18 May 2007
Advanced apprentices in the Chemical, Pharmaceutical, Petro-chemical manufacturing and Refining industries will now have access to a much broader spectrum of learning and a greater choice of technical certificates.
The revised Apprenticeship framework is part of a skills plan to boost the number of people taking up and completing Advanced apprenticeships in the sector by offering people the opportunity to gain the key technical skills they need to pursue higher-level job roles within these industries.
Now, a new framework has been
introduced, with apprentices having the option to complete further technical
certificates:
- BTEC National Award in Engineering
- BTEC National Certificate in
Mechanical Engineering
- BTEC National Certificate in
Electrical/Electronic Engineering
The framework delivers skills
for key operations including process operations and process engineering
maintenance, covered through on the job training.
The revision is part of a
larger Cogent Apprenticeship review which will provide a coherent overarching
Cogent apprenticeship framework, to be launched later in 2007.
The strategically important
Cogent sector is experiencing an ageing workforce and a number of pressing
skills shortages at management and supervisory level and will need thousands of
process operators, process technicians, supervisors and managers over the
coming years.
However, not enough learners
are entering Advanced apprenticeships. This new framework will mean the
learning is broader and more accessible and very much reflects employer need
for greater flexibility.
Ian Lockhart Cogent
Apprenticeship and Standards Manager said: “We hope that these changes will
encourage more employees to take Advanced apprenticeship programmes, boosting
their skills in order to move into higher-level jobs. This will support the
sector’s need to upskill the workforce as well as addressing the fact that many
of the experienced people in the industry are working towards retirement and
replacement demand will be high.”
The framework was given formal
approval by the LSC’s Work Based Learning Unit, following approval by the National
Apprenticeship Approval Group.
Apprenticeships
provide 16-24 year-olds with a mixture of on and off-the-job training while
they are being paid. For employers, Apprenticeships offer the opportunity to
improve their businesses bottom line through the tailored, relevant training of
highly motivated young people.
There are two
levels of Apprenticeships:
- 'Apprenticeships',
equivalent to GCSE level, incorporate a National Vocational Qualification
to Level 2; key skills and in some cases a technical certificate
- 'Advanced
Apprenticeships', equivalent to A-levels, incorporate a National
Vocational Qualification to Level 3, key skills and a technical
certificate.
For further information, please contact Ian Lockhart
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