Apprenticeships - Overview

What are apprenticeships?
Apprenticeships are employer-based quality training programmes for school leavers, employed young people and adults. From April 2011 all new apprenticeship frameworks must meet the requirements of the Specification of Apprenticeship Standards for England (SASE).

There are three types of apprenticeship available to young people and adults - intermediate, advanced and higher apprenticeships. Apprenticeship programmes usually include:

• A vocational competence qualification
• A technical knowledge certificate (awarded by bodies such as City & Guilds EDI and ILM)
• Key skills (Communication, Application of Number, Information Technology)
• Employee rights and responsibilities
• Personal learning and thinking skills

Intermediate apprenticeships lead to a vocational qualification and technical knowledge certificate at Level 2 and advanced apprenticeships lead to the qualifications at Level 3. Higher apprenticeships lead to qualifications at Level 4 or 5.  Apprentices who successfully complete an apprenticeship may be able to move on to an advanced or higher apprenticeship as long as their job role is suitable.

QCF qualifications

NVQs being replaced by new vocational qualifications through the Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF).   By the end of 2011 the majority of vocational qualifications will be unitised qualifications offered through QCF.  QCF qualifications are awarded by organisations such as City & Guilds, Edexcel, EDI and IMI.

Knowledge Certificates
Knowledge certificates are qualifications assessing the specific occupational knowledge and understanding required for the related vocational qualification. They are usually delivered in a training centre away from the workplace, unlike vocational qualifications that are designed to be assessed in the workplace.

Knowledge certificates include an external assessment or examination consisting of one or more of the following:

• Case study work
• Multiple choice questions
• Centrally set projects
• Written tests

Once the candidate has passed the external examination they will receive a nationally recognised certificate from the relevant awarding organisation.

Key Skills
Key skills are an important part of apprenticeship programmes. They cover the basic skills people use every day when carrying out all kinds of tasks and activities, both at work, during training and at home. Key skills increase staff efficiency and motivation and help staff retention.

National Minimum Wage

From 1 October 2011 apprentices under 19, or in the first year of their apprenticeship, are entitled to a National Minimum Wage of £2.60 an hour.