Important article in Motor Transport regarding the new reduced amount allocated to fund two new LGV Driver Apprenticeships by the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education (IFATE). Skills for Logistics has spoken to many training providers about this, all of whom believe it would not be in the interests of employers or apprentices to offer a sub-standard programme at a cut price. Thoughts on this very welcome and the road haulage Trailblazer Group (TBG) is seeking support for a procedural review.
Please read the article from Motor Transport here: Read more
We are delighted at the announcement from the DVSA yesterday that LGV and PCV Vocational Training can resume from next month, albeit on a limited basis for the time being. Having worked closely with the DVSA during the pandemic, we are delighted to have been able to support and represent the industry’s concerns during this difficult few months.
Skills for Logistics continues to support LGV training businesses to ensure DVSA grow examiner capacity to 100,000 to meet the backlog and new increasing future demand.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to solve the 60,000 driver shortage, providing a worthwhile career to those looking to join our vibrant and innovative sector!!
At the start of the Covid19 lockdown, the DVSA suspended testing of new LGV drivers and no new drivers have entered the industry since that date. Unfortunately the DVSA has still not confirmed when LGV driving tests will resume, leading to fears that the transport industry will soon see a worsening of the driver shortage.
At Skills for Logistics we felt it was particularly important to engage directly with the 150 plus LGV training providers across the UK, by conducting a survey asking whether the LGV training sector can bounce back to tackle the back log of 20,000 + lost driving tests.
We’ve been working closely with the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IFATE), and our industry external quality assurance provider, NSAR,to agree an alternative means of delivering EPA’s in a safe manner during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Skills for Logistics is now pleased to announce that with immediate effect we are in a position to commence remote delivery of EPA for LGV Driver apprenticeships. Our assessment methodology, agreed with IFATE and NSAR, is based on the following plan:
Knowledge test – via our own bespoke online portal
Practical driving observation – via witness testimonies, supported by Professional Discussion
As an end-point assessor our main focus is apprenticeships. The work we do is predicated on the advice and regulations laid out by the government. In many respects, these new apprenticeship standards, the levy, the shift in definitions, expectations and opportunities resemble one large experiment.
We, like many other in the education sector, are excited by the potential and are starting to see good numbers of apprentices go through end-point assessment.
We are also seeing businesses move past perceiving the Levy as merely an additional tax. Critically in our sector, logistics, we finally have a vocational training opportunity that could help resolve the skills crisis.
If you were not already aware, Large Goods Vehicles (LGV) drivers alone have an average age of 53 in the UK and, depending on who you listen to, hundreds of thousands of new recruits are needed to address shortages by 2024.
However, there are real issues affecting the viability of this experiment. Businesses are opting for higher level apprenticeships, which is resulting in an overspend of the apprenticeship budget. I’m sure there are many reasons contributing to this situation but here is what we’ve observed in our sector…
The 6th April 2019 marked the 2 years anniversary of the apprenticeship levy coming into effect and I believe it has taken quite literally that amount of time for most employers and stakeholders to fully understand it.
Working with The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (the Institute), we can see the direct impact the new standards are having on employer behaviour and how apprenticeships are being embedded into workforce planning and talent pipelines. As Anne Milton highlighted, apprenticeships bring new blood into businesses, they promote local talent and upskill the existing workforce.
Going forward, there is still a lot to do, particularly with non-levy payers and entry level standards. I know the government want to see the Institute become much more transparent and to build more open and fluid relationships with employers, and the Institute to be viewed as facilitators rather than just a regulator.
I see my role at the Institute very much as an ambassador and certainly engaging as much as possible with employers and training providers – encouraging full usage of the levy pot. If not this route, then definitely to promote the opportunity to transfer 25% to connected businesses in oppose to losing it month by month.
