New Water Apprenticeship Launched
After extensive planning and development work, the new water industry Apprenticeships are now approved and available for registrations. The new Apprenticeships came into force on the 1 November 2007 across England and Wales, replacing the previous Framework. All Apprentices registering on or after 1 November 2007 must follow the new Framework.
The Framework has been reviewed to update the National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) included and to add a Vocationally Related Qualification (VRQ). The NVQs now available are; Distribution Control Level 2, Network Construction Operations: Mainlaying (Water) Level 2, Network Construction Operations: Servicelaying (Water) Level 2, Operating Process Plant (Water) Level 2, Operating Process Plant (Waste Water) Level 2,
Operating Process Plant (Sludge) Level 2, Maintain Water Supply (Network) Level 3 and Network Construction Operations (Water) Level 3.
These changes bring the Apprenticeship in line with employer requirements for a competent person and the Apprenticeship Blueprint, which defines the mandatory content for Apprenticeships in England and Wales. The Apprenticeship covers all aspects of wastewater treatment operations, water network and water network-sewerage. Successful completion ensures every Apprentice will achieve the knowledge and competence standards required by industry for these job roles.
Apprenticeships have been developed by Energy & Utility Skills (EU Skills), the Sector Skills Council for the electricity, gas, water and waste management industries, in close partnership with a dedicated Working Group, comprising employers, training providers and industry stakeholders, to ensure the Framework reflects the skills needs of employers.
The approval by the Skills for Business Network Apprenticeships Approvals Group of the new EU Skills Apprenticeship has been supported by the active involvement of the water industry and industry stakeholders, whose opinions have been widely sought throughout the development process. EU Skills is continuing to work with the industry to further develop ideas on the range of training options available to meet the specific needs of employers, in order to ensure there is a suitably trained workforce to meet future needs and competencies.
These new Apprenticeships provide a formalised and structured qualification process. A mandatory VRQ at Levels 2 and 3 has been added to the Framework to assess the underpinning knowledge relevant to Apprentices' job roles and ensure a consistent level of understanding is achieved. They are directly linked to work based NVQs in the Framework and will provide opportunities to increase the breath and depth of knowledge. In addition, several NVQs have been added to the Framework to bring it in line with employer requirements and increase employer choice by supporting a greater diversity of job roles. All Apprentices are expected to be employed before commencing Apprenticeship training under the EU Skills Framework.
Tim Balcon, Chief Executive of EU Skills comments;
"I am pleased that, as a Sector Skills Council, we have been able to work in partnership with our employers and stakeholders to deliver a Framework that not only fulfils a recruitment and training need but will also be a valuable asset for a sustainable workforce in the future."
For further information visit www.euskills.co.uk or call 0845 077 99 22.
