Apprenticeship Discount

HAP are investigating the possibility of getting all HAP Members (than means everyone who sits on the actual panel and all Apprentices that sign up to the forum) NUS Discount.
Former HAP Chair Chris Roberts stated “As Apprentices we do consider ourselves as still in full-time education even though in the majority of cases we work over 37 hours per week, grated we do get paid for working and learning however why shouldn’t Apprentices be entitled to NUS discount? Why can’t Apprentices get into student nights in nightclubs, get discount at certain high street stores?”
HAP consider themselves as a Student Union, and are looking into ways how they could become affiliated with the NUS to enable all Apprentices involved in HAP to gain access to NUS discount. Lucy Atkinson (HAP Vice-Chair and National Learner Panel Member) will be taking this to the next National Learner Panel (NLP) meeting to discuss this further with key member of the NUS who attend the NLP Meetings.
Further discussions are happening with NUS in the coming months, however if you are an Apprentice in the Humber sub-region try the following links as you maybe able to access discount through these sites.

More and more apprentices are now going on to study higher-level qualifications.

There are many opportunities for progression beyond your Advanced Apprenticeship:
Higher Level NVQ’sStudying for a higher level NVQ provides competences that involve the application of knowledge and skills in a broad range of complex, technical or professional work activities. There is a substantial degree of personal autonomy as well as responsibility for the work of others. The allocation of substantial resources features strongly, as do personal accountabilities for analysis and diagnosis, design, planning, execution and evaluation.
DegreesThere are various degrees available such as Bachelor Degrees, Foundation Degrees, Masters Degrees and Doctorates. For many industries a degree is necessary for example Law and Medicine. The majority of courses last three years but there are also four year sandwich courses where one year of study is spent in industry. Degrees can be studied full time or part time.
HNC/HNDA Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Diploma (HND) is available in everything from accounting to video production. HNC’s are often studied part time over two years ideal for those who also work. HND’s take two years full time to complete or longer part time. HNC’s can allow entry into the second year of an honours degree while HND’s allow entry into the second or third year.
Modes of study include:
Applicants for full time higher education will need to ensure that the Advanced Apprenticeship qualification is accepted by the university or college for the chosen subject. Full-time student will be able to get a student loan to assist with costs, such as the course fees and subsistence costs. More than 40% of students in higher education are studying on a part-time basis; students can continue to earn a wage, and non-repayable grants are now available to help with the costs of fees. The grants are means tested on the student’s own wage.

Advanced Apprenticeship Graduation Ceremony 2009

The third Advanced Apprenticeship Graduation Ceremony for young people in the Humber sub-region who had achieved their Advanced Apprenticeships took place on Tuesday 4 November 2008, at the Hull City Hall. Over 400 Advanced Apprentices from across the Humber sub-region achieved their Advanced Apprenticeship between January 2007 and June 2008 and were invited to attend the ceremony along with family, friends, employers and Work Based Learning providers.

This was the most successful ceremony to date with over 170 Advanced Apprentices graduating; the ceremony followed the success of the first two ceremonies in October 06 and October 07. The event is proving to be a great success amongst the Advanced Apprentices and is seen as a great way of celebrating the success of our local young people and raising the profile of Apprenticeships.
The ceremony would not have been possible without the support and contributions received and CfL would like to thank the sponsors of this prestigious event including Kingstown Works Ltd; Harris, Lacey and Swain; Yorkshire and Humber East Lifelong Learning Network and the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Learner Panel. CfL would also like to give thanks to those Apprenticeship providers who contributed to the event and gave support on the day.

Preparations for the 2009 Graduation Ceremony are now underway. Advanced Apprentices completing their Apprenticeship between June 2008 and June 2009 will be invited along with their employers and Apprenticeship provider to attend the ceremony.
HAP and CfL want to ensure we can continue celebrating the success of Apprentices in the Humber Sub-region through this high profile event. If you would like to find out more about this years ceremony or are interested in being involved please contact Carolyn Robins at CfL on 01482 641000 (Carolyn@consortiumforlearning.co.uk) and help us ensure Apprentices get the recognition they deserve.

HAP Meet with Ofsted - 14/10/2008

In October 2008, Ofsted hosted a seminar to talk to learners about how they can be involved more during future inspections. It was an opportunity to engage directly with learners and get their opinions. Inspection events, the consultation process and proposed report structures were all on the agenda and feedback was very positive and productive. The day was just one part of the consultative process and in November Ofsted launched its online consultation on the proposals for further education and skills inspections.

Learners were represented by a wide range of organisations. Humber Apprentice Panel facilitator, Dave Thompson, said, ‘The learner voice is essential to improve all aspects of learning for the better.’ He saw working with Ofsted as a way of making that voice heard. ‘It’s vital the Humber Apprentice Panel assist Ofsted in re-developing inspections for work-based learning providers. In the majority of cases apprentices are based miles away from their training provider and at the present moment Ofsted can only approach in-house apprentices,’ he commented. ‘We’re currently discussing how we can capture the apprentice voice, maybe by developing an Ofsted communication tool via the web although we have to consider apprentices who have no internet access.’

Chair of the same panel, Chris Roberts said, ‘It’s important we understand that Ofsted inspectors are there to support improvement for the provider and especially for the learner, and not to catch them out. I think we can make a difference to how Ofsted inspections are portrayed through promotions such as Ofsted’s posters. And look at the different ways in which we can capture the learner voice such as one-to-one confidential interviews with learners, maybe having learners show Ofsted inspectors around work-based providers, schools and colleges.’
Nick Hagan represented the Edge Learner Forum and said he felt that ‘Ofsted is making a concerted effort to come to terms with developments in the social and educational spectrum, particularly with regard to the learner voice, and the openness and transparency of the consultation was largely indicative of this. By working alongside bodies such as the Edge Learner Forum, Ofsted is taking a significant step towards inspections becoming more accessible to students, and towards the acknowledgment of young people’s own points of view being indispensable to the future of educational faculties.’
For Sue Hinde, who was a member of the National Learner Panel in 2007/08, ‘Ofsted is not just a talking shop about involving learners – I think they are involving learners. At the seminar we were encouraged and enabled to come up with our own ideas on inspection as well as providing a learner perspective on Ofsted’s ideas.’
HAP will continue to assist Ofsted by attending future learner voice seminars to continue to give the views of Apprentices in the Humber Sub Region. If you are an Apprentices from the Sub-Region who would like to input into any future Learner Voice Seminar, please contact Dave Thompson on (01482) 641000 or e-mail dave@consortiumforlearning.co.uk

Former Panel Members - Vicky Hunter

Vicky Hunter - I am currently undertaking the Advanced Apprenticeship in Business Administration with McArthur Dean Training. I could bring ideas to the panel about my experiences on the apprenticeship programme. I have finished my level 2 qualifications and have progressed onto my level 3. I am confident person and can project my opinions well. Vicky left HAP in October 2008 due to work commitments however Vicky still remotely shares ideas and her thoughts on Apprenticeship via e-mail and the forum.

Former Panel Members - Chris Roberts

Christopher Roberts - I am currently on an Advanced Apprenticeship course which consists of an NVQ level 3 IT Professional and a BTEC national award IT Practitioner, I attend both of these courses at Hull ITeC in Hull and I attend a day release once every two weeks. I currently work within a training organisation that deliver Apprenticeships and Advanced Apprenticeships in engineering and construction and would like to be able to offer advice to some of my fellow learners. I am already a part of a setup called the ITEC Voice in which I write updates for our monthly Equality and Diversity update. I have already been trained in Information, Advice and Guidance so these skills would be useful on the panel. Chris was originally Chair of HAP, due to completing his Apprenticeship and receiving promotion within his job role Chris was no longer available to continue his work with HAP. Chris still shares his thoughts on Apprenticeships through e-mail with HAP facilitator Dave Thompson.

Meet the Panel - Paula Kitching

Paula Kitching – I am currently undertaking an Apprenticeship in Customer Service with HYA Training. I could bring ideas to the panel about my experiences on the apprenticeship programme. I have finished my level 2 qualification in Business Administration and have progressed onto my level 2 Customer service. I am quite confident in working in a team and am able to voice my opinions. Whilst been on the panel I have actually found out a lot more information about apprenticeships that I did not know,
Whilst been on the panel I have become more confident and have met new people that are from different work areas to me. I now know of the different providers and what courses they do.