Views on Policy Issues - Higher Apprenticeship (UK)
What do you think?
Semta represents the views of our employers across government
and the media. If you are an employer in the science,
engineering, or manufacturing technology sectors, we welcome your
views at policy@semta.org.uk
The issue
- Semta has developed a Higher Apprenticeship in Engineering
Technology, which comprises a NVQ Level 2(basic skills) Foundation
Degree (or HNC / HND / Bachelors Degree), NVQ Level 4, Key Skills
Level 3 and UK-Spec. It is ideally suited to high achieving
young people who are looking for an alternative to full-time higher
education. It is also a potential development framework for
adults moving into professional engineering roles in
companies.
- Funding for the programme has been particularly difficult to
arrange in England, where the different funding bodies (LSC and
HEFCE) have not effectively worked together to provide a seamless
funding stream. In Wales, the programme has had a much
smoother implementation, as the funding system was more
straightforward.
- Funding arrangements for the Higher Apprenticeship in
Engineering for England have only recently been finalised and the
process has been difficult.
- The Higher Apprenticeship is funded at the Advanced
Apprenticeship rate, which does not reflect the true costs of
delivering the learning and supporting the learner.
- Employers that have had difficulty accessing appropriate
funding up until now include; Honda, Nissan, Cobham Aerospace,
Prodrive, GE Avionics, British Sugar, Jaguar Landrover, Network
Rail, E-ON and numerous SME employers.
Semta Employers’ View [1]
- Semta’s employers invest up to £70,000 for each apprentice they
employ over three years of the Higher Apprenticeship
programme. They have been frustrated at the difficulty in
accessing appropriate funding in a standard manner across the UK,
to offset at least part of this investment. They feel that
their considerable effort in developing the programme with Semta,
and their ongoing substantial financial commitment to each student,
should be recognised.
- Employers are also concerned with the inevitable bureaucracy
involved in dealing with multiple funding bodies, and would prefer
to deal with a single funding body and single funding stream.
- Several employers are currently interested in offering the
Higher Apprenticeship including Honda, Cobham Aerospace, Prodrive,
GE Avionics, Jaguar Landrover, E-ON, Delphi Diesel Systems and
numerous SME employers but are currently dissuaded from doing
so by the funding issues in England. Semta believes there is
scope to significantly expand the programme if these issues were
addressed, both with young people entering the sector and adults
moving to more senior positions.
- The creation of the Higher Apprenticeship was in direct
response to employer need, but the difficulties faced in securing
UK-wide funding has demonstrated the lack of flexibility in the
current system to enable Semta to address these needs.
- If the programme is to expand to meet the needs of all
employers who could benefit from it, both the amount of funding and
process of applying for it will need to improve, otherwise
small firms and training providers will not engage.
- Employers who are currently engaged with the programme are
impressed by its rigour, its positive impact on recruitment, and
its close match with employer needs.
What is Semta doing?
- Semta has long been negotiating with funding bodies across the
UK to address the funding issues. In December 2008, Semta
received final approval to include the programme in the LSC funding
framework.
- Semta developed the framework and the content with a good cross
section of stakeholders including employers, Universities, FE
Colleges, training providers, trade associations, trade unions,
professional institutions and funding bodies. Semta
negotiated with providers (including universities) to ensure the
programme met employers’ needs and was attractive to potential
recruits. Semta will continue to do this, in consultation
with employers.
What else needs to be done?
- Funding bodies – funding for the Higher Apprenticeship
framework should be ring-fenced in each administration, enabling a
single point of contact for employers and providers.
- Government – public support and endorsement for such
initiatives, which are developed by SSCs in direct response to
employer needs.
- Government and funding bodies – consider increasing the funding
allocation for the Higher Apprenticeship, to reflect the true cost
and value of the development and delivery of the programme.
Evidence and facts
- 153 Higher Apprentices (Engineering Technology) are currently
on programme
- Higher Apprenticeship in Engineering Technology is current
being offered in SW and NW England and Wales
- Airbus UK, Rolls Royce and Lloyds Register are currently using
the Higher Apprenticeship in Engineering Technology
More information
The Higher Apprenticeship Framework on the Semta
website
Download this Policy View in Word here.
Back to Views on Policy
Issues
10 December 2008
Sources
[1] Semta employer views on the Higher Apprenticeship are
gathered from Semta’s 4 Nations Group and National Training
Frameworks Sub-Committee