Apprenticeship trailblazers continue to gain momentum
30 Jun 2014 10:41 AM
Matthew Hancock announces a new range of
apprenticeships that will be developed by employers under the Trailblazer
scheme.
Skills and Enterprise Minister Matthew Hancock last week
(27 June 2014) announced a new range of
apprenticeships that will be developed by employers under the
Trailblazer scheme. He also called for expressions of interest from groups of
employers to become part of the third phase of Trailblazers.
The
Apprenticeship Trailblazers, launched in October 2013, have gone from strength
to strength. The first phase of Trailblazer sectors includes energy &
utilities, digital industries, financial services, life sciences and industrial
sciences. Businesses from each sector worked together and produced new concise
employer-led standards for key apprenticeship roles in their industry. These
were launched in March 2014 and the first apprenticeships under the new
standards will be delivered in 2014/15.
Building on their success, the businesses involved will
now work on standards for more occupations that they see as crucial to
developing their workforce and that will provide new opportunities for young
people. The new range of occupations includes:
- workplace pensions
- aerospace machinist
- IT
practitioner
- laboratory and healthcare science
- investment operations
Skills and Enterprise Minister Matthew Hancock
said:
The
apprenticeship Trailblazers have already made great strides in developing a
simpler and more rigorous system which works for employers and apprentices.
Their commitment to develop more apprenticeship standards demonstrates the
support our reforms have from employers.
Equipping all young people with the skills they need to
begin prosperous and productive careers is a vital part of our long-term
economic plan. Apprenticeships give young people the chance to fulfill their
potential while helping to drive business growth.
We
want to give more employers in more sectors the chance to lead the development
of apprenticeship standards for their industries. That is why we will launch a
third phase of Trailblazers later this year and I would encourage groups of
employers to step forward and take this opportunity.
Jez
Brooks, the Professional Development Manager at IBM and chair of the Digital
Industries Trailblazer Group said:
IBM
recognises the complexity and diversity of roles which apprentices could
undertake in the digital industry, and the importance of having robust, clear
standards for how apprentices will develop their skills, competence and
capability. This is why we have been involved with the Trailblazer process from
the outset.
We
are delighted to continue supporting the implementation of our first two
apprenticeship standards and the development of new ones, which will meet
apprentice and employer needs from SMEs to large
enterprises.
Lee
Travis of Simply Biz Group, who are part of the Financial Services Trailblazer
said:
The
Trailblazer development process has proven to be an excellent method for
creating a new style of apprenticeship, based on sector needs and employer
requirements. I am delighted to be chairing the employer group developing the
new Paraplanner apprenticeship.
The
Paraplanner plays a key role in financial planning, with increasing demand from
businesses right across the sector. This demand, plus the on-going need to
attract ‘new blood’ into our profession makes this an ideal path
for entry and/or career development, and is also an ideal progression route for
those successfully completing the first Financial Services Trailblazer
apprenticeship - Financial Administrator.
I
am sure both the Financial Services Administrator and the Paraplanner
apprenticeships will deservedly prove popular in the advice
sector.
To
further build momentum for the reforms and meet the strong demand from
employers, a third phase of Trailblazers will be launched. We are inviting
expressions of interest from groups of employers until 1 August 2014 and have
published more information about how to get involved and a clear set of
criteria for phase three. An announcement will be made on the final sectors and
employers in September 2014 when work begins to design the new
standards.
Notes to editors
- A
list of the new occupations that employers will develop apprenticeship
standards for can be accessed at ‘Apprenticeship
Standards In Development’.
- The
criteria for employer groups wishing to get involved in Phase 3 are available
here ‘Future of apprenticeships in England: guidance for
trailblazers’.
- Employers interested in becoming part of the third phase
of Trailblazers should contact apprenticeship.trailblazers@bis.gsi.gov.uk