APHC seeking apprenticeship survey responses

Employers in the plumbing and heating industries are being invited to have a say on the reform of apprenticeships.

Last month, the government published a report entitled Guidance for Developers of Apprenticeship Standards and related Assessment Plans, which outlined opportunities for employers to help design new apprenticeship standards and assessments for their industry areas.

Working with groups of employers, government officials have been consulting on the overhaul of apprenticeships as part of the Trailblazers project, with the third phase announced in October.

The plumbing and heating industries are being assessed during this latest phase, along with dozens of other sectors, with a view to establishing more than 75 new standards.

Within plumbing and heating, ten firms have collaborated to produce a live survey, which is open for plumbing employers to complete; the results of the study will shape apprenticeships over the coming years.

Announcing the latest phase of the project, skills minister Nick Boles congratulated the plumbing and heating employer group for its key role in shaping new, top-quality apprenticeships for the future. Employers and industry partners are working together to ensure people and businesses have the necessary skills, he said.

Among the companies in the collaborative group is E C Merrett Ltd, Arthur Padgett Ltd and Seddon Construction Ltd. Seddon is the lead employer within the group and representative Robert Moss explained that the survey is open to all plumbing and heating firms, including sole traders.

“The detail provided on the work you carry out will prove invaluable in helping us to best determine future industry requirements for apprenticeships,” he added.

Industry body the Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (APHC) said that the most important aspect of the development process is allowing employers the key role in redesigning apprenticeships so that the end qualification serves the industry and workers alike.

Graeme Dryden, technical manager at APHC, added that this new approach to developing traineeships would allow apprenticeships in England to become “truly world leading”.

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