Professional Apprenticeship in
Construction Management
12 March 2014
Tony Ellender
Current Level 6 activity
• Day release degrees
• On the job training:
– Company-specific taskbooks
– NVQs
• Supported by other training
• An apprenticeship in all but name
• BUT
• Mismatch between competence and knowledge
• Inconsistent across UK
• Does not always contribute to client apprenticeship requirements
• Dictated by academic year
• Impacted by increased tuition fees
Initial SASE-compliant Level 6 Higher Level
Apprenticeship proposal
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Level 6 needed for professional membership
Use existing qualifications where possible
Maintain separate competence and knowledge qualifications
Direct entry or via Level 4/5 Higher Apprenticeships
Consider whether progressive or interim qualifications
Consider opportunities for synergy and innovation
Must be employer-led but include other stakeholders
Supported by EOS 2 but consider Trailblazer status
Range of Construction Management occupations
Replace current part-time degree routes
Level 6 Higher Level Apprenticeship – initial proposal
Knowledge qualification
Advantages
Disadvantages
Degree
Brand attraction
Acceptance by
professional institutions
Academic credibility
Need mapping to NOS
Expensive
Time restrictions
Variability of syllabus
HNC/HND/Level 6
Diploma
Familiarity
Progressive route
Cheaper than degrees
Common syllabus
Linked to NOS
Image/attractiveness to
school leavers
Module restrictions
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Level 6 Higher Level Apprenticeship proposal
Competence qualification Advantages
Disadvantages
NVQ Level 6
Existing qualifications
Lead to CSCS card
Familiarity
Complexity of objectives
Costs
Adapt professional
objectives
Direct route to
professional status
Familiarity
Lower cost
Need approval as
standalone qualifications
Need for qualified
mentors
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Level 6 Higher Level Apprenticeship proposal
• Issues
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Some development of qualifications required
Demand from industry
University-led framework already approved
Funding unclear
• Opportunities
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Overlapping objectives could lead to reduction in duration/cost
Delivery unrelated to academic year
Innovation in delivery/assessment
Incorporate professional membership
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Apprentice Trailblazers (launched 28 October 2013)
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Employer-led: two sides of A4
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Training and Assessment
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Describe what full competence for occupation means (skills, knowledge, behaviours) and outcomes-led
Written by a consortium of at least 5 employers (including SMEs) and appropriate professional body
At least 12 months of training
Include skills and requirements for professional registration
Specify English and Maths requirements
Specify any qualifications necessary
At least 20% off the job
Can include qualifications
Assessment largely at end (two thirds)
Synoptic element to assessment
Apprenticeship graded at end – Distinction, Merit, Pass (can be related to knowledge element only)
Trailblazer Round 2/EOP 2 Proposal
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Not approved for Trailblazer 2 but favourable for Trailblazer 3
Part of EOP Round 2
Occupational areas: Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Building Services
Engineering, Design Management
Consortium of employers and professional bodies already established
Define standards July 2014 (mirror Trailblazer 2 and accelerate readiness for Trailblazer 3 in Sep 2014)
First delivery Sep 2015
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Trailblazers – process for developing
standards/assessment
• Five levels:
– The standard: written by employers and professional bodies
– The high level assessment approach: written by employers and professional
bodies
– The detailed assessment design: can involve training/education providers
– The delivery of assessment: can involve training/education providers (but
must be independent)
– Certification: can involve training/education providers
• Level of non-employer engagement is up to employers but
they must always lead
• Qualifications are not essential but can be included
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Professional Apprenticeship in Construction
Management
• Employer-led
– Balfour Beatty leading
– Number of other UKCG employers involved
– Also SME interest
• Professional institutions
– RICS, ICE and CIOB already supportive
– Engagement with CIBSE and CIAT has started
• Training/Education providers
– CHOBE engaged
– Pearson and Competence Matters interested in a solution
• SSC
– CITB have overseen SASE-compliant Level 6
– CITB facilitated forum for Trailblazer 2
• Other stakeholders?
Professional Apprenticeship in Construction
Management – responsibilities
• Employers
– Express interest and form consortium
– Write standards
– Engage professional institutions
• Professional institutions
– Assist with writing standards
– Incorporate professional assessment
– Engage with training/education providers
• Training/Education providers
– Assist with detailed design of delivery and assessment
– Cost up design and assessment proposals
– Deliver
• SSC role is unclear – consortium directly engages with BIS Account
Manager but SSC could help facilitate/project manage consortium
Professional Apprenticeship in Construction
Management – opportunities
• Content
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Consider common knowledge modules early on
Include latest initiatives (eg BIM)
Include HSE, Sustainability
Consider interim qualifications
• Assessment
– Include professional review (synoptic)
– Decide on what is grade-able and what is not
– Consider use of simulation
• Delivery
– Look at overlaps of Skills, Knowledge and Behaviours
– Consider year round delivery (to meet 20% off-job)
– Compare local day release vs. national block release
• Funding
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Consider once outline design is done
Government contribution still unclear
Compare to current costs
Links to CITB Grant