13 Mar 2014
Cogent is delighted to announce that Laboratory Technician and Science Manufacturing Technician Apprenticeship standards have been approved and this was celebrated at the Trailblazer event at Downing Street on 6th March.
This means that the standards developed by the employer-led Trailblazer have now become the national Apprenticeship standard for these occupations.
Members of the newly developing Science Industry Partnership (SIP) including GSK, Actavis, Fujifilm Diosynth, Lotte Chemical UK Ltd, Lucite International, MedImmune, Seralab, Synergy Outsourcing, BCM, Aesica Pharmaceuticals, Astra Zeneca, Essar, Ineos, Pfizer, SABIC and Victrex Plc signed up last year as Trailblazers in a new, employer-led Apprenticeship scheme.
In the Standards approval letter, Skills Minister, Matthew Hancock thanked the Trailblazer group for all their hard work and congratulated them on publication of the first pioneering Apprenticeship standards for the science-industries.
The SIP is a newly developing national skills and education focused Partnership for the science-based sector, which is supported by Cogent the national skills organisation for science industries. One of the new Partnership’s aims is to create over 1000 new apprenticeship opportunities across the science industries.
The Trailblazers scheme is a Government initiative which aims to improve the standards of apprenticeships in the UK. It reflects the ambition of the Science Industry Partnership, to design new apprenticeship standards and qualifications which are more closely aligned to the specific requirements of the science- based sector.
GSK, which is a leading light in the Science Industry Partnership, has said its participation in both the SIP and the Trailblazer pilot reflects its broader commitment to help increase employment opportunities for young people in the UK.
Chair of the SIP Board, Malcolm Skingle said, “GSK is delighted to support the Trailblazer initiative as part of our ongoing commitment to invest in apprentices for scientific roles. These new science-based training programmes will be invaluable, as they will give apprentices the unique skills they need to meet the challenges of important, new technologies and to support our future innovation.
“Apprentices bring fresh ideas, energy and new blood into the business. GSK, and our partners in the SIP will provide the training and work experience that start young people on an exciting career paths - in return they give us the raw talent we need to succeed.”
Christine Sakhardande, Cogent Programme Manager, who attended the launch at Downing Street along with apprentices and representatives from Pfizer, GSK, SABIC, Fujifilm Diosynth and Actavis said; “through the establishment of the new employer-led Science Industry Partnership, these committed employers are already in the driving seat of apprenticeships.
“We are working with them and the professional bodies to design new Apprenticeships based on standards which meet the specific needs of the science industries.”
The new employer-led standards are short and easy to understand. They describe the skills and knowledge that an individual needs to be fully competent in an occupation. An apprentice will also need to demonstrate their competence through rigorous independent assessment. Apprentices will also be graded - pass, merit, distinction - putting them on a par with full time education.
To see science employers talking about the importance of employer-led Apprenticeships go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YzKyVf7MbQ
*The Trailblazer launch follows the recommendations for a more employer-focused approach put forward by Doug Richard in his report. More here: bit.ly/HqUxN4
|
