Diary dates and more from the Technical and Further Education Bill
It’s been a slow news period but with some amendments being published in relation to the Bill and the implementation of a couple of aspects of it we should anticipate the wheels are beginning to turn rather faster.
On 4 January, amendments included:
By 1 April 2018 - a Panel to be established that will advise the Institute on all matters concerning English Apprenticeships.
By 1 April 2018 a Panel to advise the Board of the Institute on all matters concerning technical education qualifications.
It will be interesting to see if there will be a recruitment and application process for the Panels that is open to us all, or more of a closed shop. Inevitable they will seek certain skill sets or experience on the Panels. A space to be watched. My predictions would be some brushing up of CVs may be required by some of the establishment – by that I mean people who know, or are known in the Department corridors already, rather than wild horses. I hope I’m proved wrong though.
April 2018 for setting up a Panel to advise upon qualifications suggests that work on the routes, occupational maps and standards will pre-date this - happening this year. Leaving the Panel to advise on the selection and licensing arrangements of awarding organisations from April 2018. If this is the case the timeline for all – or possibly just some sectors as part of a first tranche, is soon on us. There has been talk of construction skills to be amongst those addressed first, let’s see.
On the 4 January a consultation on the Strategic Guidance to the Institute of Apprenticeships was launched too. It asks for comments on the role, core principles, standards development and approval, assessment and funding. Get your responses in by 31 January. I’d encourage AOs to be active and respond to all consultations.
Also, something worth thinking about is are you ready to get your employers – who work with you - on-board where there may be opportunities as part of the expert panels of employers who will look at the routes, occupational maps and standards?
I’m still trying to figure out what an ‘employer’ might look like, particularly where in certain trades the majority are self-employed or sole traders and the ‘large/medium/small’ organisation doesn’t represent where most people are employed. Would the people on the admin/management/business route panel be people who do and know the jobs or the HR Director or MD? The age-old problem of who represents employers rears its head again.
Watch this space for any concrete updates being critiqued. My next blog post will be 20 January but interim of that if something more or real news comes out keep an eye on this space.
Heather Venis
Principal, Awarding First
Heather@awardingfirst.co.uk