National Forum of Engineering Centres

Pre-Apprenticeship Concept Raising the Profile

Bob Millington – Director, National Liaison and Regional Coordination

Rationale

• The Wolf Report reiterated Government priority of increasing young people’s access to apprenticeships

• Reduce significantly the risk (particularly to SMEs) of recruiting apprentices

• IPPR support for Pre-Apprenticeships

Rationale

• Ofsted advocating Pre-Apprenticeships

• Skills Minister sees Pre-Apprenticeships as “unfinished business” and ….”we need to develop a better pre-apprenticeship product”

• Withdrawal of Young Apprenticeship Scheme

Rationale

• Change to number of GCSE equivalents for Engineering Diploma

Framework

• Flexible – must meet needs of local industry

• Can be developed for all levels of apprenticeship

• Any vocational area with progression to apprenticeships

Key Quality Aspects

• Involvement of local industry – broadly three stages:

a) Outset - Agreeing content & Structure

b) During - Open invitation for Industry to visit provider

Key Quality Aspects

c) Toward completion – Using CVs and projected results as basis for selection process. Might include work placement

• Providers become first “Port of Call” by industry wishing to recruit apprentices

Key Quality Aspects

• Development of right work ethic

• Inclusion of “softer” skills to help develop personal qualities

• Opportunity to develop presentational skills – demonstrate something of what has been achieved

Key Quality Aspects

• Learner of the Year Award

• Recognition nationally by SSCs, ABs, (in this case) Engineering UK, Eng Council, Ofsted & Government

Outline Programme Content (Example Only)

• For typical programme to prepare for Advanced Apprenticeship in Engineering – please see page 3 of document

• Fundamentally this should cover Intermediate (Level 2) Apprenticeship Framework

Recognition of Programme Concept

• Need for developing a Brand and “badging” for approved programmes

• Brand quality monitored by Ofsted against Key Quality Aspects

Way Forward

– Much already done

– Brief NCS and the NAS

– Brief Awarding Bodies and SSCs

– Meet with John Hayes and share/develop ideas about positioning concept in range of options e.g. Traineeships

• Questions/Discussion