The Quality Alliance of regulatory bodies has unveiled its Quality Strategy for Apprenticeships - aiming to ensure high standards in the design and delivery of apprenticeships.
The Quality Alliance is convened and Chaired by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education and includes the Education and Skills Funding Agency, Ofsted, Ofqual, Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) and the Office for Students (OfS). The Association of Employment and Learning Providers and the Association of Colleges, the Federation of Awarding Bodies (FAB) and Universities UK also attend and contribute to meetings as observers.
Sir Gerry Berragan, Chief Executive of the Institute, said: “The Quality Strategy was carefully developed with our partners on the Quality Alliance and amounts to a comprehensive commitment to ensuring that apprenticeship training and end point assessments are first rate. This is a major step forward for establishing the highest level of quality we expect from all apprenticeships.”
Education Secretary Damian Hinds said: “Apprenticeships alongside new T Levels and A Levels will be the gold standard choice for young people after their GCSE’s. We have made great progress to improve the quality of apprenticeships and it is vital that apprentices, parents and employers continue to trust and have confidence in them. The launch of the Quality Strategy is an important step and will make sure we continue to deliver apprenticeships of the highest quality, so more people can progress in their careers and employers can access the skilled workforce they need.”
Progression
The Quality Strategy stresses the shared ambition that employers should design and approve apprenticeships that have at their heart progression and transferability of skills and clearly explain the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for apprentices to be competent in their work. It also states there must be 'effective and meaningful on-going dialogue' between the apprentice, employer, training provider and end-point assessment organisation so that all parties are aware of whether they are on track and how to raise concerns if they are not.
University College of Estate Management launches Level 3 Facilities Management Supervisor apprenticeship
UCEM is offering its first apprenticeship in Facilities Management. The first programme to launch will be the Level 3 FM Supervisor apprenticeship, with the first intake due to start in June 2019.
The programme will be of interest to all types of organisation in the public and private sector that employ FM teams to manage their workplaces. It will also be relevant to companies that provide outsourced FM services to clients.
Apprentices who successfully complete the programme will be awarded the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM) Level 3 Diploma in Facilities Management and will also meet the qualifying criteria for Associate Membership of the IWFM.
Chuffed
Stephen Bartle, Director – Commercial and Business Development, said: “UCEM has been delivering apprenticeships for over three years and now has more than 900 apprentices on programme. In response to requests from our clients, we are starting to broaden the range of programmes we offer to help them address their workforce development needs.
"We are chuffed to now be working with IWFM and partner employers to offer our second Level 3 apprenticeship programme.”
Enactus/Sodexo to encourage students
In February of this year, Sodexo announced a partnership with Enactus UK, a social enterprise and educational charity that works with students to encourage the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders and social innovators. Each year, Enactus in 36 countries works with 72,000 students across the world to create programmes and competitions that help them to develop their leadership skills.
Mental health support
A programme will see student enterprise teams from some of the country’s leading universities compete in projects focused on a theme developed the pairing. With the wellbeing of students a priority area for Sodexo, particularly considering the new pressures and challenges that come with starting university, the first project in the programme will focus on mental health support.
Teams of students have developed concepts to create real-life social enterprises on this theme. The winning project will be entered into the Enactus UK national competition in London in April.
Business Advisors
Another element of the partnership will see a team of Sodexo business advisors supporting Enactus across the UK. They will visit their local universities and offer mentoring and advice students as they approach graduation and enter the commercial world.
Picture: Sodexo and Enactus UK will work with students.
Article written by Brian Shillibeer
Courtesy of This Week in FM (www.twinfm.com)
