Employer Guide
The following information will provide employers with information about Apprenticeships, and how they can benefit their companies.
What is an Apprenticeship
Apprenticeships are government-funded schemes designed for young people aged 16+. The Cambridgeshire Learning and Skills Council (LSC) funds the college's apprenticeship programmes.
Sponsored Training
Most of the funded training is for 16 to 18 year olds; there are limited places for 19+, funding is reduced for this age group and employers are required to make a fee contribution. Apprenticeships include both on and off-the-job training. At Peterborough Regional College, we work collaboratively with employers to deliver the job training and qualifications that an apprentice needs to complete their apprenticeship framework.
Normally, an apprentice will spend four days a week with their employer obtaining the practical skills and job knowledge necessary for their chosen occupation. One day a week will be spent at college doing practical tasks, learning necessary job theory and developing key employment skills.
All apprentices have an agreed training plan. An apprenticeship is a contract between the Employer, the Apprentice, the College and the LSC.
Training is fully sponsored for 16 to 18 year old apprentices, however, employers are asked to make a contribution towards mandatory external tests for all 16+ electricians and plumbers.
To complete a plumbing apprenticeship an external gas assessment has to be taken.
Electrical installation apprentices have to undertake an external achievement measurement/practical performance assessment test.
Apprenticeship Frameworks
Apprenticeships are available for many vocational occupations. They all have set time frames for completion.
For example:
An Apprenticeship at Level 2 in Business Administration will take one year to achieve.
An Advanced Apprenticeship in Engineering will take between three and four years to achieve.
All apprenticeships have a framework that has been developed specially for the relevant occupation.
Frameworks consist of:
- A National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) at Level 2 or Level 3
- A Technical Certificate (not required for some apprenticeships)
- Key Skills
- Employment Rights and Responsibilities (ERR)
Staff in our Apprenticeship Centre will be able to advise about framework content for the apprenticeship programmes that we offer.
How to contact the Apprenticeship Centre
Content of Level 2 Apprenticeships and Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeships
Level 2 Apprenticeships contain:
- An occupational NVQ at Level 2
- A Technical Certificate (some programmes do not include this)
- Key Skills
Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeships Contain:
- An occupational NVQ at Level 3
- A Technical Certificate
- Key Skills
The apprenticeship programmes that the college offers can be found on the link below.
National Vocational Qualifications contain:
- The standards required for an occupation
- The competencies required to do a job
- A breakdown of the contents of jobs within an occupation, into tasks called units of competence
- The performance criteria required to do jobs and tasks
Technical Certificates contain:
- The theoretical knowledge required in an occupation
- Knowledge that underpins the performance criteria of the NVQ
Key Skills are:
Fundamental skills required in everyday life and work. Apprentices need to develop these skills so that they become effective members of a flexible, adaptable and competitive workforce.
They are comprised of:
- An external test/examination
- A portfolio of evidence showing that skills have been applied
Key Skills that could be required in both the Level 2 and Advanced Apprenticeships are:
- *Application of Number
- *Communication
- *Information Technology
- Personal Skills - Improving Own Learning and/or Working with Others
Key Skills at either Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 are required as components of apprenticeship frameworks.
*These are the common skills that apply to most aprrenticeship frameworks. If apprentices have achieved an A* to C in English, Maths or IT, they may be exempt from the Level 1 or Level 2 key skills requirements of their respective framework.
How Apprenticeships can help your Business
They can:
- Provide a source of enthusiastic and talented young people
- Help you to solve your skills shortages
- Train employees to high occupational standards
- Save you money by providing funded training packages
- Help you to plan for the future
How Employers contribute to Apprenticeships
- By offering employment with sponsored training to a young person
- Supporting an apprentice throughout their training
- Working in collaboration with the college
- Making a fee contribution towards the training of 19 plus apprentices and external assessments, for apprentice electricians and plumbers
- Participating in quality training to develop highly skilled and effective employees
Employers are expected to:
- Employ their apprentice throughout the duration of their training and beyond
- Provide their apprentice with a contract of employment
- Agree and sign a training plan for their apprentice with the college
- Ensure a safe and healthy working environment
- Ensure their apprentice is properly supervised at work
- *Pay their apprentice an appropriate/nationally agreed rate for the job (a minimum of £80 per week, £95.00 from August 2009 is a requirement)
- Provide relevant work tasks so that their apprentice can achieve the necessary NVQ competencies
- Collaborate with college staff and participate in reviewing their apprentice's progress
- Provide opportunities for college assessors to undertake work-based assessments
- Provide witness testimonies/statements of their apprentice's work competence
- Provide a mentor for their apprentice in the workplace
Equal Opportunities
The College is committed to ensuring that the training opportunities that it offers, are designed to meet the needs of all those who are eligible for its services.
Employers are expected to have in place, systems and policies that do not discriminate either directly or indirectly on the basis of ethnic origin, gender, disability or sexual orientation.
* The National Minimum Wage
This does not apply to young people aged 16 to 18 years. If an apprentice is 18 at the start of their training, they have to be on an apprenticeship programme for a year before the national minimum wage will apply. It will then be payable at a specified rate.
What you can expect from the College
- The management of the whole apprenticeship training process
- A specialist recruitment service; qualified Training and Placement Advisers will interview and select suitable young people to refer to you
- Staff with a variety of commercial/industrial backgrounds who are able to meet your company's training needs
- Qualified staff to train and assess your apprentice
- A dedicated Training and Placement Adviser to support your apprentice throughout their programme
- Training that leads to a recognised vocational award/qualification i.e. from Edexcel, City & Guilds, IMI or OCR
- On-going advice, guidance and support from a Training and Placement Adviser and teaching staff
How to contact the Apprenticeship Centre
Staff in the Apprenticeship Centre can be contacted personally to provide help and arrange a training advice interview.