Apprenticeship training launch

 

A new Coatings Industry Apprenticeship programme was launched on 22^nd September at the Centre for Assessment of Technical Competency – Humber (CATCH). The programme has been developed in a partnership between the British Coatings Federation (BCF), Proskills and Hull College & is designed to meet the skills gaps & changing skills needs of the Coatings Industry.

Apprenticeships now available in the Coatings Industry are: Level 2 Intermediate “Apprenticeship in Production of Coatings” and the Level 3 Advanced “Apprenticeship in Production and Laboratory Operations in Coatings”. The Level 3 apprenticeship qualification has pathways for both Production Operations and Laboratory Operations staff. Units in the production pathway cover the entire process, from the delivery, storage and assembly of materials to the packaging of finished products; ancillary units deal with planning and maintenance operations. Units within the laboratory pathway cover the practical activities consistent with the laboratory support of coatings processes, quality and product development functions. Units common to both pathways cover safety, health and environment, basic coatings technology and self development. Both the Level 2 and Level 3 Apprenticeships are designed to give learners the skills, expertise and knowledge for working in the Coatings Industry.

 

The Apprenticeship programme consists of Functional Skills (Maths and English), Personal Learning and Thinking Skills (PLTS), Employment Rights and Responsibilities (ERR) and a Technical Certificate/Diploma for Knowledge. The programme is delivered by Hull College with the Technical Knowledge element being delivered by the BCF.

The competence and knowledge qualifications are certified by the GQA Qualifications awarding body and the Apprenticeship Framework certificate is issued by Proskills.

 

Derek Rodd, Training Consultant at the BCF said: “Each module can be studied independently, allowing for bite size learning sessions of between 30 minutes and two hours. The inclusion of Self Assessment Questions (SAQs) allows the students to check their own progress, along with their understanding of the learning material.”

 

Students, either existing employees or recruited new to a company, will be appointed a mentor within their own company as well as a dedicated BCF tutor for the technical certificate element of the programme.

 

A network of occupationally qualified assessors who are approved and licensed by the GQA will help deliver the scheme to learners. 

 

Hull College is the only provider of this Apprenticeship training programme in England, which is split into three age bands; 16-18, 19-24, 25+. This goes beyond the Government’s priority of targeting 16 to 18 year olds and demonstrates a significant commitment to improving knowledge and skills amongst those working in the Coatings Industry.

 

Dawn Varley, Senior Trainer Consultant, added: “Hull College staff are delighted to be working closely with Proskills and BCF staff who are all dedicated to the programme and have worked extremely hard to get to this point. The Apprentices who are to embark on this scheme will benefit greatly from the support they will receive from all parties”.