300 standards and counting…

The Institute for Apprenticeships has approved its 300^th apprenticeship standard for delivery – the Clinical Trials Specialist Apprenticeship¹.

Since implementing a new, streamlined approach, the Institute has seen a marked improvement in approval rates for standards delivery.

In the last six months, we have successfully supported trailblazers to develop and deliver 90² new standards alone. To date, this is the highest number of standards approved in any six month period since the reforms began, and double the previous record which stands at 45 standards³.

Sir Gerry Berragan, chief executive of the Institute for Apprenticeships, said:

With the faster and better programme, we’ve been working closely with trailblazers to get their proposals, standards and end-point assessment plans right first time, which has led to better outcomes for all involved.

Trailblazers are moving through the process quicker than before. However, quality is still very much at the centre of what we do.

Commissioned and delivered in just 10 months⁴, the Clinical Trials Specialist Apprenticeship, is proof that the Institute is committed to the faster and better reforms.

Hannah Barry, of GSK and chair of the Clinical Trials Specialist Trailblazer group, said:

In recent years, finding qualified and competent clinical trials specialists has become increasingly difficult. It isn’t something you hear about at careers fairs, and the opportunities for an amazing career in this area is not widely known.

The Clinical Trials Specialist Apprenticeship will open up another route to attract the best and most talented resources into the sector, contributing to the long-term growth of life sciences in England.

Throughout the process, we were supported and guided by the Institute on how to navigate the processes. As we understood what needed to be done and how everything worked, we managed to move through the process pretty quickly.

John Cope, CBI Head of Education and Skills, said:

Reaching 300 new apprenticeship standards is a great achievement. The Institute for Apprenticeships’ commitment to speed up their approval and quality, as well as improve support for trailblazer groups is welcome.  Businesses want to see these standards in place as soon as possible and the CBI will continue to support the Institute to do this.

The Institute is on target to reach 400 standards approved for delivery by the end of this financial year. To achieve this target, we’ve published our strategic plan 2018-2023 and business plan for 2018-2019.

The strategic plan details the Board’s three guiding principles which should focus the way the Institute delivers, develops and works with others over the next five years. The business plan, aligned with the strategic principles, sets out our priorities and corporate objectives for the next financial year. 

Follow the links for more information on the 300^th standard or to view the strategic plan and business plan.