Trailblazer Apprenticeships 23 April 2015 Laura Holland

Background Richard Review of Apprenticeships November 2012: Apprenticeships not as rigorous or responsive as employers would like Proposed government reforms set out in The Future of Apprenticeships in England Part 1 – October 2013

Government Response New Apprenticeships led by Trailblazers: Employer driven standards and assessment Short, easy to understand standards Minimum duration of 12 months Rigorous independent assessment Grading Links to professional registration

Implementation Implementation is in phases: Phase 1 – 8 sectors – work began in October 2013 Phase 2 – 29 sectors (including Law) – work began in March 2014 Phase 3 – 37 sectors – work began in October 2014 Phase 4 – 26 sectors – work to begin in March 2015

Timetable Intention for all Apprenticeships starts from the 2017/18 academic year to be on the new standards and assessment

Law Apprenticeships Standards have now been approved. Apprenticeships in three areas: Paralegal – level 3 Chartered Legal Executive – level 6 Solicitor – level 7 Assessment still to be finalised and approved

Law Apprenticeships Approximate duration of the Apprenticeships: Chartered Legal Executive – 5 years Solicitor – 5-6 years Paralegal – 2 years

Law Apprenticeships Professional registration: Chartered Legal Executive Apprentices –registered members of CILEx for the duration of the Apprenticeship Solicitor Apprentices – will meet professional registration requirements of the Solicitors Regulation Authority

Law Apprenticeships Differences between existing and new Law Apprenticeships: Assessment Grading Professional Recognition

Funding for Apprenticeships Skills Funding Agency trialling a simple funding model for Apprenticeship standards starting in 2014/15 and for 2015/16 Features/key elements: Employers to have control of funding Single government co-investment rate for core funding

Funding Formula For every £1 employers contribute to external training and assessment costs of an apprenticeship, the government will pay £2 up to the cap for each standard. There are 5 caps. A cap is allocated to each Apprenticeship standard.

Funding Formula Additional payments for: small businesses up to 50 employees taking on 16-18 year old Apprentice successful completion

Law Apprenticeships What about the existing Apprenticeships? Level 3 superseded by the new Trailblazer Apprenticeship Level 4 may remain – decision still to be made

Apprenticeships in Wales Consultation began January 2015 Focus: How Apprenticeships can align with the needs of the Welsh economy Closes April 2015

Useful Links https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/apprenticeship-changes https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/trailblazer-apprenticeship-funding-requirements-for-employers https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sfa-funding-rules