New Joinery Apprenticeship Standard Almost Complete

Dave Campbell, BWF Marketing & Training Manager

The latest Apprenticeship ‘Trailblazer’ meeting on Monday (24^th November) saw us brief colleges and awarding bodies (such as City & Guilds, CSkills Awards etc) on what we expect them to deliver for employers.

The BWF’s WITForum has been working over the past few months to write the new Apprenticeship Standard for Bench Joinery – now to be called Architectural Joinery – in line with changes decreed from the Government.

The government wanted employers to directly lead the development of the new apprenticeship standards. An employer (known as the ‘trailblazer’) heads up a working group of employers to write the standard. Keith Tyson has represented the BWF/WITForum on this group, plus the latest addition of Andy Tompkins, the new member chair of the WITForum, and myself.

In short the following changes are believed to be accepted by government:

·         There will still be access to a two or three year apprenticeship in Architectural Joinery (the new name for Bench Joinery). This is also the case for Site Carpentry.

·         The NVQ will still be a component part of the apprenticeship, as a construction industry recognised measure of competence, and to keep in line with CSCS card requirements.

·         A standardised training qualification (the part delivered by colleges and awarded by awarding bodies) so that there is consistent delivery across the country in all colleges & training providers. The employer group will set the content, which will be translated into qualifications by awarding bodies, with final sign off by the employers’ group. BWF has strongly lobbied for this consistency, and have made it clear that awarding organisations that do not work collaboratively in producing the qualification, will not be included within the apprenticeship standard.

·         There will also be various assessments through the apprenticeship, administered by the training provider, along with a separate and independent end test to check the apprentice has retained the learning over the two/three year period. This will also be graded, most likely Pass, Merit and Distinction, allowing you to see the exceptional apprentices.

·         The apprentice will then need to be signed off via a ‘professional discussion’ with the apprentice, you as the employer, training provider and assessor. This effectively gives you the power to say that the apprentice is ready to pass. We are looking at a system where the BWF will issue the final Apprenticeship certificate.

The new standard is set to be more rigorous than previous computations of apprenticeships, meaning you can be more confident in the training you are receiving for your apprentices.

From 2017, using apprenticeships under the new standards will be the only way employers can claim funding. The exact mechanism for how this funding will be distributed is still in discussion with government, after fierce opposition from ourselves and other trade bodies, owing to proposals that would increase the administrative burden on employers to claim funding directly, rather than colleges drawing down funding on your behalf. We will keep you updated on funding changes when we here more.