Switching apprenticeship providers

Over the last six years, Skills Training UK has worked tirelessly delivering the Level 2 NDT Operator, Level 3 NDT Technician and Level 6 NDT Engineer apprenticeship schemes. The apprenticeship route has opened doors for over 300 individuals embarking on a rewarding career in non-destructive testing (NDT) and provided an opportunity for current employees to upskill and progress in their careers.

Unfortunately, on 27 July 2023, the Department for Education (DfE) was informed that Skills Training UK would no longer be trading and had gone into voluntary liquidation, meaning that it could no longer deliver any form of apprenticeship. This is an extremely uncertain time for all apprentices and employers that were working with Skills Training UK. However, I want this article to focus on the future and the positive actions that are underway to ensure that the apprenticeship programmes can continue, so that individuals can go on to successfully complete their training programmes, gain their qualifications and complete their end-point assessments (EPAs).

Switching apprenticeship providers
For employers who have apprentices registered with Skills Training UK on the Level 2 NDT Operator, Level 3 NDT Engineering Technician and Level 6 NDT Engineer programmes, transferring to another main provider is possible if they deliver the same apprenticeship standard. Transfers will be conducted by thorough assessment on a case-by-case basis for learners seeking to switch providers. Factors such as the apprentice’s start date, the amount of training completed by Skills Training UK and the remaining time left to reach the EPA will be taken into consideration.

In order to find a new eligible training provider, the ‘Find Apprenticeship Training’ at www.gov.uk/employers-find-apprenticeship-training lists the current providers eligible to conduct NDT apprenticeships:

Lavender International NDT Consultancy Services Limited: Level 2 NDT Operator
The Northumberland Council: Level 2 NDT Operator
Humberside Engineering Training Association (HETA) Limited: Level 3 NDT Engineering Technician
Maritime + Engineering College North West: Level 3 NDT Engineering Technician
The Northumberland Council: Level 3 NDT Engineering Technician
Lavender International NDT Consultancy Services Limited: Level 3 NDT Engineering Technician
University of Northampton: Level 6 NDT Engineer.

The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) has also asked employers looking to transfer providers that they email the ESFA market exit team at skills.traininguk@education.gov.uk with the following information:

Organisation name
Apprentice details
Apprenticeship scheme
The apprenticeship provider to which they are transferring
The UK Provider Reference Number (UKPRN) of the new training provider.

End-point assessments and gateway
If an apprentice has already completed their learning and agreed with Skills Training UK that they have reached gateway, then they may still sit their EPA without having to transfer to a new provider. The DfE has already written to end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) that worked with Skills Training UK and are in the process of identifying which apprentices are registered with them, which are already at gateway and/or which have already started their EPAs. The DfE will work with EPAOs to ensure that these apprentices are able to complete their EPAs wherever possible.

This is a major bump in the road regarding the NDT apprenticeship scheme; however, the above transfer process should enable apprentices to transition over to a new provider without any issues providing they can ensure all the criteria for transfer are met. I am confident that the apprenticeship training providers listed above can now lead the way in the development of the next generation of NDT professionals.

Please note that the views expressed in this column are those of the author and do not represent the views of Lavender International NDT or BINDT.

Sam Cunningham is with Lavender International NDT and is a member of BINDT’s Education & Professional Development Committee, which oversees the development of the NDT apprenticeships.

Employers in England looking to recruit an apprentice can find up-to-date guidance at: www.gov.uk/recruit-apprentice

Details of the current apprenticeship vacancies in England are available at: www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship

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