The Accelerate Programme - Apprenticeship

In order to attract the funding via an apprenticeship, there are some requirements we need to meet. All apprentices are required to complete a minimum of 6 hours a week of their working hours on off the job training, be on programme for minimum amount of months depending on their level of apprenticeship, complete functional skills in both English and Maths and participate in regular progress reviews.

Off the Job Training:

Off the job training is anything which teaches any new knowledge, skills or behaviours that are required as part of the apprenticeship outside of their normal day-to-day work. Our programme is structured into workshops, workbooks and projects to ensure that new knowldge, skills and behaviours are taught and implemented throughout the programme. We have adapted the programme to meet these minimum hours without impacting the business negatively. This will result in less time for day-to-day operations in the short term, however the time lost will be spent on streamlining processes, which in turn will be recouperated over the long term.

Minimum Durations:

Apprenticehsips require the learners to be on programme for a minimum duration. This typically works off level, however some standards may differ.

Learners undertaking the Level 2 Lean Manufacturing Operative apprenticeship will be required to be on programme for a minimum of 12 months with End Point Assessment taking place over the 3 months after. This would mean the programme in total would be 15 months.

Learners undertaking the Level 3 Improvement Technician and Level 4 Improvement Practitioner will be required to be on programme for a minimum of 14 months with End Point Assessment taking place over the 3 months after. This would mean the programmes in total would be 17 months.

Functional Skills:

All apprentices are required to work towards a Level 2 in both English and Maths for Functional Skills. Learners completing the Level 2 Lean Manufacturing Operative apprenticeship are required to achieve a minimum of Level 1 Functional Skills English and Maths. All other levels must achieve a minimum of Level 2 Functional Skills in English and Maths. If a learner has proxies (for example, GCSE grades C (4) or above in both English and Maths) they will automatically meet this requirement and will not need to participate in Functional Skills.

Progress Reviews:

As per the funding rules, we are required to conduct regular tripart reviews throughout the programme to demonstrate learning and identify any areas where the learner may be struggling. We operate on an 8 week schedule meaning a review will take place more or less every other month. The reviews involve the learner, us as the training provider and yourself or someone from senior management as their employer. We also use this oppurtunity to address any concerns you or the learners may have and ensure the business is reaping the benefits as much as possible from the programme.

Evidence of Learning:

Learners will be required to complete a mixture of learning activities each month throughout the programme. These consist of workshops, workbooks, e-learning courses and improvement projects. Majority of the learning will take place doing hands on improvement projects with the workshops and workbooks teaching them the theory and tools required to perform these projects.