Ann Francke, CEO of the CMI welcomed the launch of
the new programme, which brings together over 40 of the UK’s biggest employers and leading university business schools.
She said this was intended to address the fact that management “is still not regarded as a true profession” in its own right in the UK, noting the ‘accidental manager’ is recognised in virtually every public and private sector employer in the UK where managers are not properly trained when given additional management responsibilities.
“We do not set people up to succeed with that kind of attitude” currently, she added.
“Management is a set of skills that can be learned and it is best learned by combining on the job training with study of great principles of management and leadership. This programme allows people to do that”
This programmeAnn Francke added, would “allow people to earn while they learn and be a big boost to UK productivity.”
Melanie Nicholson, Director of Skills, Serco and Chair of the Trailblazer Employer Group, said that Serco had 1,400 apprentices in the UK based at 90 different sites. She said the Chartered Manager programme was a “robust, thorough quality qualification”.
Her message to other employers was simply “get involved” in this apprenticeship programme and “invest in the leaders of tomorrow”.
The programme is currently offered by 9 universities and Business Schools including BPP, University of Hertfordshire and Sheffield Hallam University. Two thirds of the costs of university fees are met through Government funding.
Harry King, a 19 year old Apprentice at Nestlé UK & Northern Ireland currently two months into the programme and studying at Sheffield Hallam University said it was “already adding value” not least because he was “getting functional experience”.
Fellow Nestlé apprentice Haleem Baker-Mir, aged 18, and said the programme attracted her because it offered three years of practical experience, a salary, professional recognition and a degree
Representing the financial services sector, the Head of the Apprenticeship Programme at Barclays Mike Thompson said they take on 500 apprentices each year usually as entry level with no qualifications. He added:
“We are very proud of the fact we are trailblazing this programme” among the financial services sector.
He said it was particularly exciting for an 18 year old recruit to know that by the time they are 21 they could well be managing their own high street branch as a result of the Chartered Manager degree apprenticeship. This builds on work Barclays already does with ex-service men and women looking to move into the financial sector after leaving the armed forces.
Jake McClure, Head of Apprenticeships for the Civil Service said there have already been over 10,000 people trained as apprentices in the civil service during the last 5-year Parliament with “tens of thousands” predicted over this Parliament between now and 2020.
He added it was “absolutely scandalous” that management was still not being treated as a profession in its own right and said that “the accidental manager phenomenon needs to be reversed” but that this programme will go a long way to eradicating it.
Jennifer Coupland, Deputy Director of the joint DfES/BIS Apprenticeships Unit, praised the CMI, employers and universities for setting up this programme so quickly. The Chartered Manager Trailblazer scheme is just one out of over 140 different schemes covering a wide range of sectors from aerospace engineering to surveying or managing a dental practice covering over 1000 employers.
She noted the success of the management apprenticeship:
“Given that I am the BIS and DfE official responsible for apprenticeship growth I am absolutely delighted to hear that over 200 employers and 15 higher education bodies have been involved so far in this apprenticeship and that you are anticipating over 1,000 starts across this next academic year. That is great start, thank you very much”
She urged stakeholders to “broaden out the programme to many more young people” to deliver real benefits to employers and apprentices alike. Encouraging employers to take part she explained that funding model set up was “a very good one” and added “please do think about coming on board”.
She added that this programme and others like it will help the Government build on the 2.4 million apprenticeships in the last 5 years and to help meet the Government’s policy of a further 3 million in this Parliament.
Petra Wilton, the CMI’s Director of Strategy & External Affairs concluded the event by praising the “incredible journey” in getting the
Chartered Manager apprenticeshipoff the ground since it was first suggested in the APPGM’s Commission on Management and Leadership and building on the recommendations of its Management 2020 report 18 months ago.
She called on employers to share good practice so people are fully aware of the scheme, to simplify it where possible and to encourage Government to offer “the full suite” of apprenticeships for people wanting a pathway for progression and the ability to study at levels 3, 4 and 5 rather than just degree level.