Apprenticeships - a new breed

We are delighted to share details of the great work that our employers have asked us to do with regard to apprenticeships within the sector. In these exciting times apprenticeships are beginning to add real value in helping employers address the skills challenges they are facing with a new breed of employee. We’re proud to be a part of that revolution and to ‘be the change we wish to see’ as apprenticeships grow in quantity, and importantly, quality.

We celebrated the achievement of the first Court, Tribunal and Prosecution Administration apprentice from the frameworkwe co-developed with employers. For the very first time the justice sector has a bespoke nationally recognised qualification to support work in courts and tribunals. And it doesn’t stop there. The apprenticeship is one part of the bigger plan to have a clear framework of vocational qualifications for the justice sector workforce. It provides a work based entry route into specific occupations within court, tribunal and prosecution services and is an additional means to develop the skills of the existing workforce to meet current and future challenges.

In fire and rescue emergency fire service pperations, apprentices are on the increase. Growing from just 20 in 10-11, we saw 120 people start this key apprenticeship last year. We’re also looking forward to developing a new bespoke Community Fire Safety Apprenticeship framework. This will support community fire aafety advisors to engage, educate and support local communities to help them to take more preventative action against fire related incidents. The apprenticeship will be underpinned by recently accredited National Occupational Standards (NOS) that Skills for Fire and Rescue has developed with employers, and mapped to employer recognised qualifications. This now provides an opportunity for fire and rescue services and private fire services, to use apprenticeships more in developing their future workforce.

In HM Forces the British Army saw the first five Non Commissioned Officers(NCO) in the Royal Military Police successfully pass the new Skills for Justice developed a pprenticeship, with flying colours. The scheme is now used for all RMP recruits, estimated at 135 per annum. The qualifications built into the apprenticeship are based on the Policing National Occupational Standards (NOS) suite developed by Skills for Justice, which provides employers in a variety of sectors with clear nationally recognised standards to ensure a person is fully competent within their role. The apprenticeship gives participants additional functional skills which are transferable and valued by employers outside the forces.

In legal services apprenticeships are changing the face of the industry forever. Skills for Justice was asked to work with a range of key stakeholders to develop the apprenticeship architecture for the sector. This has already become the foundation of a game changing strategy that law firms can and are using to their advantage. Many in the sector see the developments as the start of what could ultimately be a series of vocational routes right the way through to being a solicitor.

And finally, practicing what we preach, One and a half years on, our very own Apprentice, Kirsten Lesliehas completed her level 2 NVQ in Business Administration and is now working towards level 3 in a new role as personal assistant to members of the senior management team.

Read more about National Apprenticeship Week and the work of Skills for Justice on this dedicated section on the website .