RACPD Apprenticeship Learner Guide

APPRENTICESHIP LEARNER GUIDE

Established in 1998, the Royal Artillery Centre for Personal Development (RACPD) is a successful provider of apprenticeships and nationally recognised qualifications to the Royal Artillery, other Service personnel and the wider Defence community including veterans and dependants.

We offer over 40 civilian vocational and professional qualifications to help improve an individual’s skills and knowledge now, and in preparation for their next career. We cover a wide range of subjects within our courses, from logistics to telecommunications, teacher education, Functional Skills and leadership & management.

CEO Introduction Welcome to RACPD and the Royal Artillery apprenticeship scheme. We are looking forward to supporting you on your learning journey starting with a level 2 apprenticeship at the beginning of your career. Your apprenticeship will consist of Functional Skills in maths and English followed by work based learning, in your new role, in your regiment. You will be mentored throughout by an assessor, who may be a civilian who has served Claire Foxley in the Army or by a Green Assessor; someone in Chief Executive uniform in your unit who is helping us to help you.

Once you are in the unit you will also meet your RACPD Personal Development Advisor/Mentor and/or Learning Centre Manager; both of whom will be very happy to help you with any apprenticeship or education queries you may have.

Once you have achieved your first apprenticeship, we hope you will be inspired to continue your learning throughout your Army career and we will provide you with as many options and opportunities (such as a level 3 apprenticeship, a teaching or IT qualification) to do that as we can. Good luck to you as you start your apprenticeship, keep focussed and enjoy learning – we will do our best to support you throughout and ensure it is a great educational experience.

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W hat is an apprentice It takes lots of different trades to make the Army an effective workforce on operations and in camp. The Army has one of the largest apprenticeship programmes in the UK which enables soldiers to develop in their roles and gain a qualification in a specific trade.

The Army apprenticeship programme is part of a nationally recognised scheme, giving soldiers the chance to gain a qualification ‘on the job’. This means they also complete the programme with valuable skills and experience which can be built on during, and after a military career.

So what is involved in an apprenticeship?

• Training delivered in your workplace • A nationally recognised qualification • Development of relevant skills, knowledge and behaviours • Depending on the programme, an average of 12-15 months to complete • You must complete off-the-job training Includes Functional Skills - maths and English (if not already achieved.)

• You will work towards an End Point Assessment, undertaken at the end of the course by an independent organisation Added Extras!

You’ll be eligible to apply for an Apprentice Extra card and receive discounts in-store and online from your favourite brands.

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Learning 1. Initial Assessment • Meet mentors and assessors • Complete induction paperwork and presentation

Journey 4. On/Off the job training • At your workplace or when deployed • Whilst on military training courses • Fits in around your role and career

3. Progress reviews • Allows face to face meetings with mentor • Allows setting of goals and checking/assessment of work completed • Review of off the job training hours

2. Induction • In your regiment’s location or virtually • Embedded into the apprenticeship • Fitted around regimental commitments

5. Functional Skills • Maths • English • ICT (only specific programmes)

6. Assessment • Planned to fit around your progress • In conjunction with your Chain of Command • Where possible when events occur at work • End Point Assessment once all elements completed

7. The future • Progress to the next level where appropriate/available • Identify additional personal and professional development

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1. Initial Assessment Prior to being inducted onto an apprenticeship you will undergo a series of online assessments to identify your current English and maths levels, a review of your current relevant skills and to identify any learning needs you may have. This will allow your Personal Development Advisor/ Mentor (PDA/M) or Learning Centre Manager (LCM) to identify the academic level you are working at.

2. Induction 2. Induction At induction you will meet your mentor/assessor who will guide you through the apprenticeship programme. They will be qualified and competent in the skills you are learning. You will agree deadlines and be introduced to the systems and policies in place to support your learning. They will also assess and monitor your progression with the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs) needed for End Point Assessment.

The induction will outline the overall requirements of the award and how the units will be achieved. At this point specific opportunities for assessment will be identified and agreed with your mentor/assessor.

You will be given your workbook and there will be paperwork to complete.

You will then be given your initial tasks to complete before meeting for your next review in 8 - 12 weeks.

3. Progress Reviews 3. Progress Reviews Whilst on programme you will be able to contact your assessor/ mentor at any time. During your reviews you will discuss what

progress you have made including how you have applied your new found skills and knowledge (including Functional skills) to your job. This is your opportunity to give us feedback and seek help and support with any aspect of the programme or evidence collection requirements as necessary.

Your assessor/mentor will also help you to set goals to be completed before you meet in again in 8 - 12 weeks’ time.

4. On/Off the job training

Whilst you are on the programme, it is highly likely that you will be undertaking a military trade course that will be tied to your apprenticeship. This is an opportunity to learn new skills, introduce new ways of working and perhaps prepare you for promotion.

The skills you learn in your trade will directly count towards your apprenticeship and will open up opportunities for assessment and collection of evidence before, during and after the training has been conducted.

The ‘Main Aim’ of the apprenticeship is achieved while spending time in the workplace doing your job. Your assessor/mentor will identify times for observations and assessments agreed with you to achieve the goals you agreed at review meetings.

5. Functional Skills As part of your apprenticeship, RACPD will support you to achieve your Level 1 or 2 Functional Skills in English, maths and, in some apprenticeships ICT. This is achieved in one of the RACPD Learning Centres.

If you already hold GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above, we will help keep up those skills while you concentrate on the Main Aim.

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If you wish to improve your Functional Skills beyond level 2 then you can speak to your PDA/M who can help direct you to the best sources of information.

6. Assessment Assessment 6.

All apprenticeships now require an end point assessment (EPA) which may include an online test, a practical observation, professional discussion/ case study and an interview before you complete. These will be planned in conjunction with regimental staff. More details can be found on the website.

7. The Future 7. The Future On successful completion of your apprenticeship you may have the opportunity to progress onto higher levels. Your PDA/M or LCM is your first port of call and will make sure you have all the necessary information to help you decide on your personal development goals, maximising all opportunities available to you.

RACPD Apprenticeship Staff

Apprenticeship Manager Andy Ross

Nick Newland 01980 845891 or 94322 5891

Find us online and keep up-to-date with all the latest courses, competitions and information.

Follow us on Twitter @RACPD

Connect with us on LinkedIn

Follow us on Facebook @RACPD

Follow us on Instagram @racpdmarketing

Assessor Peter Newman

01980 845891 or 94322 5891

Logistics IQA

The skills you have learnt whilst on the apprenticeship will help you in your military career and when you leave the Army. Remember your apprenticeship is widely recognised in industry and completing it will enable an easier transition into the civilian world workplace.

Telecoms Assessor Beckie Thorpe

Telecoms Assessor South Paul Mules 01980 845312 or 94322 5312

UAS IQA Mark Newman 01980 845312 or 94322 5312

Functional Skills Lead

Head of Quality

Alison Hinds 01980 845554 or 94322 5554

Sarah Gerken 01980 634084 or 94322 2084

Or sign-up to our e-newsletter at www.racpd.org.uk

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Regimental s

LARKHILL PURVIS LINES

LCM

Dave Hone

01980 845770

or 94322 5770

PDA Kerri Doherty 01980 634261 or 94322 2261

Key: LCM = Learning Centre Manager PDA = PD Advisor PDM = PD Mentor LCA - Learning Centre Administrator

PDM Si Irwin

NEWCASTLE

0191 2393498 or 94723 3484

14 REGT RA/ROBERTS BARRACKS CATTERICK/TOPCLIFFE PDA PDA LCA

LCM LCM PDA Brenda Edwards Kerri Doherty 01980 845273 01980 634261 or 94322 5273 or 94322 2261

LCA (both) Faye Cadman 01980 634261 or 94322 2261

THORNEY ISLAND

LCM Nikki Walters 01243 388298 or 94295 8298

PDM Mark Slaiter

Assessor Kevin Needs 07515 334596

PLYMOUTH

01752 236067 or 93784 6067

Jim Harker

Chris Mark Susan Tierney Keane Hudson Catterick 01748 875961 or 94712 5961 Topcliffe 01845 595230 or 94712 5230

Assessor Neil Reeves

COLCHESTER

PDM Laura Wheeler 01206 815393 or 94660 5393

Your details Your apprenticeship Your start date Your planned end date Functional Skills start date and teacher Your VLE username Your assessor/mentor Progress Review date Your targets/actions Progress Review date Your targets/actions Progress Review date Your targets/actions

End Point Assessor contact details

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