Supported by Apprenticeship progression to HE – a fertile market for Foundation Degrees, or flogging a dead horse? David Hemsworth Consultant, UVAC 18 April 2008

Progression models 1. 'End-to end’: Advanced Apprenticeship  HE, typically Foundation Degree  Hons 2. Integrated: concurrent delivery of Apprenticeship NVQ and HE technical certificate 3. Accelerated: enhanced Apprenticeship  2 nd year of HE course 4. Higher Apprenticeship: integrated FE/HE framework; HA certification 5. NVQ route: NVQs/Apprenticeship  NVQ4/prof. accreditation  HE/higher prof. exams

Stage 1 Call for examples  46 responses  research of four sectors comprising eight programmes: Engineering – Ford, Rolls Royce, Slack & Parr Health (HCA/nursing) – Sunderland PCT, S. Tees HT IT – EDS Accountancy (AAT) – Bolton Coll, Accountancy Plus Support programmes/materials – STEP UP, Get Up Go, Apprentices Aim Higher, The ‘A’ Factor, Teen Machine

Stage 2 Further research to provide additional evidence of factors supporting progression: Higher Apprenticeship – BT and Airbus AAT (accountancy) progression route Health and social care progression routes Apprenticeship as a qualification – SEMTA

Stage 2 - issues Higher Apprenticeship Funding, esp. NVQ4; inconsistency across UK nations Lack of policy impetus Lack of awareness/brand recognition Low status of vocational learning

Stage 2 - issues AAT route Unconventional NVQs Stand-alone NVQs outnumber Apprenticeships Vulnerability of NVQ4 funding AOSG an interim SSB – not an SSC

Stage 2 - issues Healthcare Vulnerability of cadet/Apprenticeship progression programmes to NHS policy changes Centrally-driven policies stifle innovation Lack of entrepreneurial drive to source external funding

Apprenticeship as a qualification Dismantling of framework into units of QCF credit rejected by SEMTA Frameworks poorly understood by HE Slow progress with LSC/UCAS to incorporate Apprenticeship into Tariff Stage 2 - issues

Stage 3 – SOC job roles SOC2000 Major Occupational Groups SOC CODEOCCUPATIONAL GROUP 1000Managers & Senior Officials 2000Professional Occupations 3000Associate Professional & Technical 4000Administrative, Clerical and Secretarial 5000Skilled Trades Occupations 6000Personal Service Occupations 7000Sales & Customer Service Occupations 8000Machine & Transport Operatives 9000Elementary Occupations

Stage 3 – job roles by SSC sector SSC% ASSOC PROF & TECHNICAL, 2014 Asset Skills (property)20% – biggest occupational group Creative & Cultural27% – biggest occupational group Skills for Justice24% – biggest occupational group SkillsActive21% – biggest occupational group Skillset (media)26% – biggest occupational group Government Skills21% – second biggest occupational group, after Administrative, Clerical & Secretarial Lifelong Learning UK (FE, HE) 14% – second biggest occupational group, after Professional (by far the largest group) Proskills (building products, mining) 18% – second equal with Managers & Senior Officials, after Machine & Transport Operatives Energy & Utility Skills15% – second equal, just behind Managers & Senior Officials and Skilled Trades Occupations Source: Working Futures Sectoral Report (2006) (Not including e-skills UK and SEMTA) …+ Cogent

Stage 3 – big Apprenticeship sectors SSC/SSB AA COMPLETIONS (approx.) Automotive Skills4,279 SEMTA (engineering manufacture)3,676 Summitskills (building services engineering)2,750 Council for Administration*2,639 Children's Workforce Development Council**2,431 Institute of Customer Service*2,257 ConstructionSkills2,040 People 1 st (hospitality, travel)1,643 Skills for Health1,428 HABIA* (hair & beauty)1,346 Accountancy Occupational Standards Group*1,329 e-skills UK1,013 SkillsActive488 Skillsmart (retail)281 *SSB **Part of Skills for Care

Funding FE/HE Aspirations of employers and Apprentices Profile of Apprenticeship progression Sector skills priorities Status of the vocational route to HE Stage 3 – progression issues