Latest News Articles from SmartAssessor.com

Functional Skills Guide for Apprentices from AELP

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Ofsted report on high performing apprenticeship providers

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NAS Quality Action Plan – now published

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A document detailing how the government will improve the quality of the apprenticeship programme has now been published.

The Quality Action Plan, drawn up by the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS), includes a number of measures to improve the content and delivery of frameworks.

The internal document, which includes no dates for implementation, was called for by the skills minister John Hayes following the introduction of statutory standards for apprenticeships.

Click here to view the NAS Quality Action Plan

Minimum durations for all apprenticeships

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Tougher standards introduced by Skills Minister to drive up quality

Apprenticeships will last for a minimum of 12 months guaranteeing improvements in training and workplace learning, Skills Minister John Hayes announced today.
The new standards will come into force for all age groups from August 2012, subject to consultation with providers and employers, as a further measure to drive up quality.

For those aged 19 and over apprenticeships will last between one to four years unless prior learning or attainment has been recorded. Apprenticeships for 16-18 year olds will last a minimum of 12 months without exception.

Mr Hayes said:

“The momentum we have created by building the apprenticeship brand has brought about unprecedented success for the apprenticeship programme.

“The majority of apprenticeships are the gold standard in vocational training. They boost individuals’ life chances and build the skills that drive growth.

"They also provide a great return on public money. This has been independently recognised with the National Audit Office finding that apprenticeships generating £18 for the economy for every £1 spent.

“But we must be relentless in our drive to ensure all apprenticeships are as good as the best, to identify and root out any instances of poor quality provision, and to raise the bar on standards.

“We are taking strong and decisive action to tackle short duration so all apprentices receive high quality training and workplace learning setting them on the road to a long, rewarding career.”

David Way, Chief Executive of the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS), said:

“I am pleased that we have taken time to get the best possible way forward on apprenticeship duration so that we can ensure confidence in all apprenticeships. We listened very carefully to messages from colleges and training providers at the National Quality Conference last week.

“A clear expectation has been set that an apprenticeship involves a significant amount of new learning delivered over sufficient time to practice and master skills in employment. There is greater flexibility here than for younger apprentices because older apprentices typically have more skills they have acquired.

“We need to ensure that all apprenticeships are high quality. By ensuring they last between one and four years, we are not only giving employers what they say they want but also giving confidence back to everyone who has questioned the growth in shorter apprenticeships.”

This announcement builds upon a series of major reforms announced in recent months to drive up quality and standards and ensure every apprenticeship meets the rigorous standards apprentices and employers expect.

These include:

· National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) and the Skills Funding Agency’s comprehensive review of all short duration programmes has already resulted in significant improvements to many apprenticeships and the withdrawal of inadequate sub-contracted provision

· New safeguards are being put in place to strengthen monitoring, reporting and subcontracting arrangements, including requiring subcontractors to be regulated through the Register of Training Organisations in the same way as prime contractors

· New contracts will ensure that training providers not only act according to regulations, but also within the spirit of the apprenticeship programme

· A new ‘enquiry panel’ has been established, reporting directly to the Minister, to manage poor quality providers as soon as they are reported.

Also today a new grant to encourage small and medium sized businesses to take on apprentices will be made available.

The NAS is offering up to 40,000 Apprenticeship Grants to small and medium sized businesses (employing less than 250 employees), to the value of £1,500, that recruit their first apprentice aged 16 to 24 years old.

Notes to Editors

1. In December John Hayes announced that from August 2012, all apprenticeships for 16-18 year olds will be for a minimum of 12 months. Today’s announcement extends this to 19+ apprenticeships, unless prior learning is recorded and funding reduced accordingly.

2. All apprenticeships are expected to be between one to four years, in line with the duration stated in the individual framework. However, we recognise that some adults may have prior learning and attainment which means they may be able to complete their apprenticeship in less time. So we will introduce a minimum duration of 12 months, unless prior learning is recorded and reduced funding is claimed as a result.

3. No provider will be able to claim the full amount of funding otherwise available for an apprenticeship completing in less than 12 months. Even with proven and documented prior learning, the duration must never fall below 6 months - providers will not ever be able to claim the achievement element of an Apprenticeship with a duration of less than six months in any circumstances.

4. BIS's online newsroom contains the latest press notices, speeches, as well as video and images for download. It also features an up to date list of BIS press office contacts. See http://www.bis.gov.uk/newsroom for more information.

Employer Guide for Apprentices from CIPD Smart Assessor e-portfolio update for Apprentices

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This is a really great guide for employers from the Chartered Institute for Personnel Development but is also useful for training providers, for example A contract of apprenticeship cannot be terminated on the grounds of redundancy, falling short of closure or fundamental change in the employer’s enterprise (Wallace v CA Roofing Services Ltd [1996] IRLR 435). If you did try to terminate the relationship early, you could face a claim for damages for wrongful dismissal due to breach of contract, both for the loss of wages for the rest of the term and for compensation for the
loss of training and status (Dunk v George Waller & Son Ltd [1970] QB 163, 169).

CIPD Employer Guide

Skills Funding Agency Subcontractor Register 2011/12 from Smart Assessor

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In line with the intentions of the Government’s Transparency Agenda, the Skills Funding Agency have published a list of subcontractors with an aggregate contract value of £100,000 and over, together with details of their lead provider.

The list is compiled from information submitted by lead providers and is a snapshot taken at 10 January 2012.

Click here to view the supplier list

Apprentice Success rates for 2010/11

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Apprenticeship framework achievements have increased steadily since 2006/07, both for Intermediate Level Apprenticeships and Advanced Level Apprenticeships

Total Government-funded Apprenticeship Starts and Framework Achievements by Level

The total volume of Apprenticeship starts in 2010/11 was 457,200

This was an increase of 63.5 per cent compared to 2009/10. Of these there were:

• 301,100 Intermediate Level Apprenticeship starts, a 58.1 per cent increase on 2009/10;
• 153,900 Advanced Level Apprenticeship starts, a 75.5 per cent increase on 2009/10.
• 2,200 Higher Apprenticeship starts, a 47.8 per cent increase on 2009/10;

• Learners under the age of 19 started 131,700 Apprenticeship frameworks, a 12.8 per cent increase on 2009/10
• Learners aged 19–24 started 143,400 Apprenticeship frameworks, a 26.1 per cent increase on 2009/10
• Learners aged 25 and over started 182,100 Apprenticeship frameworks, more than three times the volume compared to 2009/10

Framework Achievements

The total volume of Apprenticeship framework achievements in 2010/11 was 200,300. This was an increase of 16.8 per cent compared to 2009/10. Of these there were:

• 131,700 Intermediate Level Apprenticeship framework achievements, a 17.8 percent increase on 2009/10;
• 67,500 Advanced Level Apprenticeship framework achievements, a 13.6 percent increase on 2009/10.
• 1,000 Higher Apprenticeship framework achievements, up from 200 in 2009/10;

• Learners aged under 19 achieved 83,300 Apprenticeship frameworks, a 14.1 percent increase on 2009/10
• Learners aged 19–24 achieved 77,000 Apprenticeship frameworks, a 20.0 per cent increase on 2009/10
• Learners aged 25 and over achieved 39,900 Apprenticeship frameworks, a 16.6 per cent increase on 2009/10

In May 2010, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills announced that it would fund 50,000 new adult (aged 19 and over) Apprenticeship starts in the 2010- 11 financial year (running from April 2010 to March 2011).

The Statistical First Release presents academic year statistics, but the underlying data can be used to calculate financial year statistics. In the October SFR the provisional data for Apprenticeships showed that the department had achieved the ambition of 50,000 additional adult Apprenticeship starts over the 2010-11 financial year (or 203,200 in total), by delivering 256,100 adult Apprenticeship starts. Final data re-affirm that the department met the ambition; 255,600 adult Apprenticeships starts were delivered during the 2010-11 financial year.

CFA and CIPD develop higher apprenticeship in HR management

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To read the full article by David Woods, click the link below

http://www.hrmagazine.co.uk/hro/news/1020761/cfa-cipd-develop-apprenticeship-hr-management

Further 19 colleges to benefit from Enhanced Renewal Grant

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Their proposals exceeded the Agency’s quality threshold but could not be funded with the main allocation, revealed in December, of £100 million.

The Agency says it has been able to “re-prioritise its own budgets” to fund these 19 new projects, which amount to just under £29 million.

Geoff Russell said: “We are delighted that we can provide Enhanced Renewal Grant allocations to an additional 19 colleges.

“These grants are part of our continuing support and commitment to colleges and the modernisation of the FE estate.

“This investment reflects the crucial role that further education colleges have to play in providing skills to young people, adults and businesses, providing regeneration to local communities and the economy.”

The Agency received more than 129 applications totalling more than £200 million, for the initial fund.

The 19 colleges that will now receive an Enhanced Renewal Grant are:

Abingdon and Witney College
Berkshire College of Agriculture
Bury College
City College Plymouth
Dudley College
Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education
Henley College Coventry
Knowsley Community College
Lancaster and Morecambe College
Leek College of Further Education & School of Art
Leicester College
North Hertfordshire College
Oxford and Cherwell Valley College
Plumpton College
South Devon College
Stafford College
Truro and Penwith College
Westminster Kingsway College
Wiltshire College

For information on the full article visit http://tinyurl.com/8yw6yzz

Cameron and Clegg praise McDonald's as it creates 2,500 new UK jobs

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The Prime Minister praised McDonald’s for the initiative and its record on staff training. Mr Cameron said: "I am delighted to welcome McDonald's announcement of new jobs. McDonald's has a great record in investing in the UK and providing excellent training, apprenticeships and opportunities for its staff."

Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, who is visiting a McDonald’s training centre in North London said: "It is fantastic news that McDonald's is creating 2,500 new jobs in the UK - and that over half of these posts will go to young people.

"McDonald's has an excellent reputation for developing its staff with training and apprenticeship programmes. This invests valuable time and resources to help young people, with little or no experience in the world of work, to develop their skills and confidence.

"In the end, that gives young people a terrific opportunity to move up within the company, or use their experience and training to move into other jobs.

"It's a telling fact that half of McDonald's current board have progressed from the shop floor to the top floor, having started their careers serving customers in the restaurant."

A recent report by McDonald’s on their economic footprint in Europe claims that the company contributed €9.5 billion to the European economy in 2010 and that 82 per cent of McDonald’s European workforce receives 40 hours of training a year.

Jill McDonald, chief executive officer of McDonald's UK, said: "Despite these difficult economic conditions, our continued emphasis on good quality food at affordable prices, and improving the experience for our customers and our people, has meant that we are able to continue to invest in the business and create jobs."

Click here for the full article http://tinyurl.com/87kdfj2