IFATE Consultation - AHDB Response

Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.

Agricultural, Environmental and Animal Care Route Review

1. Are you an apprentice
   1. Yes
   2. No
2. Which of the following most reflects your type of business? required *
   1. Employer with apprentices
   2. Employer without apprentices
   3. Training Provider
   4. Assessment Organisation
   5. External Qualification Assurance Provider
   6. Professional Body
   7. Trade Association
   8. Other
3. Please indicate which of the following most reflects your size of your business
   1. Micro business (up to 9 people)
   2. Small business (10 – 49)
   3. Medium (50 - 249)
   4. Large (250+)
4. What is the name of your business? Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB)
5. How many of your employees are taking on qualifications other than apprenticeships? 0
6. Please tell us the name and type of qualifications? Non Applicable
7. Please say why these qualifications were chosen instead of an apprenticeship? Non Applicable
8. Do you think that there are any occupations that should be added to the Agriculture, Environmental & Animal Care Occupational Map?
   1. Yes
   2. No
9. Do you think there are any occupations on this map which are in the wrong pathway or cluster?
   1. Yes
   2. No
10. Do you think there are any occupations on this map in black (not currently in development) which are not suitable to be developed into an apprenticeship or T Level?
    1. Yes
    2. No

Stockperson standard

1. Do you think this occupation is still recognised by employers?
   1. Yes
   2. No
   3. Don’t know
2. Do you think this occupation is still in demand from employers?
   1. Yes
   2. No
   3. Don’t know
3. Do you think the title of the occupation reflects the content of the standard?
   1. Yes
   2. No
   3. Don’t know
4. Do you think the standard includes all the knowledge, skills and behaviours an apprentice needs to learn to be competent in this occupation?
   1. Yes
   2. No
   3. Don’t know
5. Do you think that the occupational profile accurately describes the occupation?
   1. Yes
   2. No
   3. Don’t know
6. Do you think that the recommended duration is appropriate for a typical apprentice to complete the requirements, and be ready for a final assessment of occupational competence?
   1. Yes
   2. No
   3. Don’t know
7. Do you think that the content of the standard is up to date (including using the latest technology and terminology)?
   1. Yes
   2. No
   3. Don’t know
8. How many apprentices has your organisation trained using this standard?

Not applicable

9. Do you think that there are other apprenticeship standards available that you could use to train apprentices in this occupation?
   1. Yes
   2. No
   3. Don’t know
10. On average, what percentage of apprentices' total paid working time do they spend doing off-the-job training? required *

Not applicable

11. Have you had any difficulties training apprentices on the content of this standard?

Not applicable

12. Do you know of any difficulties an apprentice has encountered in arranging their end point assesment?

Not applicable

13. Are there positions in your organisation that individuals could apply for once they have finished their apprenticeship?
    1. Yes
    2. No
    3. Don’t know
14. Would you consider employing someone who had completed this apprenticeship with another employer?
    1. Yes
    2. No
    3. Don’t know
15. Do you think that there is enough awareness of this apprenticeship across your sector?
    1. Yes
    2. No

Comment: Uptake of apprenticeships is lower than predicted. Training providers have reported low numbers of students signing up, due to lack of awareness. Through experience engaging with employers, at farm workshops and events, it is further clear that there is minimal or no knowledge that this apprenticeship exists.

In 2017/18 there were 814,800 people participating in an apprenticeship in England. Only 7,000 of those were in the agriculture, horticulture and animal care sector, compared to the top table where 111,000 apprenticeships covered business, administration and law.

There are 200 students currently enrolled on the Stockperson apprenticeship.

The existing apprenticeship frameworks cover levels 2, 3 and 4 and are due for withdrawal July 2020.

Recent consultation with Trailblazer Agriculture Employer Group highlighted the continued support and demand for Stockperson apprenticeship. This group represents eight employers, covering all agriculture sectors and accountable for approx. 500 employees.

16. Does the end point assessment for this apprenticeship give you assurance that apprentices are fully occupationally competent?
    1. Yes
    2. No
17. Do you have any recommendations for improvements to the end point assessment?
    1. Yes
    2. No
    3. Don’t know
18. Do you think that the apprenticeship standard contains anything that could disadvantage apprentices who share a particular Characteristic (defined in the Equalities Act 2010)?
    1. Yes
    2. No
    3. Don’t know
19. Do you think this standard has the ability to incorporate new technologies as and when they emerge?
    1. Yes
    2. No
    3. Don’t know
20. Do you think this standard has the ability to incorporate new or changed regulatory requirements as and when they emerge?
    1. Yes
    2. No
    3. Don’t know
21. Do you think this standard could be broadened out to apply to a wider range of sectors?
    1. Yes
    2. No
    3. Don’t know
22. Does the seasonal nature of this occupation have an effect on apprenticeship starts?
    1. Yes
    2. No
    3. Don’t know
23. Please share any further views about this apprenticeship

Apprenticeships are an important part of what the industry tells us it needs as a comprehensive skills offer to address the recruitment, retention and productivity issues industry currently faces. AHDB is working closely with the Agriculture & Horticulture Skills Leadership Group (SLG) to develop a comprehensive offer. The Trailblazer Group is represented on the SLG. The offer being developed by SLG has three main components and it is intended that ultimately a soon to be created “Institute of Agriculture & Horticulture” (working title) will assume full responsibility for current and future developments/skills initiative.

• A Professional Framework which seeks to create and map job roles in the industry and the competencies required to fulfil them. Once complete, this could help inform the IFATE Route Occupational Map. It also offers would-be recruits into the industry a clear vision of career opportunities and progression pathways together with a comprehensive suite of apprenticeship standards
• A suite of CPD and business support tools. This will help those pre, during and post apprenticeship not only to gain relevant and additional knowledge and skills but also encourage them into a culture of lifelong learning
• A piece around Careers, Recruitment and Retention. Promoting the structure and professional nature of the industry and highlighting its STEM credentials.

A further piece of cross-cutting work is to research Labour Market Information, both current and, importantly, future. This will help inform the need for all types of training including apprenticeship standards.