Apprentices are new or current employees aged 16 or over and combine a job with training. That means apprentices work whilst studying to gain the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) required to be competent in an occupation. It really is worth emphasising that apprenticeships have moved on from just being options for teenagers – think talent management, diversification of the workforce, via career progression, upskilling and career changes. longer, in some cases 5 years; this depends on the level the apprentice outcomes are set (in England, this is between 2 – 7) and where and how training is needed for each individual apprentice.
An apprentice will benefit from a regular wage throughout their apprenticeship, on the job personal and professional development, exposure and experience to work and working practices, and dedicated time allocated for off the job training. Many apprenticeships also include a formal qualification, which the employer in partnership with the Government pays for. The employer benefits, by being able to spend their apprenticeship levy on training and assessment (if they are a levy payer), or from top-up funding from the Government for this training. s employers to recruit or upskill the talent in their workforce, whilst tailoring the apprentices’ work programme to their business needs.
In England, at the end of the training period, apprentices must carry out the mandatory End Point Assessment (EPA) process. This provides an independent assessment of the occupational, and sometimes professional, competences (KSBs) of the apprentices. The EPA is carried out by industry and professionally recognised individuals, with apprentices not only assessed academically, but in how well they also perform in their working environment.
Some apprenticeship end point assessment plans offer the ability for apprentices to prepare for, and undertake, their professional review process and support apprentices to become registered professionals with the Society for the Environment via one of its Licenced Members. Employers, apprentices and training providers should check the apprenticeship documentation on IfATE, and professional institution websites for the latest information.
Organisations in England can benefit from government funding to cover some or all of the costs of training and assessing an apprentice. Find out more here.
Initially, many apprentices are recruited with lower wages than their counterparts, but apprentices do progress quickly, with this progression and ability to deliver business outcomes often rewarded through both increased salaries (often reviewed annually and on meeting targets) and promotions. Evidence is now coming forward to show that apprentices are beginning to out-earn those that have studied full time equivalent qualifications.
Employers and apprentices must therefore consider not only the starting salary available, but how this will change over the duration of, and on achieving their apprenticeship.
I want to apply to do an apprenticeship – where do I look?
For information, advice and guidance on apprenticeships, take a look at the Governments website for apprentices: Become an apprentice (apprenticeships.gov.uk)
If an apprenticeship is right for you, you can then try the Find an apprenticeship – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) where current vacancies are available to apply for – mainly between Autumn and Spring each year.
For Degree Apprenticeships, UCAS has also launched its apprenticeship service, and can be found here: Apprenticeships | Learn About Apprenticeships And Find The Right One For You (ucas.com)
My organisation would like to employ an apprentice – what apprenticeships are available?
Employers can recruit an apprentice using the Government’s Recruit an Apprentice Service, with details available here: Recruit an apprentice – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Employers will always need to work with a training provider to deliver apprenticeship training, and to ensure apprentices are eligible to be on these programmes.
It is worth looking at the many occupations available via the IfATE website (Apprenticeship search / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education), and then checking who provides training for these (Apprenticeship training courses (education.gov.uk))
You can then get in touch with a training provider for the apprenticeship (follow the links) to discuss the next steps.
For more information on the steps for employing an apprentice, click here.
The Society supported the development and subsequent 2019 launch of the Level 6 Environmental Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship – the very first degree apprenticeship for the environment sector. The apprenticeship, or occupational standard, was created by an innovative Trailblazer Group chaired by industry, involving employer organisations from across private, public and voluntary sectors, in collaboration with professional institutions and universities across England
The Group state that “Environmental Practitioners will combine a high level of knowledge and understanding of environmental principles and techniques to complex environmental systems, with their expertise being developed, adaptable or transferable to a range of environmental specialisms, for example, environmental policy and legislation, air quality, climate change, energy, water resources, waste management, ecology, acoustics, land contamination, sustainability, landscape or heritage.”
Find out more about the Level 6 Environmental Practitioner degree apprenticeship »
An opportunity to achieve REnvP
Apprentices completing their Environmental Practitioner, that is gaining their degree and successfully completing their End Point Assessment, will be ideally placed to gain the Registered Environmental Practitioner (REnvP) registration, at level 5, due to the practical experience, and relevant knowledge, skills and professional behaviours obtained during their training. Find out more about the REnvP registration, here »
To discuss how the Society can contribute to your Trailblazer Group, please contact Geoff Atkins on [email protected]
