It’s no surprise that our CEO Alison is over the moon to tell the world about the new Geospatial apprenticeship pathways just announced. COYO has worked closely with our lovely friends at Topcon Positioning, The Survey Association and Chartered Institute Of Civil Engineering Surveyors to support the introduction of surveying in our schools.

We’ve already got some great students lined up for a life less ordinary!

#loveSurveying

Government gives go ahead for Geospatial Apprenticeships

The Secretary of State for Education, Damien Hinds, has given final approval for a Geospatial Technician Apprenticeship by approving the funding band meaning that this is now ready for delivery. The Institute for Apprenticeships has also recommended a final funding band to the Secretary of State for the Geospatial Mapping and Science Degree Apprenticeship and this will also be ready for delivery very shortly.

Both these apprenticeships were approved in September 2017 by the Institute for Apprenticeships and the employers who developed these have been awaiting these funding band approvals before delivery can start – now agreed at £9,000 for the Geospatial Technician Apprenticeship and £27,000 for the Geospatial Mapping and Science Degree Apprenticeship (the latter subject to final sign off from the DfE).

The approval of these apprenticeships means that geospatial employers can use their Apprenticeship Levy payments or Government’s apprenticeship funding to pay for the development of new talent for their businesses.

Antony Jenkins, Chair of the Institute for Apprenticeships said:

“I’m delighted that we’ve been able to approve these standards. High quality apprenticeship standards like this help learners and employers reach their potential.

“More and more businesses of all sizes are realising the benefits that high quality apprenticeships can offer. The Institute is putting employers in control of developing the standards they need, giving learners a basis for lasting employment and overcoming national skills gaps.”

The geospatial apprenticeships have been developed by a group of 19 employers*, led by Skanska and supported by the two relevant professional bodies, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (ICES). The apprenticeship development was also supported by Class of Your Own and The Survey Association (TSA).

TSA kindly provided support funding for the apprenticeship development work.  The group was guided and assisted along the way by Apprenticeship Consultant, Christina Hirst.

Mark Lawton of Skanska, Chair of the Trailblazer Group said:

“It was truly inspiring to see professional bodies, trade bodies and different sectors of industry collaborate together under the project management of Christina Hirst. The future geospatial educational requirements for the apprenticeship have been tailored by the Trailblazer Group, and I feel this is a huge educational step for our geospatial future talent.”

The Geospatial Technician apprenticeship will provide the knowledge, skills and behaviours for successful apprentices to apply to become Associate members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors or of the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors and successful apprentices from the Geospatial Mapping and Science Degree Apprenticeship can apply to become Members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors or the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors.

A number of Colleges and Universities are gearing up to provide these Apprenticeships and employers interested in supporting apprentices can find more information and  the Trailblazer contact for these Apprenticeships by visiting https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/geospatial-survey-technician/ for the Geospatial Technician Apprenticeship and by visiting https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/geospatial-mapping-and-science-degree/ for the Geospatial Mapping and Science Apprenticeship.

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