Spec Finish

Skills www.thefis.org 11 When you embark on the quest to recruit it is worth considering what qualification options there are available to your new employees. APPRENTICESHIPS ACROSS THE UK F IS has 35 training provider members up and down the country offering training, qualifications and apprenticeships from trades to senior management. To locate a member who may be able to assist with your training needs visit the FISTraining Directory at www.thefis.org/member- directory/?businesstype=training-provider . Many of the training organisations operate nationally and will deliver the necessary training onsite. Apprenticeships It appears that apprenticeships are the way the government and devolved governments prefer employers to go, it’s where all the funding is being placed to reduce the cost for employers. So, what exactly is available across the UK: England Apprentices are aged 16 or over and combine working with studying for a work-based qualification from trade to degree level. Apprentices can be new or existing employees. There are a total 806 apprenticeship standards listed on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education website www.instituteforapprenticeships.org These apprenticeships have all been developed by employer-led groups. The Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) provides the funding for the cost of the apprenticeship training and end-point assessment. Employers pay five percent of the total costs. If your organisation employs less than 50 people the government will pay a hundred percent of the costs. The standards provide apprenticeships at four levels: Intermediate, Advanced, Higher, and Degree. All apprenticeship standards have three main components, which require evidence and competence for successful achievement: Skills, Knowledge and Behaviours (SKBs). All apprentices are required to complete functional skills in maths and english, although exemptions for prior attainment may apply. When training is complete apprentices are tested in an end-point assessment (EPA). An independent organisation, approved by the ESFA, conduct an end-point assessment of each apprentice so that all apprentices following the same standard are assessed consistently and independently from the training provider. The current standards we believe are most applicable to the finishes and interiors sector are: • Carpentry and Joinery with options for Architectural joiner or Site Carpenter • Advanced Carpentry and Joinery with options for Advanced architectural joiner or Advanced site carpenter • Interior Systems Installer with options for Dryliner or Ceiling and partitions installer • Plasterer with options for Solid plasterer or Fibrous plasterer • Construction Site Supervisor • Construction Site Manager (Degree) • Construction Quantity Surveying Technician • Construction Quantity Surveyor • Construction Design and Build Technician Scotland The choice is greater as they have retained their apprentice frameworks with a link to vocational qualifications or, to be precise, Scottish Vocational Qualifications. The Apprenticeships that are available are the Modern, Foundation and Graduate Level. Modern Apprenticeships are jobs for existing or new employees that lead to industry-recognised qualifications. These apprenticeships are open to anyone aged over 16, with the funding contribution towards the cost of training, prioritised to 16-to-24-year-olds and aligned to Scottish Government priorities. A small number are available to older people. For each apprenticeship employers and apprentices work with a training provider. These training providers are contracted by Skills Development Scotland, which pays a contribution towards the costs of training. As well as the Modern Apprenticeships, Foundation and Graduate Level Apprenticeships are also available. Foundation Apprenticeships mean young people can start work-based learning at school, and employers can prepare future employees for the world of work. Pupils in S5, the penultimate year of school education, can complete elements of a Modern Apprenticeship alongside their other studies, such as Highers. The Foundation Apprenticeships take two years to complete, with pupils spending part of the week out of school, getting hands- on experience at college, and with local employers in their chosen industry. Graduate Level Apprenticeships provide work-based learning opportunities up to Master’s degree level for employees. Created in partnership with industry and the further and higher education sector, these apprenticeships combine academic knowledge with skills development to enable participants to become more effective and productive in the workplace. Learners can progress to the highest level of professional qualifications with a range of entry and exit points from a Higher National Diploma (SCQF level 8) to a Master’s degree (SCQF level 11). The Scottish Apprenticeship Advisory Board (SAAB) gives employers and the industry a leading role in developing apprenticeships in Scotland. The Board ensures apprenticeships meet industry and economic needs, fair work, and job opportunities. Wales Apprentices work alongside experienced employees to gain job-specific skills, while studying towards a nationally recognised qualification from an approved college or training provider. The employer will cover the apprentice’s wages, while the Welsh Government offers support with training costs. The Apprenticeships that are available are the Foundation Apprenticeships and Higher. Northern Ireland Apprenticeships are work-based programmes designed around the needs of employers offering recognised training and qualifications to new and existing employees aged 16 and over. A Higher Apprenticeship pilot programme is also underway. George Swann, FIS Skills and Training Lead