TRAINING


as apprenticeships are rising to the challenge of net zero. IFATE – the Institute for Apprenticeships and


Technical Education – has now set up a green apprenticeships advisory panel which has been put in place to review all apprenticeships. The panel will make sure all apprenticeships begin to prioritise how they can contribute towards climate change goals. Additionally, an employer group has been set up with the aim of developing a new apprenticeship for the occupation of a Low Carbon Heating Technician. Development is currently underway, and the initial proposal has been approved by the IFATE board. Government and other key stakeholders


are all involved in this new standard which is planned to be at Level 3. The standard is likely to have a 36-month duration and has an expected release date of late 2022. A brief outline of the role is to plan, select and size, install, commission, service and maintain (including fault finding, diagnosis and repair) low carbon heating and hot water systems in buildings. This will include dwellings, as well as industrial and commercial premises. Low carbon heat sources include, but are not limited to, ground and air source heat pumps and solar thermal collectors. As a training provider, we have limited opportunity to input directly into the development of new standards as these are employer led. However, JTL will continue to


monitor the development of this standard closely in order to support the sector and employers in the coming years. Additionally, the plumbing and domestic heating apprenticeship is also being reviewed by the panel of employers that developed the standard, and we are expecting to see changes that reflect how priorities have shifted since it was released back in 2018. Likewise, we anticipate that we may see hydrogen being included in the gas engineering operative apprenticeship.


Financial support for low carbon training Apprenticeships are the gold standard of training courses for new entrants to occupations and are developed by employer groups to truly reflect the needs of industry. The quality of their delivery is regulated by Ofsted and the competence of the apprentice is rigorously assessed by an independent end point assessment at the end of their training. Apprenticeships are currently either funded for small businesses or alternatively paid for via the levy for larger businesses. Employers taking on 16–18-year-old apprentices can receive a £1,000 grant from the UK government. It is also important to note that there is


no training cost for the learner undertaking an apprenticeship. Depending on the size of the business and the age of the apprentice, employers may be asked to contribute a small


percentage (usually around 5%) of the overall cost of training.


Challenges in transitioning a workforce As a leading apprenticeship training provider, we want to ensure that training of new entrants to the industry reflects the latest technologies, whilst meeting the changing needs of employers as we move away from fossil fuels and gas in particular. JTL will be upskilling our own teaching and assessment workforce so that they are keeping up to date with the latest developments. We carry this out via a comprehensive programme of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) which encourages tutors to leave the classroom and go back onto site. For example, some of our team will be visiting the hydrogen homes in Gateshead in the near future as part of the planned CPD programme. In addition, we plan to adapt our workshops and invest in new appliances and tools to allow our apprentices to practise on the new low carbon technologies. From the first stage of getting in touch by filling in an enquiry form and then getting matched with your ideal apprentice, to funding advice and getting support from a dedicated training officer, JTL is on hand to help employers throughout the whole process.


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