Publications
Maximising Apprenticeship Completion Rates - December 2009
Maximising Apprenticeship Completion Rates Report - (PDF 767kb) »
Specification of Apprenticeship Standards for England (SASE) - January 2010
The Specification of Apprenticeship Standards for England (SASE) sets out the minimum requirements to be included in a recognised English Apprenticeship framework.
Specification (PDF 2mb) »
Guidance (PDF 1mb) »
Annex - Information requirement (PDF 296kb) »
Interested in earning while you are learning? - Learner brochure - December 2009
The brochure explains what Apprenticeships are, the levels and types of Apprenticeships available as well as outline the next steps you need to undertake in order to take an Apprenticeship.
Learner brochure (PDF 800kb) »
Evaluation of Apprenticeship vacancies - November 2009
In July 2009 CFE, commissioned by the National Apprenticeship Service, completed an Interim Evaluation of the Apprenticeship vacancies system. The evaluation is a longitudinal study aimed at all stakeholders, including learners, employers, training providers and other stakeholders such as Sector Skills Councils. The interim report covers the first seven months of operation. The final report, which will look at the added value of the system, will be available in March 2010, and will cover the first fifteen months of operation.
The interim report draws together findings from research with stakeholders, and aims to:
- set the context for how the Apprenticeship vacancies system has been used so far;
- indicate the benefits for early users of the Apprenticeship vacancies system; and
- highlight possible improvements and good practice to increase the value of the system to key stakeholders.
Evaluation of Apprenticeship vacancies (PDF 672kb) »
Diversity in Apprenticeships - Prospectus - November 2009
The National Apprenticeship Service is now seeking potential delivery partners who feel they have the necessary skills, commitment and expertise to assist the National Apprenticeship Service in delivering against our stated priorities, in particular, working to redress the inequalities that currently exist within Apprenticeships.
Diversity in Apprenticeships - Prospectus (PDF 95kb) »
IES Diversity in Apprenticeships Report - November 2009
In March 2009, the Institute for Employment Studies (IES) was commissioned by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to conduct an investigation entitled Research to Shape Critical Mass Pilots to Address Under-Representation in apprenticeships. This final report presents the literature review, the key findings from the secondary data analysis and from interviews with 24 expert informants.
IES Diversity in Apprenticeships Report (PDF 496kb) »
The proven way to train your workforce - Employer brochure - September 2009
The brochure identifies the business benefits an apprentice brings to an organisation. It also highlights the wide range of Apprenticeships that are available across a range of industry sectors. The brochure outlines the next steps you need to take in order to take on an apprentice.
Employer brochure (PDF 760kb) »
Guidance for Providers on Redundant Apprentices and Further Key Skills Relaxation - July 2009
The National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) has outlined a set of flexibilities to support apprentices to continue their training during the current economic downturn. The first of these flexibilities is the clarification of procedures to deal with redundant apprentices, allowing them, if necessary to spend up to six months in full-time off-the-job setting. The second is an extension of the existing key skills relaxation, where for apprentices who have gained a top grade (A or A*) in GCSE or the earlier ‘O’ levels, the relaxation from gaining Key Skills would apply even if the GCSE or ‘O’ level was gained more than five years ago. Guidelines on how to implement these measures have now been published.
Guidance document (Word 168kb) »
Training that works for you - Public Sector brochure - June 2009
The brochure states how apprentices can help mee the Public Sector skills challenge as well as explain common myths about Apprenticeships.
Public Sector brochure (PDF 1.5mb) »
National Apprenticeship Service Prospectus - May 2009
This document outlines the responsibilities of the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS), along with its priorities for 2009/10. Also highlighted within the document are the key methods that will be used by the NAS in working with other bodies and stakeholders to promote and deliver Apprenticeships. The document is for people, employers and organisations interested in the provision and development of Apprenticeships.
NAS Prospectus - May 2009 (PDF 708kb) »
Identifying sectors for expansion of Apprenticeships – May 2009
The World-class Apprenticeships: Unlocking Talent, Building Skills for All, the Government's strategy for the future of Apprenticeships in England highlighted key areas that need to be addressed. To meet the Leitch ambitions by 2020 this would mean over 250,000 starts and 190,000 successful completions. Growth in the apprenticeship offer and take-up will depend in large part on stimulating employer involvement across sectors - ensuring those that are currently offering apprenticeships continue to do so and expend their offer, and engaging new employers to offer apprenticeships.
This project was commissioned by the LSC to provide assistance to the National Apprenticeship Service in understanding the scope and potential of different sectors to contribute to the meeting of the challenging apprenticeship targets and developing a sector engagement strategy. To do this Experian were asked to identify those SSC sectors and geographic areas that had the greatest potential for engagement, to document how this process of segmentation was undertaken and to explain why these factors are significant determinants of engagement. For the first time we will be able to understand the frameworks which are being utilised in employers covered by different SSCs.
Identifying sectors for expansion of Apprenticeships (PDF 3.4mb) »
Summary report also available (PDF 152 kb) »
Apprenticeships – understanding the provider base – May 2009
This project was completed to meet the following aims:
- Develop a core set of intelligence using existing information to enable us to better understand the supply chain;
- Understand the 'level' of ambition (in terms of size or turnover) but also 'direction' (in terms of diversifying into new region? New sectors? New LSC funding lines? Extending number of starts amongst certain age groups?) of current apprenticeship providers.
Apprenticeships – understanding the provider base (PDF 832kb) »
Apprentice research - The Benefits of Completing an Apprenticeship report - April 2009
The survey of apprentices was carried out by BMG throughout January 2009 and commissioned by the Learning and Skills Council. BMG spoke to a total of 3,808 apprentices. Of these, 3,215 had completed their Apprenticeships. An additional 593 apprentices who did not complete all their framework elements were also interviewed.
Key Research Findings:
- Over 9 out of 10 apprentices are in work or education on completing their Apprenticeship, comparing favourably with the national unemployment rate;
- Of those apprentices currently unemployed, just under two thirds (63 per cent) believe their Apprenticeship will directly help them find work;
- Apprentices’ earning power has increased significantly and over three quarters (76 per cent) of apprentices believe that without their Apprenticeship they wouldn’t be earning their current salary;
- Apprenticeships are a great route to further education – two thirds (60 per cent) of apprentices who completed an Advanced Apprenticeship showed an interest in pursuing a degree level equivalent course;
- An overwhelming majority (89 per cent) of apprentices would recommend an Apprenticeship to other people in similar circumstances to themselves.
The Benefits of Completing an Apprenticeship report (PDF 751kb) »
Testing Alternative Delivery Models: Group Training Associations and Apprenticeships Training Agencies - Prospectus
This prospectus recognises the significant contribution Group Training Associations (GTA) have made to training for employers over the last four decades. We seek to strengthen the GTA footprint: to take those GTA characteristics, which are more important than ever in the current economic climate, and build on them to benefit a wider range of sectors, geographical areas and learners.
The primary objective of this prospectus is to generate innovative Apprenticeship delivery models, based on the key characteristics of GTAs and Apprenticeships Training Agencies (ATAs), with integral employer engagement and which drive up numbers of Apprenticeships, especially 16-18 particularly by SMEs. These models should seek to address barriers to employer engagement, which are increasing in the economic climate and be delivered by excellent providers.
Group Training Associations and Apprenticeships Training Agencies - Prospectus (PDF 169kb) »
Apprenticeship Week 2009 Business Case Research
The research was commissioned for Apprenticeship Week 2009. Populus interviewed a sample of 500 respondents who were responsible for Apprenticeship programme recruitment in their companies by telephone between 5th January and 29th January 2009. Comparisons are with a sample of 204 respondents who were responsible for Apprenticeship programme recruitment in their companies and were interviewed by telephone between 7th January and 6th February 2008.
Apprenticeship Week 2009 Business Case Research - Executive Summary (PDF 92kb) »
Last Updated: 04/06/2010