Designed by employers for employers, an Apprenticeship is a work-based learning programme that is aimed at young people between the ages of 16 and 24. Some Apprenticeship programmes are also available for adults over the age of 24.
All Apprentices follow an ‘Apprenticeship Framework’. This framework, as a minimum, consists of an NVQ/QCF and a variety of Key Skills/Functional Skills. Technical certificates are also a requirement of some apprenticeship frameworks.
There are two framework levels available. As well as an Apprenticeship, which enables people to attain qualifications at Level 2, there is also an Advanced Apprenticeship, which enables people to develop skills at Level 3 or 4.
Apprenticeship Framework
- NVQ/QCF Level 2
- Key Skills/Functional Skills Level 1 / 2
- Technical Certificate
- Employment Rights and Responsibilities
Advanced Apprenticeship Framework
- NVQ/QCF Level 3 / 4
- Key Skills/Functional Skills Level 2 / 3
- Technical Certificate
- Employment Rights and Responsibilities
Aims of the Apprenticeship
- to provide a quality vocational route for a progressive career;
- to offer an alternative to full-time study for those who have the ability and motivation to go on to higher qualifications;
- to provide a training framework that covers enough areas to guarantee quality and consistency;
- to be flexible enough to meet the needs of different industries;
- to benefit employers by attracting well-motivated people to industry, and
- to follow your development plans for the future.
Vocational areas
GP delivers NVQs/QCFs and apprenticeships and offers tasters and work placements (for e2e) in the following areas.
- Business Administration
- Customer Service
- Retail
- Care
- Management
- Child Care
- Team Leading
NVQ/QCF levels
NVQs/QCFs and apprenticeships are available at different levels to meet learner’s individual needs.
- Level 1 Basic industry skills
- Level 2 Enhanced industry skills
- Level 3 Supervisory and management
- Level 4 Middle management
- Level 5 Senior management
Competence is demonstrated through the collection of evidence and demonstration of knowledge within a diverse set of situations within the workplace.
Skills for Life
Learners on our train to gain programmes are given the opportunity to improve their literacy and numeracy skills through the achievement of a recognised qualification at either entry level, level 1 or 2.
Competence is demonstrated through passing a literacy and numeracy test.
Key Skills
Learners may be required to complete Key Skills at either entry level, level 1, 2 or 3 depending on what programme they are following.
- Communication
- Application of Numbers
- Information Technology
- Working with Others
- Improving Own Learning
- Problem Solving
Competence is demonstrated through the collection of evidence and through achievement of the Key Skills test. Key Skills are essential to any position within an organisation and a Key Skills certificate proves individual competence in these areas.
Functional Skills
From September 2010 onwards Key Skills will be replaced by new Maths and English Functional Skills which learners may be required to complete at either entry level, level 1 or 2 depending on what programme they are following.
- Speaking and Listening
- Reading and Writing
- ICT
Competence is demonstrated over time through the learner's ability to prove how they use these skills in a working or every day environment and the achievement of a functional skills test.
Technical Certificate
The term “Technical Certificate” is a generic term for knowledge-based vocationally related qualifications that will be delivered alongside NVQs/QCFs in Apprenticeship Frameworks. The Technical Certificate will support the learning required for the NVQ/QCF and provide a basis for progression.
How will the Technical Certificate be assessed?
Technical certificate knowledge will be externally assessed through tests arranged through our local GP centres.
Employment Rights and Responsibilities
Employment Rights and Responsibilities (ERR) covers a range of knowledge requirements relative to your employment situation and occupational section and often includes the following.
- Working hours and holiday (annual leave) entitlements
- Sickness absence and sick pay
- Legislative frameworks in the sector
- Representative bodies
- Contracts of employment
- Data protection
- Sources of information and advice
- Your role in the organisation and industry
- Sources of information and advice on your occupation
- Principles, policies and codes of practice
- Career development
- Issues of public concern
Competence is achieved through demonstration of knowledge and the completion of a sector specific induction check list.
Employers will benefit from:
- Employer responsiveness training through potential full or partial government subsidy
- Increased skill level
- More highly motivated staff
- Improvements in the quality of service to customers
- New ideas for future development
- Employees are more loyal to their employer if they are allowed to develop by acquiring a National Qualification
Employees/learners will benefit from:
- A clear understanding of their responsibilities
- The development of new skills
- The recognition of existing skills
- Opportunities to improve service to customers
- Improvements to working practice
