First ever degree apprenticeship launches in transport planning
Today (11th June 2019) the first ever degree apprenticeship for Transport Planners in England has been approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.
Designed by employers, the Level 6 Transport Planner degree apprenticeship opens up a new route into the profession that combines academic education with practical experience.
Currently, the vast majority of transport planners enter the profession after graduating from university in a wide range of subjects. This apprenticeship will train those in the transport planning profession with the same academic credibility while also delivering the highly technical and professional skills and behaviours needed by transport planners.
There has been strong interest for the scheme and a wide range of employers and universities have been engaged through the development of the apprenticeship. Employers in England are able to recruit candidates immediately with the programme anticipated to start in September 2019 at Aston University.
It is also an ideal route for those on the three-year level-three transport planning technician apprenticeship after they have successfully completed their end point assessment with the CIHT.
Christine Crossley, Chair, Transport Planning Trailblazer group and Peter Brett Associates, now part of Stantec said,
“Through the apprenticeship, transport planners will acquire the technical knowledge, skills and behaviours to enable them to develop sustainable solutions to the complex transport challenges in our society. It provides a clear path for those entering the profession and for those looking to progress from a technician qualification or practical background. Linking closely with the Transport Planning Society’s Professional Development Scheme, it provides a step towards the Transport Planning Professional qualification.”
Sir Gerry Berragan, Chief Executive of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education said,
“Modern apprenticeships open up a range of highly-skilled jobs to a more diverse range of candidates, giving apprentices the opportunity to earn while they learn. I am delighted that our transport planning sector will benefit from this high-quality apprenticeship while another route into an exciting career is opened to our learners.”
During the development of this apprenticeship, the trailblazer group worked with several universities to develop bespoke degrees which include the assessment of the apprenticeship, with the first of these set to launch in September 2019 at Aston University.
Lucy Rackliff, Senior Lecturer in Transport and Logistics, Aston University said,
“Transport challenges are not going away; with work on HS2 underway, environmental impacts of transport, and the complex mobility needs of an ageing population to be addressed, skilled professionals will be more in demand than ever. Aston has a long history of excellence in undergraduate transport education. We are hugely excited to continue this tradition by being the first institution to offer a Degree Apprenticeship in Transport Planning.”
The time needed to complete the apprenticeship can vary, but it is typically completed within four to five years. Levy-paying employers in England can use the levy to fund this apprenticeship, up the maximum funding rate of £23,000.
About the Technical Apprenticeship Consortium (TAC): A network of 15 employers from the engineering consultancy sector, pushing forward the apprenticeship agenda. TAC facilitates the development of Apprenticeship Standards that have been prioritised by the employer members, and support in the development of qualifications, supports employers to identify and ensure ongoing high quality and responsive apprenticeship training provision, and promotes the links from apprenticeships to professional registration across engineering, transport and the environment.
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