Press release

More than 700 employers to design top quality apprenticeships

Top quality new apprenticeships are being designed by employers as part of the government’s successful apprenticeship trailblazers scheme.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government
  • more than 700 employers are to design 76 new apprenticeships in professions ranging from TV production to welding
  • employers including PwC, BAE Systems and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue are designing the new apprenticeships as part of the government’s trailblazer initiative
  • more than 1,000 employers now involved in the trailblazers scheme

Job opportunities in policing, boatbuilding, TV production and surveying are among 76 top quality new apprenticeships being designed by more than 700 employers as part of the third phase of the government’s successful apprenticeship trailblazers scheme.

The employers from across 37 more trailblazing sectors are designing new apprenticeships to best meet the skills needs of their industries. They will develop apprenticeships in sectors ranging from nuclear to fashion and the armed forces, and will bring the total number of employers involved in designing apprenticeships as part of the trailblazers project to more than 1,000.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said:

Across the country apprenticeships are a driving force behind getting young people the skills that employers want and the economy needs. Our reforms have empowered businesses large and small to design and deliver world-beating apprenticeships that offer a real route to a successful career.

Employers including PwC, BAE Systems and Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue will work with organisations from across their industries to develop the new apprenticeships. In addition to this, employers involved in the earlier phases of the trailblazers initiative are to develop a further 47 high quality apprenticeships.

On a visit to Sky, 1 of 18 employers working together to design new apprenticeships in television production and broadcasting as part of the new phase of trailblazers, Skills Minister Nick Boles said:

There has never been a better time to do an apprenticeship. Apprenticeships give you the experience and top-quality training you need to get the career you want. I’m thrilled to be working with UK companies including Jaguar Land Rover and Grant Thornton to make our apprenticeship system the best it can be. We’re on track to deliver 2 million apprenticeships and we are building a better future for Britain.

While visiting Sky Nick Boles also met software developer apprentice Priscilla Ossai, one of the stars of the government’s newly launched Get In. Go Far campaign. The campaign is working to change the perception of apprenticeships among young people, their parents and teachers by showcasing the variety and quality of apprenticeships on offer today in some of Britain’s biggest and brightest companies.

Trailblazers are groups of leading employers within a sector working together to develop new apprenticeship standards for occupations ranging from welder to police officer. Launched in October 2013, the trailblazers initiative aims to ensure that every apprentice in England is enrolled on a scheme that has been designed and approved by employers. More than 300 apprentices have now started on approved standards since September 2014 in the automotive and energy and utilities sectors with further starts planned soon.

The trailblazers play a key role in replacing complex apprenticeship frameworks with short, simple, accessible standards written by employers in language they understand.

Graham McWilliam, Group Director of Corporate Affairs, Sky commented:

At Sky we’re delighted to be supporting the trailblazer programmes. It forms part of our wider commitment to providing apprenticeships across our business – around 150 next year - as well as offering a huge range of other opportunities and training to young people across the UK.

Steven Read, Trainee Programmes Manager at UK Power Networks which delivers electricity supplies in London and are part of the Energy and Utilities trailblazer under the first phase of the scheme said:

We are delighted to welcome our first 29 new recruits to the new power distribution craftspeople apprenticeship. The trailblazer initiative has allowed employers like us to introduce a common industry standard in the skills we teach to the dedicated men and women who keep Britain’s electricity distribution networks running. It is refreshing, as an employer, to be involved in designing and a developing the benchmark against which all our apprentices are trained.

Notes to editors

  1. For more information on apprenticeships visit www.apprenticeships.gov.uk.
  2. The first 8 trailblazers began in October 2013 and the second phase of scheme was launched on March 2014. The standards produced by trailblazers will become the blueprint for apprenticeships in those occupations.
  3. More than 400 employers in 37 sectors have been involved in the first 2 trailblazers and 51 new apprenticeship standards developed by them were approved and published in March and August 2014. These cover a board range of roles such as a land-based service engineer, senior culinary chef, solicitor, journalist and dental practice manager.
  4. Standards and assessment plans that have been produced by employers and agreed by the government are published at: Apprenticeship Standards.
  5. All of the standards that are currently being developed by employer groups across the Trailblazers are listed at Apprenticeship Standards In Development.
  6. Employers who would like to get involved in an existing trailblazer can contact us at: apprenticeship.trailblazers@bis.gsi.gov.uk. Those groups of employers who would like to develop a new apprenticeship standard can apply by the following dates in 2015: 12 February, 5 June and 2 October.
  7. More information for trailblazers including new guidance on developing standards and assessment plans published today is available on our website at Future of apprenticeships in England: guidance for trailblazers.
  8. More than 300 apprentices have already started on the new standards since September 2014 in the automotive and energy and utility sectors.

Standards being developed by new phase 3 trailblazers

Trailblazer Group Occupation
Agriculture and Production Horticulture Technician (Horticultural/Fresh Produce/Arable/Glasshouse)
Agriculture and Production Horticulture Packhouse Operative
Agriculture and Production Horticulture Unit/Site Livestock Manager
Boatbuilding Boatbuilder
Bus, Coach and HGV Industry Bus and Coach Engineering Manager
Bus, Coach and HGV Industry Bus and Coach Technician
Bus, Coach and HGV Industry HGV Engineering and Maintenance Technician
Business Business Administrator
Business Bookkeeper
Business Payroll Administrator
Business Small Business Financial Administrator
Business Front Line Customer Service Practitioner
Business Customer Experience Specialist
Civil Service-Commercial Commercial Professional
Courier Services Courier
Defence Advanced Systems Engineer
Education and Training FE Tutor-Assessor
Education and Training FE Developing Teacher
Education and Training FE Qualified Teacher
Education and Training FE Graduate Lecturer
Electronic Systems Electronic Systems Technician
Engineering Design and Draughting Piping Designer and Draughtsperson
Engineering Design and Draughting Structural Designer and Draughtsperson
Engineering Design and Draughting Electrical Designer and Draughtsperson
Engineering Design and Draughting Mechanical Designer and Draughtsperson
Equestrian Equine Groom (Horse Care)
Fashion Fashion Studio Assistant
Fire Services Business Fire Safety Advisor
Furniture Furniture Maker
Healthcare Healthcare Assistant/Nursing Assistant
Healthcare Senior Healthcare Assistant/Senior Nursing Assistant
Healthcare Assistant Practitioner
HM Armed Forces HM Armed Forces Serviceperson
Horticulture and Tree Work Forester
Horticulture and Tree Work Arborist
Horticulture and Tree Work Gardener/Horticultural Operative
Horticulture and Tree Work Head Gardener/Parks Supervisor
Human Resources HR Assistant
Human Resources HR Manager
Human Resources HR Director/Consultant
Logistics and Supply Chain Supply Chain LGV Driver
Logistics and Supply Chain Supply Chain Warehouse Operative
Logistics and Supply Chain Supply Chain Operative
Management Consultancy Management Consultant
Maritime Defence Mechanical Fitter
NHS Ambulance Service Ambulance Assistant Practitioner
Non-Destructive Testing Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Engineering Technician
Nuclear Nuclear Worker
Nuclear Health Physics Monitor
Nuclear Nuclear Welding Inspection Technician
Pharmacy Services Pharmacy Services Assistant
Pharmacy Services Senior Pharmacy Services Assistant
Physical Activity Personal Trainer
Physical Activity Leisure Manager
Plumbing & Domestic Heating Plumbing and Domestic Heating Engineer
Police Service Police Officer
Port Operations and Supply Chain Port Operative
Port Operations and Supply Chain Port Plant Machinery Operator
Port Operations and Supply Chain Port Crane Operator
Port Operations and Supply Chain International Supply Chain Manager
Rail Engineering Rail Engineering Operative
Rail Engineering Rail Engineering Technician
Rail Engineering Rail Engineering Advanced Technician
Recruitment Recruitment Consultant
Recruitment Recruitment Resourcer
Renewable Energy and Energy Management Energy Manager
Renewable Energy and Energy Management Anaerobic Digestion Technician
Security Management Security First Line Manager
Surveying Surveyor
Transport Passenger Transport Services
Transport Passenger Transport Operations
Transport Passenger Transport Operations Manager
Transport Transport Planning Technician
TV Production and Broadcasting TV Production Assistant
TV Production and Broadcasting Outside Broadcast Engineer
Welding Welder

New standards being developed by Phase 1 and 2 trailblazers

Adult Care Lead Practitioner in Adult Care
Adult Care Leader/Manager in Adult Care
Aerospace and Airworthiness Maintenance Mechanic (Military)
Aerospace and Airworthiness Survival Equipment Fitter (Military)
Aerospace and Airworthiness Airworthiness Planning Quality & Safety Technician
Aerospace and Airworthiness Aircraft Certifying Engineer
Aerospace and Airworthiness Aerospace Manufacturing Engineer
Aerospace and Airworthiness Aerospace Software Developer
Automotive Tool and Die Maker
Automotive Retail Auto Industry Customer Service Advisor
Automotive Retail Vehicle Sales Advisor
Automotive Retail Vehicle Parts Operator
Butchery Advanced Butcher
Construction Plant Hire Desk Controller
Construction Piler
Construction Digital Engineer
Conveyancing (Probate) Probate Licensed Practitioner
Dental Healthcare Dental Nurse
Dental Healthcare Dental Hygiene Therapy
Dental Healthcare Dental Laboratory Manager
Early Years Assistant Early Years Practitioner
Early Years Senior Early Years Practitioner
Early Years Early Years Centre Leader
Energy and Utilities Gas Networks Craftsperson
Energy and Utilities Gas Network Construction Team Leader
Financial Services Delivering and Supporting Financial Services
Food and Drink Operations, Production and Processing: Production Processing Manager
Food and Drink Operations, Production and Processing: Skilled Technical Operative
Food and Drink Quality Assurance, Product Development and Food Science: Food Science Technologist
Food and Drink Quality Assurance, Product Development and Food Science: Technical Manager
Food and Drink Bakery: Retail Baker
Food and Drink Bakery: Automated Plant Baker
Food and Drink Bakery: Artisan/Craft Baker
Golf Course Maintenance and Management Assistant Head Greenkeeper/Deputy Golf Course Manager
Golf Course Maintenance and Management Head Greenkeeper/Golf Course Manager
Hospitality and Travel Commis Chef
Hospitality and Travel Chef De Partie
Hospitality and Travel Hospitality Team Member
Housing Management Housing Management Assistant
Housing Management Senior Housing Manager
Journalism Senior Journalist
Maritime Ratings Engine Room Rating
Maritime Ratings Cook at Sea
Property Services Facilities Supervisor and Manager
Retail Retail Supervisor
Retail Retail Manager

List of apprentice starts by sector since September 2014

Trailblazer Employer Number of starts
Automotive Castings PLC * 1
Automotive BMW Group 21
Automotive Faurecia * 3
Automotive Futaba Industrial UK Ltd * 3
Automotive Gestamp Tallent * 8
Automotive Jaguar Land Rover 189
Automotive Maier * 1
Automotive Pektron * 2
Automotive SciTek * 1
Energy & Utilities National Grid 27
Energy & Utilities Scottish and Southern Electricity (SSE) 46
Energy & Utilities UK Power Networks 29
TOTAL   331

9.The following employers in the Life and Industrial Sciences sector have also committed to a further 29 apprenticeship starts, pending final approval of their assessment plan; Fujifilm Diosynth, GSK, Lotte Chemical UK Ltd, Lucite International, Pfizer, and SABIC UK Petrochemicals Ltd.

Updates to this page

Published 23 October 2014