Degree Apprenticeships paving the way to tackle skills gaps

Back in 2022 the CIOB was approved on the register for End Point Assessment Organisations and although it is still early days, we are seeing a positive shift towards the way apprenticeships in the built environment are being received by employers. Over 100 have now partnered with us as their preferred organisation and they tell us that the quality of successful apprentices is really high due to the rigour and competence-based assessment we have in place. Equally we have identified plenty of apprentices who are MCIOB equivalent through the process, giving them a Chartered professional qualification that will enhance their career prospects.

The way the apprenticeship standards are delivered and assessed is an outstanding success with each facet of the journey working together to make sure the apprentices have a positive experience. Those standards are shaped so knowledge, skills and behaviours can be interpreted by employers to meet the way they operate as an organisation.  The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education is set to review some of the standards already in place, but our view is that any changes now could have a negative impact on the sector as it is still early in the lifecycle of the standard, especially as the pandemic effected delivery for so long. We feel that any changes to the occupational standards could unsettle things and potentially result in over assessment.

Next on our horizon is the L3 Construction Support Technician standard which will align with our forthcoming TechCIOB grade. Our application to the Education and Skills Funding Agency for assessment of this standard has already taken place and we are now awaiting the feedback. We are also working with the L5 Heritage Construction Specialist trailblazer group providing them with support on the development of the apprenticeship assessment plan. If all things go well once the standard is live in 2023 the CIOB will apply to become the first assessment organisation of this standard.

The devolved nations are also on our radar and excitingly we have been invited to support the development of construction degree apprenticeships in Wales.  This means CIOB will be able to offer a direct route to chartership for Welsh apprentices on completion of their apprenticeship.  This is a fantastic opportunity to work from the ground up ensuring construction degrees fully align with occupational requirements in a vocational way.  We envisage uptake will be off the scale and will pave the way to bridging the skills shortage gap. 

If you would like to know more about our work on degree apprenticeships, please contact [email protected].