UK industry giants Cummins Turbo Technologies, MITIE and others are joining forces to address the major shortage of highly-skilled engineers which is impacting on sector growth and productivity.
The major engineering employers have committed to training the next generation of engineering talent within their existing workforce by supporting the new government-backed Higher Apprenticeship in Engineering Environmental Technologies which launched[1] last week [Thursday 7 March] at the Institution of Engineering and Technology in London, and will be available from June 2013.
Engineering has been identified by the government as a high-growth industry, and the impact of climate change and the Green Deal[2] mean that environmental engineering will be of particular importance to the UK economy. However, employer concerns about the acute shortfall of around 42,000[3] highly-skilled engineers, with severe under-representation amongst women, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups and those with disabilities, have prompted the development of the Higher Apprenticeship.
Lead Development Partner for the Higher Apprenticeship is City and Islington College, supported by Sector Skills Councils SEMTA, SummitSkills and Construction Industry Council (CIC) on behalf of Construction-Skills. The awarding body is Pearson. Employers including Babcock International, ICI, Dulux, MITIE and Balfour Beatty have played a key role in shaping the Higher Apprenticeship to ensure its relevance to the needs of a wide range of engineering-based businesses, from large employers to supply-chain SMEs. Industry bodies and diversity groups have also been consulted. A network of nine partner colleges across England, with strong specialisms in engineering, will offer the Apprenticeship initially, with more colleges and training providers expected.
The government has provided £25 million to help employers train more of their workforce to gain qualifications at Level 4 and above, helping them to foster innovation and attract the most promising new talent. The Higher Apprenticeship in Engineering Environmental Technologies is primarily aimed at craftspeople and technicians working in roles that include environmental engineering across the Construction, Building Services and Manufacturing industries. It is also open to potential employees with relevant qualifications.
Testing knowledge and competence, the Higher Apprenticeship combines high-quality, professional-level training and flexible delivery. It encompasses a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) and a Higher National Certificate (HNC) at Level 4, Functional Skills (English, Maths and ICT), Employee Rights and Responsibilities, and Personal Learning and Thinking Skills. The Higher Apprenticeship’s Construction and Manufacturing pathways also include a research project. In the future, professional body recognition and progression to further Higher Education study can be achieved. Many people in crafts or junior technician roles in the three sectors identified will already be on Intermediate or Advanced Apprenticeship programmes. This Higher Apprenticeship is a straightforward continuation of that ‘earning while learning’ programme.
Successful completion of the Higher Apprenticeship qualifies apprentices for roles such as Construction Technical Supervisor, Supply Chain Technician, Contract Manager or Manufacturing Engineer, earning a potential salary of up to £33,000[4].
Funding will be available to employers through the Skills Funding Agency with the size of contribution dependent on sector, size of business and the apprentice’s age. A £1,500 grant is available for SMEs employing up to 1,000 employees who have not employed an apprentice in the last twelve months.
Speaking at the launch event today, Trevor Hunter, Deputy Director for Higher Apprenticeships at City and Islington College, said: “This new Higher Apprenticeship will play a pivotal role in upskilling the current Construction, Building Services and Manufacturing workforce where skills shortages are challenging businesses of all sizes. “It will create the next generation of talented technicians, supervisors and managers who will be able to address future environmental issues, and without whom, these industries and the wider UK economy will struggle to grow. We know that the employers that have been consulted and involved in its development view it as beneficial to their businesses, to staff progression and retention, and to long-term growth.”
Professor John M. Allport, Engineering Training and Talent Development Leader at Cummins Turbo Technologies says: “Higher Apprenticeships are an important strand in the provision of the workforce for tomorrow, where a diverse range of skills will be needed which cannot be provided through a single educational channel. We need to look at the overall abilities of young people, not just academic, but practical and soft skills as well. This Higher Apprenticeship will give students the ability to meet the future needs of companies such as Cummins which are committed to reducing their carbon footprint through environmental technologies.”
Pete Mosley, Managing Director at MITIE’s Technical Facilities Management division says: “We’re delighted to have helped shape the Higher Apprenticeship and the standards for training in the sector. MITIE has a long standing commitment to training and Apprenticeships, and we believe that giving people opportunities to train, grow and develop in their careers is integral to our on-going success as a business. We are excited to have been able to help shape this new qualification so that it is relevant to business and can provide ambitious apprentices with the skills to progress in their chosen career.”
Paul Jackson, EngineeringUK Chief Executive, said: “Engineering is central to the UK’s economy, and environmental technologies represent a wealth of opportunity, from offshore wind and new energy harvesting devices through to software solutions for sustainability management. Our research highlights the need for more recruits into engineering if we are to take advantage of these opportunities and the Higher Apprenticeship’s business-backed model of academic and hands-on training will play an important role in safeguarding the UK economy and a home-grown future workforce.”
To register an interest in the Higher Apprenticeship in Engineering Environmental Technologies or for further information, visit www.futureengineeringtalent.co.uk or call 0207 700 9419.
