NCFE has welcomed the government’s decision to approve all three Supply Chain Skill apprenticeship standards and assessment plans submitted by the Supply Chain and Logistics Trailblazer group, for which NCFE is the chosen Awarding Organisation partner.
This means that these apprenticeships are now ready to be delivered by training providers and employers in the sector.
The forthcoming delivery of these new standards – the Supply Chain Specialist Large Goods Vehicle Driver (LGV) Level 2; Supply Chain Operator Level 2; and Warehouse Operative Level 2 – will have a significant impact on the supply chain and logistics sector, in which there has long been a skills shortage.
NCFE was selected as the preferred Awarding Organisation to shape and support this key apprenticeship development last year. As the group’s chosen partner, NCFE has used its experience and expertise to support the group in developing high quality standards and approaches to assessment for apprenticeships in the sector over the last 18 months.
The group, which includes representatives from the Ministry of Defence, trade association The British Association of Removers (BAR), Nagel Langdons, other employers such as DHL, John Lewis and Sainsbury’s, as well as NCFE, has been working together since January 2015 to develop and submit the three new standards.
This is part of the government’s plans to increase the number of quality trailblazer apprenticeships across the country, in line with its pledge to support 3 million apprenticeships by 2020 – placing ownership of the skills and knowledge required to perform key roles within industry firmly in the hands of the employers.
In order to drive up the quality of apprenticeships, Trailblazer employer groups have developed standards which outline the skills apprentices in these roles are expected to have to meet the needs of employers.
Esme Winch, Managing Director of NCFE, said: “It’s been a pleasure to work with the Supply Chain Trailblazer group to develop these standards and assessment plans, and we’re proud to have reached this milestone. It’s fantastic that the government has recognised the need for quality training routes in the sector, and we look forward to seeing the apprenticeships being delivered for the benefit of both employers and young people who want to apply for job roles in supply chain and logistics.
“We will continue to help shape the future of apprenticeships, ensuring programmes are tailored to industry needs and offer real opportunities to learners.”
Colin Snape, HR Manager at Nagel Langdons and chair of the Supply Chain Trailblazer group, commented: “We are absolutely delighted that all three standards and their assessment plans have now been approved and are ready to be delivered. A huge amount of work has gone into these standards and we’re so grateful to the employers and training providers who have given their time over the last 18 months to support these developments. We believe there will be high demand and this can only have an extremely positive effect on the sector in terms of getting highly skilled people into the roles that need to be filled. We would particularly like to thank NCFE, our preferred Awarding Organisation partner, for all their help and ongoing commitment to achieving this fantastic result.”
NCFE has successfully completed the first stage of approval to appear on the Skills Funding Agency’s register for apprentice assessment organisations (ROAAO) and, due to its long history of expertise in education and assessment and its role as the group’s chosen Awarding Organisation partner for the development of the standards, will be applying against the new standards to offer end point assessment.
NCFE is also running a launch event for the standards in partnership with The Real Apprenticeship Company on 28 June at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull.
Employers interested in attending the event or in finding out more about NCFE’s end point assessment services can contact the Supply Chain Trailblazer group via the enquiry form at www.supplychainskills.org, or contact Emma Jewitt at NCFE directly on 0191 2398058 or emmajewitt@ncfe.org.uk.