The LGV Driver Cat C+E Apprenticeship is chosen for an exceptional funding band review Funding for the future

On 17 January 2023, the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education announced that 20 apprenticeships had been selected to be considered for an exceptional funding band review. The LGV Driver Cat C+E Apprenticeship is one of those 20.

This Level 2 apprenticeship gained full accreditation for articulated and drawbar vehicle drivers on 6 August 2021. It takes 13 months to complete and the funding band was set at a maximum of £7,000 after two procedural reviews and lobbying by the Trailblazer Group and Trade Associations of the then secretary of state for transport, Grant Shapps.

The Institute has selected the Apprenticeship for Exceptional Funding Review based on the following criteria: impact of cost increases on the delivery of training; skills shortage occupations; priority industry sectors; and the number of apprenticeship starts that there were in 2021/22.

The LGV Driver Apprenticeship had 2,830 starters in the 2021/22 academic year – the most it had ever recorded in one year since the original Cat C Apprenticeship was introduced in 2016. After consultation, the Trailblazer Group

A sub-group of the Trailblazer for Transport and Logistics is currently working with IFATE to update the Standard and EPA of the existing Warehouse Operative Apprenticeship, which was originally introduced in 2016.

The existing Supply Chain Operator Apprenticeship currently has two options. One for a traffic office role such as a traffic planner or traffic operator and one for a removals operator. This obviously will not work as the roles are only minimally connected. The Trailblazer Group has established a sub-group to update and revise the true Supply Chain Operator Apprenticeship. Another sub-group led by the British Association of Removers is looking to develop a separate Removals Operative Apprenticeship.

was unanimously in agreement that an Exceptional Funding Band Review should be carried out and this decision was relayed to IFATE on 27 January 2023.

The format for the setting of funding bands has changed since the apprenticeship was accredited in 2021 and quotations from three training providers are no longer required.

The evidence of training costs based on the Apprenticeship Training Plan is the core of the submission. The elements of costs to be considered are as follows: training instructor employment costs based on classroom, distance learning and one-to-one tuition; consumables (fuel etc); mandatory qualification costs; end-point assessment costs; non-teaching time; and administration costs.

Since the Apprenticeship Funding Band was fixed in 2021, training providers have incurred significant increases in salaries for training instructors and fuel costs. The training providers in the Trailblazer Group were very supportive in providing information to complete the submission. This was made on 24 February 2023 in accordance with IFATE’s timetable and represents a substantial increase to the funding value, although IFATE will only consider increases by one funding band.

Next, the data and evidence provided will be verified. IFATE is due to make a funding recommendation to the Department for Education on 17 April 2023, with a view to any revision being applied from 1 May 2023.

In my last column I promised to update you on the Route Review being conducted by IFATE of the Transport and Logistics Sector. The analysis of the consultation questionnaire responses has now been forwarded to the Route Panel. They were meeting in February to consider the impact of the results of the consultation on the Principles and Characteristics of Apprenticeship Standards. A further meeting for Trailblazer chairs to be advised of IFATE’s views as a result of the consultation is planned for 2 March 2023. Like many processes within the Department for Education, progress is slow, but I will keep you informed as more developments occur.

■ Jim French MBE, Co-chair Trailblazer Group, Transport and Logistics