Tag Archives: Apprenticeships

Highfield Assessment receives ‘5 stars’ from FE Week

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We had some great news this morning thanks to FE Week, who rated Highfield Assessment ‘5 stars’ in their investigation into apprenticeship assessment organisations (AAOs).

The weekly magazine, which is read throughout the further education sector, conducted mystery shopper tests on a number of AAOs and their end-point assessment (EPA) offers, with Highfield receiving full marks!

You can read the article for yourselves (pages 10-11) at http://feweek.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/FE209-Digi.pdf?mc_cid=3974ee5b08&mc_eid=8f4553ca0a

To find out more about how Highfield Assessment can help you, go to https://www.highfieldassessment.com/

Apprenticeship EPA approval for hospitality and adult care

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Highfield has been approved to deliver end-point assessment (EPA) for five more apprenticeship standards.

The five standards are:

  • Adult Care Worker
  • Lead Adult Care Worker
  • Commis Chef
  • Hospitality Team Member
  • Hospitality Supervisor

The training sector is currently undergoing some of its biggest changes in over 30 years, and will see new apprenticeship standards – developed by groups of employers known as ‘trailblazers’ – being assessed by EPA instead of continuous assessment.

This means individual apprentices will have their work and competence assessed towards the end of their learning against criteria established by employers.

There will also be the introduction of the apprenticeship levy from 1 May 2017, with larger employers paying into a central fund that must be used for apprenticeship training, while smaller employers will see 90 percent of their costs covered by the government.

For more details, go to Highfield Assessment .

Apprenticeship standards: further views requested on CYP options

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Skills for Health is looking for feedback on qualifications units to support the Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard for Senior Healthcare Support Workers (Children and Young People’s option) and is asking professionals in the sector to complete a survey.

The survey has been split up into sections and the units have been allocated under different sections for ease: Safeguarding, Communication and relationship building, Mental Health, Providing support, Child development, Knowledge only units, Babies, Generic units and their applicability to Children & Young People.

The feedback will inform the final structure of the qualification pathway.

It does not include the mandatory units and only includes those units with outstanding queries.  These will be optional in the qualification for Children & Young People (not the full list of optional units).

http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/3346081/Children-Young-People-s-qualification-units

This survey will close at 12pm noon on Thursday 9 th March 2017 .

If you have any queries about the survey, please email qualifications@highfieldabc.net

Survey on end-of-life care content of new qualification

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A new qualification is being developed to support the Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard for Senior Healthcare Support Workers.

This survey relates to End of Life Care content of the proposed qualification. There are existing units for end of life care and this survey seeks your views on any changes that need to be made to ensure that they are fit for purpose. The final units will be available as optional units in the Level 3 Diploma qualification.

http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/3341850/End-of-Life-Care-units

The survey will close at 12pm noon on Monday 27 th February 2017.

If you have any queries, please email qualifications@highfieldabc.net

Views sought on new healthcare support workers qualification

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Skills for Health is seeking feedback from industry professionals on the development of a new qualification to support the Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard for Senior Healthcare Support Workers.

The survey asks for your views on existing qualifications units and any gaps to support the Allied Health Professional – Therapy Support option within the apprenticeship standard.

http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/3330384/Allied-Health-Profession-Therapy-Support-qualification-pathway

The level 3 Diploma qualification will have shared core of mandatory units that meet the content requirements of the apprenticeship standard and that everyone taking the qualification will do, regardless of pathway. Areas covered include health and safety, handling information, communication, equality and diversity, personal development, duty of care and person-centred approached. Individual units that correspond with the content of options within the apprenticeship standard will also be available for learners to select.

The survey will close at 12pm noon on 6 March 2017 .

Should you have any queries, please email qualifications@highfieldabc.net

First ever Asian Apprenticeship Awards launched

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asian-apprenticeship-awards Asian apprentices from all over the country will get the chance to have their achievements recognised with the launch of the first ever Asian Apprenticeship Awards .

Taking place at the Holiday Inn Hotel, Birmingham on 10 November 2016, the event is the first of its kind to highlight the work of Asian apprentices and employers, and aims to address the under-representation of Asian trainees and businesses in the learning sector.

Figures from the Skills Funding Agency show that just 4.1 percent of apprentices are from the Asian community, although the government has announced plans to increase that to 20 percent by 2020 as part of ambitious plans to create 3 million new apprenticeships by the end of the decade.

Over 500 guest are expected at the awards – which are being supported by some of the key figures in the learning sector such as the AELP and WorldSkills UK – with 22 different category prizes up for grabs for apprentices and employers alike.

Safaraz Ali, one of the event organisers, said, ‘Traditionally, Asians going into further education take an academic route through colleges and universities. As a result, people are missing a great opportunity. However, we want to celebrate the very best of young Asian apprentices and those that employ them’.

To find out more, go to http://asianapprenticeshipawards.co.uk/

Government confirm final funding proposals for Apprenticeship Levy

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974x300-linkedin This week the government confirmed the introduction of the apprenticeship levy from April 2017.

The levy will be payable by all UK employers that have a wage bill of more than £3 million. Employers will have to pay 0.5% of their pay roll costs, and these payments will be collected by HMRC from April 2017.  Employers that are not eligible to pay the levy will continue to receive government support towards apprenticeship training and assessment.

Following an open consultation with employers and training providers, the government has confirmed the final funding proposals of how the apprenticeship levy will work. While much of the guidance reiterates points that were announced in August, adjustments have been made to ensure that the reforms benefit more employers, providers and apprentices.

Key features from the updated funding policy include:

  • employers and training providers who take on 16 to 18-year-olds or 19 to 24-year-olds, who were in care or who have an education, health and care plan, on an apprenticeship framework or standard, will receive a £1,000 payment from the government
  • employers will now have 24 months to spend the levy funds within their digital account before they expire, extended from the 18 months originally proposed
  • higher funding bands for STEM apprenticeship frameworks; this has increased by 40% for level 2 and 80% for level 3
  • non-levy paying employers will only have to contribute 10% to the cost of training and assessment, with the remaining 90% funded by the government
  • employers with fewer than 50 employees who do not pay the levy will receive full government funding if they take on apprentices who are 16 to 18 years old, 19 to 24-year-old care leavers, or 19 to 24 year olds with an education, health and care plan
  • a commitment to introduce the ability for employers to transfer funds within their digital account to other employers in their supply chain and sector by 2018
  • training providers will also receive an additional cash payment equivalent to 20% of the funding band maximum where they train 16 to 18-year-olds on apprenticeship frameworks
  • the 15 funding bands have now been confirmed, which range from £1, 500 to £27,000
  • additional funding support up to £600 for apprentices who live in disadvantaged areas to ensure that the opportunity to undertake an apprenticeship is open to everyone, regardless of where they live, their background or family circumstances
  • training providers will be able to claim a flat rate of £471 direct from the government if they deliver English or maths, so that all apprentices have a basic knowledge of each subject
  • training providers will be able to claim up to £150 of additional funding on behalf of apprentices who require extra support because of a learning or other disability

To read the government document in full, please visit here .

If you are still unsure about how the levy will impact your business, or still have unanswered questions, please contact a member of the Highfield Assessment team today on sales@highfieldabc.net

It worked for me: Highfield Apprenticeship

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To mark National Apprenticeship Week and to celebrate the significance of work-based learning, we’ll be speaking to members of the Highfield team about their apprenticeship experience.

Emily profile pic

Prior to starting her apprenticeship in 2012, Emily studied graphic design at college. After completing her studies she was looking for a solution that would allow her to continue her studies in a working environment, which led her to an apprenticeship. Emily was attracted to the Highfield design apprentice role due to the variety of professional projects she had the opportunity to work on. During her apprenticeship, Emily demonstrated a strong work ethic, becoming a fundamental member of the Design team, from which she secured a full-time role with Highfield as a junior designer.

What attracted you to an apprenticeship?

I had just finished two years of studying and felt that I needed to do something a little more practical, which is why an apprenticeship shone far brighter than any university course did.

What did your position involve?

My position really was to get involved and learn from my colleagues. When you first go into an apprenticeship you need to learn how the company itself works and from then on once you have learnt the essential skills, will start to find your place in the team (it just sort of clicks).

What is it like to work for Highfield?

It is a great adventure; you are rarely doing the same type of job. You will get to work on all types of projects with different team members for multiple clients.

What were your main responsibilities as an apprentice?

I looked after the event material, the setting of exam papers and creating a newsletter for Highfield. After a few weeks I also got the chance to join in with other activities such as photo shoots, which I found to be great fun. This was helpful as I got to work with other team members learning what they did in their day-to-day jobs.

What skills and experience did you gain from your apprenticeship?

I have gained so much from working at Highfield it would be hard to pin point only a few items to talk about. Within my initial 12 months I progressed so far and learnt how to produce products and each process that goes into doing so.

What was the highlight of your apprenticeship (biggest achievement etc.)?

I believe my greatest highlight was being offered a full-time position at Highfield. I felt that I had become part of the team and part of the Highfield family.

Do you feel that an apprenticeship was beneficial to your career?

It was really the greatest thing for me at the time as I don’t think I was ready to go to university. I was a rather timid person before I started working at Highfield and over the years I have grown so much both professionally and as an individual. I feel that this has been one of the greatest things I have done in my career so far and am looking forward to future endeavours.

How would you describe your apprenticeship in three words?

Super, smashing, great!!!

As a former apprentice, what advice would you give to anybody considering an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship was so much better for me as I was learning on the job, completing live briefs, being tutored by others with more experience than myself and growing as a person instead of sat in a classroom. Overall I would say consider an apprenticeship with Highfield as my experience here was so helpful for me and I do feel I found myself at Highfield.