Apprenticeship numbers continue to rise at GET (Gloucestershire Engineering Training)
Apprenticeship numbers continue to soar at Gloucestershire Engineering Training (GET)
Despite all the negative press around the apprenticeship reforms and national apprenticeship starts being significantly lower than in previous years, apprenticeship numbers at Gloucestershire Engineering Training (GET) across all their programmes continue to rise. Some 116 new engineering apprentices working towards the new level 3 apprenticeship standard started at the Gloucester-based centre in September 2018, putting it at full capacity. GET’s chief executive officer Linsey Temple said that surprisingly, the growth in numbers hasn’t just been from apprenticeship levy-paying businesses, as GET has also seen the numbers from smaller employers rocket. The increase has meant that GET has had to cap its numbers this year, due to the ongoing demand from its Gloucestershire-based employers. This has created a sense of panic with some of their employers starting their recruitment processes as early as November 2018 for the September 2019 starts, with several existing customers already stating further increases again for the 2019 intake. And it isn’t just the level 3 programme experiencing growth. Increases have also been seen in the level 2 apprenticeship, which is delivered in its entirety at
the employer’s premises and those enrolling onto HE provision. Numbers on the level 2 programme have more than tripled in the past six months, resulting in new jobs being created within GET, and plans are well underway for GET to be in a position to offer degree level provision by September 2019. With many employers still struggling to spend their apprenticeship levy contributions, GET is also looking to support its smaller customers by facilitating transfer arrangements, allowing levy payers to contribute towards the cost of apprenticeship provision for those not currently paying the apprenticeship levy. With the first year of the reforms out of the way and more clarity around the systems and processes, GET are a lot more confident in its strategic decision to fully convert to the new Trailblazer Apprenticeship Standards to support employer needs. “It’s what our employers want and offers far greater value for money than the old frameworks,” explained Linsey Temple. The biggest challenge for GET now is fulfilling all the existing and future demand l GET has been designing and delivering engineering and training programmes for large and small employers since 1977. For more details visit: get-trained.org or call 01452 423461
December 2018 | www. punchline-gloucester .com | 39
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