Employer Focus: 5 Things you need to know about the new Apprenticeship Standards

What You Need to Know About the New Apprenticeship Standards

Even if you didn’t read our previous blog, you may have heard that all the old-style Apprenticeship Frameworks are slowly being replaced by the new Apprenticeship Standards — and you might be wondering what all the fuss is about.

Below are five key things you should know about the Apprenticeship Standards and why they’ve been a welcome change for both employers and training providers alike.

1. They have been written by employers

In our last piece, we wrote about how the new standards were being written by ‘trailblazers’ — groups made up of employers operating within the relevant industry. This has worked extremely well, with the new standards being well received in almost every case. Training programmes are now far more reflective of actual job roles and industry training requirements. They’re also designed to be more flexible.

The trailblazers have drawn from their extensive experience within each sector to create standards that are relevant, robust, and valuable for employers, training providers, and apprentices alike.

2. They incorporate a mixture of knowledge and skills

The new Apprenticeship Standards are designed not only to teach essential industry and job role knowledge, but also to provide real-world learning and experience. Most of the standards follow the “know it, show it, live it” format:

• Know it: Learners gain knowledge and understanding of best practice within their role and industry.
• Show it: They apply their new skills in the workplace.
• Live it: They embed learned behaviours into their everyday work.

After working with employers over the past year, we’ve seen a very positive response. Employers view the training as much more relevant to their business and ways of working.

3. Functional Skills give the learning opportunity an extra boost

Functional Skills in Maths and English are incorporated into the standard for those who haven’t already achieved these qualifications (or the equivalent). Functional Skills are a great way to enhance written and verbal communication while brushing up on numeracy. They are, as the name suggests, “functional” — learners complete tasks they can actually apply in real-world scenarios.

We know employers value these competencies, and having them built into the Apprenticeship programme is a valuable bonus. It gives individuals the opportunity to improve essential skills they may not have previously developed.

4. They can be tailored to suit your business

Although the standards are written by industry leaders, they are still flexible enough to be customised for your business. Programmes can incorporate elements of your existing internal training and focus on specific development areas that your teams need. They can also adapt to various learning styles and individual requirements.

5. End-Point Assessment gives real value to the qualifications

With the old frameworks, learners would build a portfolio of evidence that was then assessed for a pass. In contrast, the new standards give learners the opportunity to showcase their learning through a variety of End-Point Assessment methods — such as interviews, presentations, workplace observations, and project work.

This approach not only helps learners achieve a grade (pass, merit, or distinction), but also gives employers a clear picture of the progress their teams have made during the programme.

The changes within the Apprenticeship sector over the past year have been significant. Programmes are now much more aligned to employer and industry needs, helping to close skills gaps and offering a recognised, highly valuable alternative route into employment.

These changes have been widely welcomed. Here at Fareport, we’ve seen a significant increase in employers investing in Apprenticeships. From SMEs to large corporates, many businesses are now embracing Apprenticeships and benefiting from the real value they bring to the workplace.