitstotheapprenticeshipwebsiteareupbyover95%onthepreviousyear.

89%of apprentices are satisfied with their apprenticeshipBISResearchPaper205ApprenticeshipEvaluation:Learners,Dec2014

82%of employers said that they are satisfied with the programmeBISResearchPaper204ApprenticeshipEvaluation:Employers,Dec2014

Thousandsofemployers,largeandsmall,havegivenyoungpeoplea

greatstarttotheircareers.Theseemployersareseeingthebenefitsof

investingintheirapprenticesasthefutureoftheirbusinesses.

Wewantthistocontinueandformoreemployerstotakeon

apprenticestogivethemacompetitiveedge,helpingthemtogrowand

competebothintheUKandinternationally.

Wealsowantemployerstocontinuetoworktogethertodevelopthe

newstandardsforapprenticeships,ensuringthattheytrulymeetthe

needsoflargeandsmallbusinesses. Supporting growth in the economyBybenefitingbusinessesandindividuals,apprenticeshipsalsobenefit

thewidereconomy,helpingtokeepuscompetitiveontheglobalstage.

TheNationalAuditOfficeestimatesthateverypoundofgovernment

investmentinapprenticeshipsdelivers£18ofeconomicbenefits

throughincreasingskills,productivityandeconomicgrowth.Weare

ambitioustoincreasethereturnstotheeconomybygrowingthe

programmeandincreasingtheskillsgainofapprentices.

Why Apprenticeships?

4

“

I’vebeeninvolvedintheDigitalIndustryTrailblazeras

chairfromtheoutset,workingwithrepresentativesfrommany

differentcompanies.Theclosecollaborationbetweenbusiness

andgovernment,competitorsandpartners,hasbeenakeyto

theprogresswehavemade.

Thepaceatwhichnewstandardshavebeendevelopedhas

beennothingshortofastounding.Thereareclearlysomany

passionatesupportersofapprenticeshipsengagedthatwehave

madegreatstridesindefiningstandards.Thesewillunderpin

digitalandtechnicalskillsdevelopmentinaconsistentmanner

forallemployersinallindustriesformanyyearstocome.

Thequalityandstandardoflearningwillbeensuredforall

participants,whetheryou’reanemployertakingonasingle

apprenticeoralargeenterprisetakingonhundreds.For

employersandstudentsalike,thisqualityandconsistencyare

essentialforsecuringthefutureskillsofourworkforce.”

Jez Brooks

Professional Development Manager/Apprentice Scheme

Leader, IBM UK Ltd

“ The UK is facing a critical engineering skills

shortage. Increasing the quality and quantity of

engineering apprenticeships is vital. If we don’t, we are

facing a huge hole in our economy. Not only will Trailblazers

help drive the skills needed for our future prosperity, they

are key to ensuring the UK has the engineers for the future

to keep our vital infrastructure working.

I am excited by the opportunity engineering Trailblazers

present. By providing engineering apprentices with

professional recognition as registered Engineering

Technicians, it provides them and employers with the

assurance that they have the highest quality skills and

training which is universally recognised as the national and

international benchmark.”

Stephen Tetlow, Chief Executive of the Institution of

Mechanical Engineers

65%of employers say there was improved productivity in their business as a result of employing apprenticesBISResearchPaper204ApprenticeshipEvaluation:Employers,Dec2014

Supporting growth in your business

ThefirsteightTrailblazeremployergroupswereannouncedinOctober

2013.Theirsuccessandenthusiasmhasspreadsincethenandthere

arenowTrailblazersinover100 sectors.

Employerscangenuinely‘holdthepen’tosetouttheskills,knowledge

andbehavioursthattheyexpectintheirfutureworkforce.Forthe

firsttime,thisallowsemployersacrossasectororarangeofsectors

tocometogetherandensurethattheirfutureapprenticeswillhave

exactlywhattheyneedtohelptheirbusinessesflourish.

Businessesofallsizesareworkingcloselytogethertodesign

apprenticeshipstandards.Theyalsoconsultwiththeirsectortoensure

thatwhattheyproducemeetstheneedsofemployersofallsizesand

ineveryareaofthecountry.

Employers certainly rec-

ognise the value of current

apprenticeships. These were

offered in 20,000 more

workplaces last year meaning

that over 240,000 workplac-

es now employ apprentices.

But employers are also keen

to have more control over the

design of apprenticeships and

are leading the way through

the Trailblazer projects. Over

1000 employers are already

involved. A letter of support

for the proposals was pub-

lished in the Daily Telegraph

signed by major employers

and employer organisations.

These organisations together

represent over half a million

employers, from the smallest

micro businesses to the larg-

est FTSE 100 employers, and

represent well over a third of

the private sector workforce.

5

“ AsaformerapprenticemyselfIwasdelightedtobecome

involvedwithTrailblazerslastyear.Togetherwithnineother

dedicatedemployersofallsizesandfromawideareawehave

beenworkingonsettingthenewstandard.Ourcollaborative

approachhasmadetheprocesssomucheasierandrewarding.

Workingasateamwehaveensuredviewsfromallareasofour

industryhavebeenconsidered.Thewholeprocesshasbeen

rewardingforallofthemembersinvolved,manyofwhomare

alsoformerapprenticesthemselves.

Weallappreciateandacknowledgethattheapprenticesoftoday

willbetheindustryofthefuture.Itisthereforeimperativethat

wesetworldclassstandardsfortheseyoungpeopleaswehave

withTrailblazers.”

Robert Moss

Head of Mechanical Services, Seddon Construction Ltd

Open policy making

Weareimplementingtheapprenticeshipreformsusing‘openpolicy

making’.Openpolicymakingisaboutbetterpolicymaking:beingopen

tonewideas,newwaysofworking,newinsights,newevidenceand

experts.

Thismeansthatfromthestartofthisprocess,wehaven’tsought

toimposeaone-size-fits-allapproachtothereforms.Instead,we’ve

workeddirectlywithhundredsofemployersastheyhavedesignedthe

firstnewapprenticeshipstandards.

Wehavelearnedahugeamountfromthesepioneersandadaptedthe

processasadirectresultoftheirexperiences–forexample,introducing

anewsimplifiedtemplateforstandardsbasedontheirdesignsandthe

optiontoincludeanapprentice’sbehaviourswithinthestandard.

Wewillretainthisopenapproachwithemployersaswecontinueto

implementthereforms.

?“Employers are happy with the current system and

no-one supports the principles of your proposals.”

Myth busting

Employer leadership — makingsureapprenticeshipsworkforyou

Small businesses

Themajorityofourexistingapprenticeshipsareinsmallerbusinesses

andwerecognisethatitisessentialthatthereformsworkforthem.

Weexpectawiderangeofemployerstobeinvolvedineverysingle

Trailblazer,includinglargeemployers,theirsupplychainsandsmall

businessesandwelookateachTrailblazergrouptoensurethatitis

reflectiveoftheirwidersector.WealsoexpectTrailblazerstoconsult

morewidelyandoneofthecriteriawehavesetforapprovingthe

apprenticeshipstandardsisprovensupportfromsmalleremployers.

Training provider engagementProvidershaveavitalroletoplayinthereformofapprenticeships

toensurethatwhatisdeliveredmeetstheneedsofemployers.At

anationallevel,providerrepresentativeshaveattendedemployer

workshopsandwehaveloanedofficialstotheAssociationofColleges

(AoC)tosupportengagementwithTrailblazers.Manyproviders

havebeenkeentogetinvolvedandAoCalongwithAssociationof

EmploymentandLearningProviders(AELP)andUniversityVocational

AwardsCouncil(UVAC)havehelpedtocoordinateinputand

supportfromproviderstomakethingassimpleaspossible

fortheemployergroups.

This is untrue. It is not our

intention to make it more

difficult for employers and

providers. Training providers

will continue to play a vital

role in helping employers,

especially small businesses,

engage with apprenticeships.

We will continue to involve

employers of all sizes and

training providers in our

work to design the new

approach, to make sure

we get the balance of

accountability right and that

the new system is as user-

friendly as possible for all

employers.

6

“ Alltypesofprovidersarekeentoengagewiththe

Trailblazerprocess.Werecognisetheterrificworkthatthe

employershavebeenputtingintogetthingsrightfortheir

industriesandwewanttohelpensurethatwhatgetsdelivered

trulyreflectswhattheywant.

Wealsoneedtoensurethatthenewapproachcanbeeasily

understoodanddeliveredeffectivelytoaconsistentlyhigh

quality.AoC,AELPandUVAChavebeenworkingtoensurethat

providersareinvolvedintheprocess,butthereismoretodoto

ensurethatallprovidersfeelconfidenttoengagewiththenew

approachtoapprenticeshipdeliveryacrossthearrayofnew

standardsbeingdeveloped.

Wefirmlybelievethatbringingprovidersusedtoworking

withspecificsectorstogetherwiththecompaniesengaged

inTrailblazerswillsignificantlyenhancethedeliveryofthe

standards.

Wesincerelyhopethattheemployersinvolvedwillseethe

tremendousvalueofthisandenterintoadialoguethatwill

bringemployersandproviderstogetherindevisingdeliverable

programmesthatmeettheneedsofthesector,theemployer

andtheapprentices.”

Teresa Frith

Association of Colleges (AoC)

“ The British Fashion Council is pleased to be

able support the Trailblazer programme by calling on

businesses within the UK fashion industry to unite and

drive apprenticeships that provide real financial and

career fulfilment as an alternative to academic university

routes into the workplace ”

Simon Ward

COO British Fashion Council

?The changes will create a lot more bureaucracy

for employers, particularly small employers,

and providers will no longer be able to help with

recruitment and ‘wraparound’ services.

Myth busting

Ian Harpham,ManufacturingDirectorofPektronLtd,one

ofthesmallbusinesseswhoseapprenticesaretrainedatthe

ToyotaADCsaid“OurapprenticeshavenowenteredYear1of

themaintenanceapprenticeship.Thecurriculumismeticulously

planned,expertlydeliveredandcompletelyrelevant.On

completionofYear1ourapprenticeswillre-joinPektronwith

acomprehensive‘toolkit’ofskillsthatcanbemouldedand

developedovertheremaining2yearsoftheapprenticeship.

Theywilljoinourmaintenanceteamastrulymulti-skilled

Engineers,abletosupportthefuturegrowthofour

hi-techbusiness”

Apprenticeship reform: from standards to startsSinceSeptember2014,andlessthanayearafterthestartofthe

reforms,employerstellusthatmorethan300apprenticeshave

alreadystartedonthenewstandardsintheAutomotive,Energy

andUtility,LifeandIndustrialScienceandFinancialServicessectors.

ToyotaManufacturingUKworkscloselywithsmallbusinesses

inorderforthemtotakeadvantageofthecompany’sskill,

resourceandexpertiseintherecruitment,trainingand

developmentofapprenticesintheirApprenticeDevelopment

Centre(ADC).AlthoughmanyofthesecomefromToyota’s

supplychain,othersarefromlocalbusinessesnotconnectedto

theautomotiveindustry.

Aspartofthereformofapprenticeships,Toyotaalong

withotheremployersandprofessionalbodies,formedthe

AutomotiveTrailblazerandinconsultationwithsmallbusinesses

developedastandardforan‘AutomotiveMechatronicAdvanced

Apprenticeship’atLevel3.Thefirstapprenticesstartedonthis

newstandardinSeptember2014.

7

Clea Yeates, 18, is one of 29 recruits

chosen from 749 applicants to join

UK Power Networks’ apprenticeship

programme. She is working for the

company which distributes electricity

supplies across London, the South East

and East Anglia. Clea, who is based

at Deaconfield Industrial Estate, Guildford, is training to

become a cable jointer. She said: “I wanted to be with

a good company that had a good reputation and where

I would be guaranteed work for life. I studied electrical

installations at college but didn’t want to remain working on

household electrics. I wanted to go bigger. It’s always going

to be different and the way the company is organised is

really professional.”

“ Ourapprenticeshipsaretopclass,developingthenext

generationofexpertstorunourelectricitynetworks.There

couldn’tbeamoreexcitingtimetojointheelectricityindustry,

withnewtechnologybringingfasterchangesinthenext10years

thaneverbefore.

Welookforpeoplewithagreatattitude,keentoservetheir

communitiesandcriticallysafetyconscious,whichisthebaseline

fortheelectricityindustry.Theaverageageprofileofour

workforceisnow50-plussothisisanexcellenttimeforyoung

peoplewithnewideastomaketheirmark.Weareoneofthefew

long-termindustrieswhere,ifyouperformwell,yourfutureis

secure.Ifyou’vegottalentandyouarepreparedtoworkhard,

youcouldhaveareallypromisingfuturewithus.”

Patrick Clarke, Director of Network Operations at

UK Power Networks

More than 300

apprentices have already started on the new standards including the following sectors...

Automotive

Energy and Utility

e and LifIndustrial Science

Standards replacing frameworksThenewemployer-designedstandardsareshortandeasyto

understandbecausetheyarewrittenbyemployers.Theydescribethe

skills,knowledgeandbehavioursthatanindividualneedstobefully

competentinanoccupation.

Standardsaregenerallytwosideslong.Theyactasa‘shopwindow’

fortheapprenticeship,providingaspecificationofwhattheapprentice

needstobeabletodemonstrateattheendoftheirapprenticeshipto

showthattheyareafullycompetentprofessional.

Thereisonenewstandardperoccupationandthestandardsand

assessmentplanswillreplaceexistingapprenticeshipframeworks.

Standardsandassessmentplansproducedbyemployersandagreedby

Governmentarepublishedat:www.gov.uk/government/collections/

apprenticeship-standards

Thereareanumberofstandardsunderdevelopmentinawiderange

ofoccupations.Standardsindevelopmentcanbefoundat:https://

www.gov.uk/government/publications/apprenticeship-standards-in-

development

FundingAspartofthereforms,wewanttogiveemployerscontroloverthe

fundingofapprenticeshiptrainingsothattheycantakeontherole

ofdemandingcustomersandensurethattheircompanyreceivesthe

highestqualityserviceintrainingapprenticesagainstthestandard.

Wearetriallingasimplefundingmodelforapprenticeshipsbasedon

standardsstartinginthe2014/15and2015/16academicyears.Itskey

elementsare:

•Asinglegovernmentco-investmentrateforcorefunding.Thismeans

thatforevery£1employerscontributetotheexternaltrainingand

assessmentcostsofanapprenticeship,wewillpay£2.

•Thiswillapplyuptoaclearcapforeachstandard.Therearefive

caps.

•Therewillbethreeadditionalpaymentsforsmallbusinesseswithup

to50employees;fortakingona16-18yearoldapprentice;andfor

successfulcompletion.

Thistrialfundingsystemsimplifieshundredsofratesdowntojusta

singletable.

Havingconsultedextensively,wearealsoconsideringwhatmightbethe

mosteffectiveandnon-bureaucraticmechanismforroutingGovernment

fundingforapprenticeshiptrainingtoemployers.

Simplification

8

Apprenticeship standard Gives a short, clear description of the main activities

that someone in this occupation would do. Also includes

a definitive list of skills, knowledge and behaviours that

you as employers would expect from someone who is fully

competent in this occupation.

Assessment planSets out how you would like apprentices to be assessed at

the end of their apprenticeship to ensure that they meet

your rigorous standard and are fully competent. For every £1 employers contribute to the external training and assessment cost of an apprenticeship

we will pay £2

Everyapprenticeshipmusthaveanend-pointassessment.Thistests

theapprenticesagainstthestandardtoconfirmwhetherornotthey

arefullycompetent.Aswithapprenticeshipstandards,wehavegiven

employersandprofessionalbodiesahighdegreeoffreedomtosetout

whatshouldbeassessed,howitshouldbeassessedandbywhoatthe

endoftheapprenticeshiptomeettheneedsoftheiroccupation.Itis

importanttohaveindependenceandconsistencyintheassessmentof

apprenticeshipstoensurerecognitionandtransferability.

Somereallyinnovativeapproachestoendpointassessmenthavecome

throughtheearlyTrailblazers.ThisincludesinvolvingProfessional

Bodiesorotheremployersintheendpointassessmentprocess,

practicaltradetests,extendedprojects,professionalinterviewsor

University-stylevivasandmore.

GradingWehaveintroducedgradingtoapprenticeshipstostretchthemost

ableandtorecognisetheadditionalprogressthattheyhavemade

duringtheirapprenticeship.Aspartofourcommitmentto‘open

policymaking’,wehavedevelopedandsimplifiedthepolicyon

gradingthroughouttheTrailblazerprocess,listeningtowhat

employershavesaidtous.Wenowallowemployerstomakea

caseforanexemptiontograding.

9

“ BeinginvolvedinTrailblazersandtheprocessof

agreeingstandardsandassessmentplanshasbeenactually

quiteliberating–notonlyinthedesignsensewhichhasbeen

muchquickerandefficientthaninthepast,butintermsofthe

collaborationwithothersinthesectortoshapesomethingthat

benefitsnotjustthoseinvolvedinTrailblazers,butthewhole

industryandthefutureofapprenticeswhoworkwithinit.

Emily Austin

Apprentice Lead

Lloyds Banking Group

The end point assessment

does NOT have to assess

every aspect of the

standard. It must be

synoptic, assess knowledge

and skills, and assess across

the standard, but it is for

employers to determine

what is assessed in the end

point assessment.

Every apprenticeship must last at least

12months and include

substantial on-the-job training

?The end point assessment must assess every

aspect of the standard.

Myth busting

Oneofthecentralaimsofthereformsistoimprovethequalityof

apprenticeships.Sofarthishasbeendriventhroughtherigorousem-

ployer-ledprocessofdevelopingnewstandardsandassessmentplans,

andthecontinuedrequirementforeveryapprenticeshiptolastatleast

12monthsandtoincludesubstantialonandoffthejobtrainingandat

least20%offthejob.Thecommitmentofthoseemployersinvolvedin

thetrailblazerprocesstoensuringhighqualityapprenticeshipshasalso

been,andwillcontinuetobe,absolutelyessential.

NewmechanismssuchasourRegisterofAssessmentOrganisations

andRegisterofTrainingProviderswillhelptoimprovequalityfurther,

andmoreworkisunderwaytoconsiderwhatelsecanbeputinplaceto

ensureallapprenticeshipsarehighqualityinfuture.

Quality

End point assessment

Higher and Degree ApprenticeshipsWewantyoungpeopletohavetheoptiontochoosebetweenequally

prestigiousroutestoacareer–University,anapprenticeshiporan

apprenticeshipthatincludesUniversity.Wehaveasuccessfuland

rapidlyexpandingHigherApprenticeshipsprogrammewithemployers

interestedindevelopingmoreapprenticeshipsathigherlevels,

includingintheprofessions.

Apprenticeshipstandardsareagreedandwillsoonbereadyfor

deliveryforoccupationsincludingProfessionalAccountant,Civil

EngineeringSiteManager,SoftwareDeveloperandSolicitor.

DegreeApprenticeshipsareanewmodelbringingtogetherthebestof

higherandvocationaleducation,andseeapprenticesachievingafull

bachelor’sormaster’sdegreeaspartoftheirapprenticeship.

Employers,universitiesandprofessionalbodiescancometogetherto

co-designafully-integrateddegreecoursespecificallyforapprentices,

whichdeliversandtestsbothacademiclearningandon-the-jobtraining.

Alternatively,sectorsmaywishtouseexistingdegreeprogrammesto

delivertheacademicknowledgerequirementsofthatprofession.

Degreeapprenticeshipswillbeavailableinaerospace,automotive,

construction,defence,digitalindustries,electronicsystems,financial

servicesandsurveying.Withmoretobeannouncedin2015/16.

10

“ IhavebeeninvolvedwithTrailblazerssinceMarch

2014,actingastheChairfortheLawTrailblazer.Wearein

theprocessofdevelopingassessmentplansfortheSolicitor,

CharteredLegalExecutiveandParalegalstandards.Ithas

beenachallengingprocessbutworthwhileasstandards

willprovideanalternativetothetraditionalrouteintolaw-

openingthedoorstoamorediversetalentstreamentering

theprofession.”

Gun Judge

Head of Resourcing at Addleshaw Goddard LLP

Professional bodies and professional recognitionWewanttoensurethatallsuccessfulapprenticesarefully

professionallycompetentattheendoftheirapprenticeship.Where

professionalregistrationandstandardsexist,employersarealigning

theirapprenticeshipstandardswiththese.

Thismeansthatbycompletinganapprenticeship,anapprentice

willhavegainedalloftheskillsandknowledgetheyneedtoachieve

professionalstatus,givingemployerstheconfidencethattheir

workforcemeetsthesehighindependentstandards.

Trailblazergroupshaveworkedcloselywithprofessionalbodies

throughouttheprocessofdesigninganddevelopingnew

apprenticeshipstandardsandassessmentplanstoensurethat

professionalrecognitionisembodiedwithintheprocesswhererequired

inaparticularsector.

“ The Professional Engineering Institutions supporting

our Aerospace and MRO/Airworthiness Trailblazer Groups

have been fantastic supporters of our work. They have

played an instrumental part in helping us develop the

Standards and ensuring a greater degree of professional

rigour in the apprenticeship by aligning full competence

to Engineering Technician status in particular for our core

level 3 apprenticeship programmes. The employers involved

have very much valued their contribution.”

Richard Hamer

Educations Director BAE Systems Plc

“ RICSUKisdelightedtobepartoftheapprenticeship

reformswhichmeansforthefirsttimethatwewillprovide

degreeapprenticeshipsfortraineesurveyors,leadingto

charteredstatus(MRICS).Apprenticedegreesarebeing

metwithhugeenthusiasmfromtheproperty,landand

constructionsectorswhoarewellawareoftheskillsshortage

andneedforskilledprofessionals.

ThefirstCharteredSurveyingdegreeapprenticeshipswillbe

opentoentrantsfromSeptember2015inEngland.Surveying

apprenticeswillundertakeapart-timeundergraduatedegree

andgainin-workexperience&trainingoveraperiodoffour

tofiveyears.”

Kim Worts

Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Director, UK

External Affairs

11

Wehopethatafterreadingthisdocumentyouwouldlikegetinvolvedbyemployingan

apprenticeorworkingonthedevelopmentofanewstandard.

Ifyouwouldliketoemployanapprenticethenpleasecontactthe

NationalApprenticeshipServiceeitherbycalling

08000 150 600 orviathefollowinglink:

http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/employers/employer-online-enquiry-form.aspx

Ifyouwouldliketojoinagroupalreadydevelopingastandardorwouldliketodevelopanewstandard

thenpleaseseetheguidanceat:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/ system/uploads/attachment_data/ file/366063/bis-14-

p194b-Guidance-for-developersofapprenticeship-standards-and-relatedassessment-plans.pdf

How to get involved

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