Apprenticeships update
Simon Richmond, Senior Technical Officer
The Trailblazer Apprenticeship Management Group met on 27th September to discuss progress on the various apprenticeships in Forestry, Horticulture and Landscaping, and Arboriculture.
Levels 4–6
The work on development of the higher-level apprenticeships is mostly complete. The Level 4 Arboriculturist programme has been approved and is ready to be launched. At time of writing, the End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO) has still not been formally confirmed but it is hoped that this is imminent. There is strong demand for this qualification, which is a two-year programme, offered by Myerscough College. The college hopes to launch and start registrations this autumn.
The Level 5 Horticulture apprenticeship is complete and approved but does not yet have an agreed EPAO.
The Level 6 Professional Arboriculturist programme is expected to be available from September 2023; this will be an integrated degree, through the University of Central Lancashire. The integrated degree is a very attractive proposition for those who are already in employment, if their employer can be persuaded to engage, as it potentially offers the opportunity to remain employed while studying for a degree, which is effectively paid for by the government.
The Level 6 Professional Forester programme was fully approved as an integrated degree, on 18th August 2022, with a band rating of £22,000 of government funding for the three-year programme. This was launched for registration on 7th September through the University of Central Lancashire, with the Forestry Commission, Forestry England, National Trust and Woodland Trust on board as employers. Twenty-four learners have been registered in the first intake.
Levels 2–3
The Level 2 Arborist apprenticeship has been subject to a comprehensive review, following industry consultation. This process is drawing to its conclusion currently and it is expected that registrations on the
new standard will commence shortly. Further updates on this will be announced as soon as dates have been confirmed. The recently revised Level 3 Forest Craftsperson (replacing the old Level 2 Forest Operative) is now live, with a band rating of £14,000 for the two-year programme.
The Level 2 Horticulture or Landscape Operative is currently live and the Level 3 Horticulture or Landscape Supervisor is still under review. At time of writing the assessment methods have not been finalised but their development is well underway.
New representation
The Association’s new Technical Officer, Mark Hemming, will be leading on the development and implementation of arboricultural apprenticeships in the future. As I step back from this role, I would like to express my thanks to and enormous respect for the team who have led these industry trailblazer apprenticeships to fruition: Ros Burnley, who is the facilitator and effectively the project manager; Steve Fowkes, the Management Group Chair; Andy Tipping, current Arb Sub-Group Chair (and others who took that role before him); and last, but not least, Neil Bunch, our Industry Partnership Manager from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IFATE). It has been a great pleasure working with you all, thank you.
This article was taken from Issue 199 Winter 2022 of the ARB Magazine, which is available to view free to members by simply logging in to the website and viewing your profile area.