Skills for Logistics Opinion
Apprenticeships: you’re highered!
In the fi rst of a regular series of comments from Skills for Logistics, the Sector Skills Council for the UK’s freight logistics industries, its programme manager Vicki Ball looks at the available apprenticeships.
Take-up of
apprenticeships in the logistics sector has increased
fourfold over the last six years, with numbers of apprenticeship starts increasing from around 2,800 to 11,500. To date, over 25,000 individuals have successfully graduated with Skills for Logistics apprenticeships, going on to earn an estimated £0.5bn per year between them and bringing their employers the effi ciency benefi ts of motivated employees with up to date and relevant skills.
When the Prime Minister spoke recently about plans to create more apprenticeships and make vocational training easier to access and more rigorous, it was appropriate he did so during a visit to a logistics training provider. This is because high quality apprenticeships in logistics
the qualifi cation components within the framework, is also critical in ensuring that training programmes include the right mix of skills at the right level.
QUALITY & SUCCESS Skills for Logistics can point unequivocally to the high quality and success of logistics sector job- and employer-focused apprenticeship schemes. These are created in close partnership with employers in the industry and are built around the high demand for the right kind of skills in the logistics sector. There are three levels of apprenticeships: The fi rst is the Intermediate Level Apprenticeships where apprentices work towards work- based learning qualifi cations such as a Level 2 Competence Qualifi cation, Functional Skills and, in most cases, a relevant knowledge-based
“High quality apprenticeships in logistics are already providing vocational training leading to real jobs”
are already providing vocational training leading to real jobs in a sector that is essential to the performance of the UK economy. The PM highlighted a number of key components that deliver the quality apprenticeship training that employers need. These components include basic literacy and numeracy skills, and high standards in the teaching of practical skills that are relevant to the job. Employer input into the development of apprenticeship frameworks, and
qualifi cation. Apprentices on these programmes are usually in frontline or operative roles such as warehouse operatives. Next up the scale come the Advanced Level Apprenticeships. Here, apprentices work towards work-based learning such as a Level 3 Competence Qualifi cation, Functional Skills and, in most cases, a relevant knowledge based qualifi cation. Apprentices on these programmes are usually in technical or supervisory roles
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such as warehouse team leaders or supervisors. Finally, there are the Higher Apprenticeships where apprentices work towards work-based learning qualifi cations such as a Level 4 Competence Qualifi cation and, in some cases, a knowledge- based qualifi cation such as a Foundation Degree. We are starting to see changes on the horizon with regards to graduate recruitment. The advent of the £9,000 university fees is going to affect decisions made by young people as to whether to enter employment at 18 or to invest in a university programme. This will have an impact on the number of graduates available to industry. While some big players in the logistics sector continue to recruit some graduates, others are now looking to take on good A-level candidates instead. By taking people at A level, employers can shape the training they need for their business, choosing relevant apprenticeship frameworks, external training programmes (such as degrees or Foundation Degrees) or tailoring their own in-house development programmes to meet their needs. High quality apprenticeship frameworks are a valuable alternative opportunity for vocational training for many young people, particularly those put off University by high tuition fees. Skills for Logistics is committed to working with employers across the sector to assess the need for new Higher Level apprenticeships with a view to fi lling any gaps. ■
www.skillsforlogistics.org Storage Handling Distribution July 2012 39
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