1. Trailblazer Apprenticeships 23 April 2015
Laura Holland

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

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

6. 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

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

8. 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

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

10. 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

11. 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.

12. Funding Formula Additional payments for:
small businesses up to 50 employees
taking on year old Apprentice
successful completion

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Level 3 superseded by the new Trailblazer Apprenticeship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

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

15. Useful Links