In recent years, particularly since the Cassell report’s reforms (2001), the apprenticeship initiative has been seen as one of the best ways of getting young people interested and trained.
New apprenticeship programmes are being developed all the time. For this project, our client needed to establish the business case for a new apprenticeship framework through fieldwork and desktop research. Initially, we mapped and scoped the sectors concerned, which included a review of the qualifications and progression routes currently available. We also consulted with the main regulatory and stakeholder organisations.
Phase two saw consultation with practitioners, organisations and possible providers to confirm the key requirements of the future framework. Ultimately, we were able to advise our client that there is sufficient evidence of a requirement for a new apprenticeship framework and further, advised on the unique requirements this new framework would require in order to ensure supply and demand along with suggesting a possible structure for it.
Other feasibility studies have recently included: the feasibility of establishing a centre of excellence for a particular sub-sector’s training needs; a foundation degree; a skills benchmarking service on a UK-wide basis; a learning centre for a local partnership; the development of National Occupational Standards for particular sectors, and many more.