Level 3 apprenticeship

Join the green industry with a landscape technician apprenticeship

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Are you considering a career in the green industry? How does the idea of gaining practical experience while learning sound to you?

A landscape technician apprenticeship could be a good place to start. As environmental concerns persist, the demand for knowledgeable experts who can design, build, and maintain sustainable landscapes grows.

And enrolling in an apprenticeship programme allows you to gain practical experience, develop important skills, and position yourself for a rewarding career in a demanding yet meaningful profession. This article will discuss the benefits of becoming an apprentice landscape technician as well as how to get started on this exciting career path.

Female landscape technician standing with digital tablet against wind turbine on sunny day

The Growing Demand for Skilled Landscaping Professionals

According to the Oxford Economics industry growth report, the total GDP footprint of the UK horticulture and landscaping industry is expected to be worth £41.8 billion in 2030. And employment is projected to grow by 8% from 2019 to 2029.

With climate change and environmental concerns at the forefront of public discourse, the demand for sustainable landscaping has increased significantly.

The UK government hopes to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, which will necessitate major changes in how we design and maintain our landscapes. As more people and organisations work to reduce their environmental impact, there is a growing need for skilled professionals who can design, install, and maintain eco-friendly landscapes.

Enrolling in a landscape technician apprenticeship can provide you with the necessary training and experience to enter this exciting and rewarding field.

What is a Level 3 Landscape Technician Apprenticeship?

A landscape technician’s prime focus is to collaborate with and support the design, planning, and management of spaces in both natural and built environments. They assist other professionals in protecting, conserving, and enhancing the built and natural environments for the benefit of the public, communities, stakeholders, and clients.

Apprentices will learn a variety of skills related to landscape design, planning, and management, as well as the use of technology and technical equipment, during the apprenticeship. You will gain hands-on experience in real-world settings while working alongside experienced landscape professionals.

And by the end of the apprenticeship, you will have obtained a nationally recognised qualification demonstrating your skills and knowledge in the field.

Typical job titles include:

Assistant parks manager

BIM technician

GIS technician

Junior landscape architect

Landscape assistant

Landscape clerk of works

Landscape technician

Landscape technologist

Landscape visualiser and CAD technician

2 male Junior landscape architects supervising the process of residential building and outdoor construction standing on the structure outdoors

Knowledge and skills gained

You will learn landscape design and management principles such as site analysis and technology selection as a Level 3 Landscape Technician Apprentice. You’ll also learn how to effectively communicate ideas and information to clients, as well as a solid understanding of materials and plant science, legal and regulatory compliance, and sustainability practices.

Finally, you will gain knowledge of data collection and management, which is an important aspect of the field. All of this will prepare you to face a wide range of landscape design and management challenges.

Behaviours

As a Landscape Technician apprentice, you will benefit from a variety of behaviours that will aid in your success. Adopting the Landscape Institute’s standards of conduct and practice, for example, will ensure that you uphold the highest ethical and professional standards in your work.

You will also be committed to continuing professional development, which will assist you in staying current with industry trends and techniques. Furthermore, you will be dependable and act with integrity and confidentiality, which are essential qualities for establishing trust with clients and colleagues alike. Another important trait that will assist you in ensuring that every project is completed with precision and care is attention to detail.

Ultimately, you will be adaptable, able to pivot and adjust to changing circumstances to give your clients the best results possible. You will be well-positioned to excel as a Landscape Technician and contribute to the success of your team and organisation if you exhibit these characteristics.

Landscape technician in the helmet Uses Touchscreen against open outdoor hilly backdrop

FAQs

What is the typical duration to gateway of the apprenticeship?

The typical duration to gateway is 24 months. This does not include the EPA period (end point assessment).

What is the maximum funding available for a landscape technician apprenticeship?

The maximum funding available is £9000.

What are the usual qualifications for entering the apprenticeship?

The standard entry criteria for the apprenticeship are five GCSEs at Grade 4 (Grade C) or above, including English and Maths, or a Level 2 apprenticeship in a similar discipline.  Before taking the end-point assessment, apprentices who don’t already have Level 2 English and Maths will need to obtain these skills.

Join the Green Industry as a Landscape Technician Apprentice today

Join the Green Industry as a Landscape Technician Apprentice today and begin an exciting journey to developing a diverse set of skills and knowledge required to excel in your chosen career path.

If you are interested in the Level 3 Landscape Technician Apprenticeship you can visit: www.instituteforapprenticeships.org for more information.

And If you would like to find out about all the other apprenticeships available visit: ApprenticeTips.com.

Level 3 Apprenticeship Unleashing Your Creativity: The Benefits of an Advanced and Creative Hair Professional Level 3 Apprenticeship

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Level 3 Apprenticeship Unleashing Your Creativity The Benefits of an Advanced and Creative Hair Professional Level 3 Apprenticeship

Do you love Styling hair, are you keen on elevating your creative abilities? The Level 3 Apprenticeship in Advanced and Creative Hair Professional presents an opportunity to advance your career while immersed in a vibrant and stimulating atmosphere. In this blog post, we’ll explore the many benefits of this apprenticeship, from the versatile job roles it prepares you for to the advanced techniques you’ll learn.

  • female hairdresser making hairstyle redhead woman beauty salon
    Female hairdresser making hairstyle to beautiful redhead girl in beauty salon. Copy space.

Unlock Your Potential in the Hair Industry

As an Advanced and Creative Hair Professional, you’ll become a versatile expert, capable of working in various settings such as bespoke salons, the media industry, cruise ships, product houses, and luxury high-end hair salons. This apprenticeship prepares you for roles like Creative Hair Stylist, Advanced Senior Stylist, Senior Hair Professional, and Specialist Technician.

Master Advanced Techniques and Skills

Throughout this apprenticeship, you’ll gain in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience in advanced hair techniques. These include precision and personalized cutting, advanced creative coloring, smoothing and strengthening services, and designing fashion-forward collections of hairstyle looks. You’ll also learn how to use and adapt a range of tools, products, and equipment safely and effectively.

Develop Your Creativity and Personal Style

One of the most rewarding aspects of this apprenticeship is the opportunity to cultivate your creativity and unique flair. You’ll research fashion-forward trends and learn how to design and execute innovative, imaginative styles that reflect your individuality. This creative edge will set you apart from the competition and make you a sought-after professional in the hair industry.

Embrace Continuous Professional Development

Advanced and Creative Hair Professionals are committed to ongoing personal and professional growth. Through this apprenticeship, you’ll develop a strong foundation for lifelong learning, acquiring essential skills such as problem-solving, adaptability, and curiosity. By embracing continuous improvement, you’ll stay ahead of industry trends and techniques, ensuring your clients always receive the highest quality service.

Build a Strong Portfolio and Network

A key component of the apprenticeship is creating and presenting a fashion-forward hairstyle collection. This not only allows you to showcase your skills and creativity but also helps you build a professional portfolio to attract potential clients and employers. Additionally, working in various settings and collaborating with other professionals will enable you to expand your network within the hair industry.

Enhance Your Professionalism

Throughout the apprenticeship, you’ll develop essential professional behaviours, such as maintaining confidentiality, and discretion, and promoting safe working practices. These qualities will increase your credibility as a hair professional and also contribute to a positive work environment and customer experience.

woman with modern hairstyle blue make up eyes isolated white high angle view Level 3 Apprenticeship
Woman with modern hairstyle and blue make-up of eyes – isolated on white background High angle view

Conclusion

Choosing an Advanced and Creative Hair Professional Level 3 Apprenticeship is an excellent way to unleash your creative potential, develop advanced skills, and establish a successful career in the hair industry. With diverse job opportunities, continuous professional development, and a platform to showcase your unique talent, this apprenticeship sets you on the path to becoming a highly skilled, in-demand hair professional. Embrace your passion for hair and creativity, and take the first step towards a fulfilling and dynamic career by pursuing the Advanced and Creative Hair Professional Level 3 Apprentices.

Unleashing Your Creativity!

More Information on advanced and creative hair professional apprenticeship standards

Check out our other Article on The Power of Social Media Marketing for Apprentices: Why It’s an Essential Skill to Master

Level 3 Jewellery, Silversmithing and Allied Trades Professional Apprenticeships

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Offering an outstanding alternative for University. Art and Design offers apprenticeships in a wide range of settings:

British made jewellery and silverware have an international reputation and therefore the continued success of the sector will depend on maintaining a skilled, well-trained workforce.

What qualifications do you need? Are you eligible?

You will need both Maths & English completed at GCSE level. Other than that, all you need is a keen interest in Art, Design and Manufacturing. Because of the nature of an apprenticeship, having a curiosity & interest in what you are learning about is what potential employers are looking out for.

To be eligible for an apprenticeship, you must be 16 or over and not already be in full- time education. However, apprenticeships aren’t just for school leavers or people starting their career, you might be looking to change careers or upskilling in your current job.

What to expect?

The core focus of a jewellery apprenticeship is to give you experience of using hand and powered tools and equipment effectively and safely, helping you understand how to work with designs and specifications and giving you experience of how to work with different materials.

Typical day-to-day duties may include:

  • Obtain and understand the requirements of a design
  • Working with CAD designs
  • Operation of equipment to produce items using CAM machinery
  • The cutting of metals to given shapes and designs
  • Working with hand tools and machinery to derive a range of different finishes and patterns
  • Production of items in wax for casting
  • Casting items in precious metals
  • Working with enamels to achieve required finishes
  • Selecting and setting precious stones
  • Polishing and finishing items
  • Examine finished jewellery and/or silverware products for quality;
  • Repair and/or rework jewellery and/or silverware items

Additional skills you will learn as an Apprentice:

  • Lapidary – selecting, cutting and polishing precious and semi-precious stones
  • Casting – forming moulds and working with molten precious metals to form shapes
  • Stone setting – selecting and fixing stones into a form and ensuring they are secure
  • Mounting – creating parts of jewellery to which precious stones are fitted
  • Engraving – using tools to create patterns, including text, images and intricate patterns
  • Enamelling – working with enamel to create coloured patterns, images and finishes
  • Polishing and finishing – applying different processes and materials to produce a polish and shine to an item or highlight a special finish
  • CAD/CAM – working with designers to produce model forms for manufacturing

How much will you earn?

For the first year of your apprenticeship, you’ll be paid the apprentice minimum wage. Once you’ve completed your first year, your pay goes up to the minimum wage for your age group:

  • 23 and over – £9.50
  • 21 to 22 – £9.18
  • 18 to 20 – £6.83
  • Under 18 – £4.81
  • Apprentice – £4.81

You’ll also get holiday pay, bank holidays and sick leave.

So, you’ll be learning a new skill, starting an exciting new career AND earning as you work, without a need for any student loans or university debt!

FAQ’s:

  • The program takes 13- 36 months to complete.
  • As part of the apprenticeship, 20% of your time (one day a week if you are doing a full-time apprenticeship) will be taken up with apprenticeship-related study or training. This can be done at a college, university, training provider or can be provided by the business. This involves things like mentoring by your manager, work-based projects, industry webinars, research and assignments.
  • This study will prepare you for the End Point Assessment (EPA), which you must do in order to complete the apprenticeship. This can involve things like a workplace observation, an online test and producing a portfolio of work.
  • Achievement upon completion: Level 3 (Advanced)—equivalent to A-levels.

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Level 3 Blacksmith Apprenticeship

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Are you looking for an apprenticeship that will provide you with the skills and knowledge to pursue a career in a trade? If so, an apprenticeship in blacksmithing could be the perfect fit for you. Blacksmithing is an ancient craft that has been practised since the Middle Ages and is still a highly valued skill in many industries today. An apprenticeship in blacksmithing provides an opportunity to gain the skills and qualifications needed to become a qualified blacksmith

What is a Blacksmith Apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is a paid job where you gain on the job training and work towards an qualification. Blacksmith apprenticeship will be 4 years long and you will gain level 3 qualification at the end. This apprenticeship has funding of £21,000.

Traditional ways of Blacksmith work

What skills, knowledge and qualifications will I gain from a blacksmithing apprenticeship?

You will gain knowledge about

  • Health & safety : Learn about processes and legislation
  • Tools: Learn how to operate equipment, fixed and hand tools
  • Quality: Knowledge of quality standards expected by clients, employers, suppliers, and regulatory bodies.
  • Materials: Learn about properties and uses of materials used for blacksmithing, such as the effects of heat and working on forgeable metals.
  • Design: Learn about elements and principles of design for drawings by hand and interpret models to clients
  • Context of craft: Learn about work done by notable blacksmiths and artistic movements.
  • Manufacture, conservation and repair of metalwork:  Knowledge of finishing and protection methods and processes

Skills you will gain from this position

  • Maintain health and safety standards for self and others, and identify hazards in the working environment.
  • Interpret and create specifications, drawings, and instructions for metalwork manufacture or repair
  • Produce technical drawings and designs using CAD or by hand.
  • Select appropriate techniques, tools, and equipment for metalwork. To understand manufacturing or repair needs.
  • Efficiently manage a forge or furnace, and use thermal equipment for cutting and joining metals.
  • Use hand-operated machine tools. Also learn bench work for cutting, drilling, shaping, and joining materials.
  • Maintain and prepare tools, materials, and equipment for the job.
  • Construct and fit metalwork in the workshop or on site, including assembly and dismantling.
Blacksmith working with tools

Behaviours that a successful candidate will have

•Ensuring work is carried out safely and wearing proper PPE.
•Quality-focused: work is up to client requirements.
•Professionalism: Work ethic and attention to detail. Be clear in communication and understand the importance of efficiency.
•Self-development: Staying up to date with industry standards and new technologies.

What are the requirements of this apprenticeship? 

 This apprenticeship will last for 4 years. You will need BTEC level 2 Technical Diploma in Blacksmithing or equivalent relevant forge experience.

Level 2 English and maths before EPA(End point assessment) is required to pass EPA.

Overall, the Blacksmith Apprenticeship standard is an excellent opportunity for individuals who are passionate about blacksmithing to develop their skills and pursue a career in this rewarding field. Whether you are interested in traditional blacksmithing techniques or modern metalworking methods, this apprenticeship will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to succeed. For more information, Please contact our support team

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Housing and Property Management Level 3

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Level 3 Apprenticeship: Your Pathway to a Rewarding Career

Are you interested in working in the housing and property management sector? Do you want to learn the skills and knowledge needed to excel in this field? If so, a Level 3 apprenticeship in housing and property management might be the perfect fit for you!

What is a Level 3 Apprenticeship in Housing and Property Management?

A Level 3 apprenticeship in housing and property management, is a training program which is designed to give you the skills and knowledge that you need, to work in this exciting and dynamic industry.

By completing this apprenticeship, you will gain the practical skills and knowledge, to support and manage a variety of workstreams and tasks.

This will prepare you for a successful and fulfilling future in this sector and build transferable skills for future progression and development in other areas.

Typical job titles:

  • Generic or specialist housing officer or Neighbourhood officer (for example Anti-social behaviour, resident involvement, Tenancy sustainment, Homelessness, Repairs, Sheltered housing)
  • Neighbourhood co-ordinator or advisor
  • Lettings officer,  Allocations officer,  Tenancy officer, Income management officer
  • Leasehold management officer, Private sector housing officer, Strategic Housing Officer, Property manager
  • Negotiator, Senior negotiator

What Will You Learn?

During your apprenticeship, you will learn a range of skills and knowledge that will enable you to support the work of a housing and property management team.

You will develop an understanding of the sector, as well as the legal and regulatory frameworks that govern it.

You will also learn about the key processes involved in this job role such as, understanding key principles of tenancies and estate management, maintenance and repairs, dealing with customers, stakeholders and the vast range of services available to clients and customers.

As part of your apprenticeship, you will also gain valuable work experience, which will help to put your skills and knowledge into practice in a real-world corporate setting.

Apprenticeships

Conclusion

A Level 3 apprenticeship in housing and property management is an excellent way to start your career.

An apprenticeship is a steppingstone to further education and career development. Along with a great opportunity to gain valuable work experience. With the skills and knowledge that you’ll gain during this, you may be offered the chance to progress onto higher education or be promoted into a full-time position in the field.

An apprenticeship is also a great way to earn while you learn. You will receive a salary while you complete your apprenticeship, meaning that you can support yourself financially while you develop your skills and knowledge.

To find out more about apprenticeships:

Start Your Apprenticeship Today – Apprentice Now

Level 3 Apprenticeship: Advanced Credit Controller and Debt Collection Specialist

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Does working in a fast-paced, varied, and target-driven environment sound appealing to you? If so, this article details everything you need to know about a level 3 apprenticeship which could be perfect for you. Read on to find out more about becoming an Advanced Credit Controller and Debt Collection Specialist.

Jobs and entry requirements for the level 3 advanced credit controller and debt collection specialist apprenticeship

Credit management and debt collection is a crucial function found in all businesses as it’s integral to tracking commerce and finance. This level 3 apprenticeship will provide you with the skills to learn both technical and interpersonal skills for the role. There are a multitude of roles you could end up in. For example, you could be involved in setting policies, managing financial risk, managing customer relations, or facilitating sales. Possible job titles include Finance Controller, Credit and Collection Representative, Collections Agent, and Collections Adviser. An entry level debt-collector agent’s salary starts at £23,250 per year. If you end up a finance controller, you could earn up to £91,000, showing there are strong opportunities for career progression.

Sound good to you? Keep reading! Next let’s look at what is required of you to do the apprenticeship. Employers usually set their own entry requirements for their apprentices. So, it’s good to look this up on a role by role basis. However, it is pretty standard that most employers will require you to have level 2 Mathematics and English. An employer may also look to see if you have any previous or relevant experience. This gives you an indication of the type of qualifications you’ll need if you think this is the right fit for you.

Key responsibilities of an advanced credit controller and debt collection specialist apprentice

Another key thing to think about when considering an apprenticeship is what you will be expected to do day-to-day. For this level 3 apprenticeship you will work with internal and external customers. You’ll ensure that business cash flow is maximised, while negotiating fair outcomes for customers. You will advise on credit policies and analyse credit risk. In addition, you’ll manage complex relationships with customers to resolve financial issues. Not only that, but you’ll also apply your knowledge of statutory and non-statutory enforcement solutions to recover debt. As an apprentice, you’ll have a good understanding of legal, regulatory, risk and compliance frameworks. You’ll also get to grips with credit management and the commercial industry. This may seem like a lot of role-specific jargon at the moment, but you’ll learn it all as you go!

An example of having to work collaboratively to solve credit and debt issues as part of the level 3 apprenticeship

Level 3 advanced credit controller and debt collection specialist core competencies

You will be required to carry out duties that will satisfy a number of competencies as part of your job role. Here are some examples:

  • delivering excellent customer service and manage relationships
  • identifying and resolving issues in a professional manner
  • communicating effectively with key stakeholders
  • identifying solutions through negotiation and decision making
  • using a wide range of systems to deliver services to customers
  • working in a team to support colleagues
  • identifying areas and opportunities to improve systems and work practices

Advanced credit controller and debt collection specialist qualifications

After October 2021, if you are a new apprentice, you will work towards the Chartered Institute of Credit Management qualification. You could undertake the following level 3 diplomas in one of the following:

  • Credit and Collection
  • Credit Management (apprentices must pass this qualification by 30th September 2023)
  • Diploma for the Debt Collection Industry (apprentices must have registered before 31st December 2022)

Usually, you can expect to do the apprenticeship for between 18 and 24 months. Upon qualifying you could progress your career in a range of ways. You could become a team leader, a credit and collection manager, or a senior credit risk analyst, for example.

Conclusion

As you can see, the level 3 advanced credit controller and debt collection specialist apprenticeship is a varied role. You will learn many interpersonal and technical skills which will provide a range of job opportunities for your future. So, if you are looking for a job that sits within a legal, financial and accountancy framework, then this level 3 apprenticeship may be the one for you. Your apprenticeship is just the start of your career!

If you want to explore other apprenticeships within the legal, finance and accounting sector, then check out our blog post on a level 3 insurance practitioner apprenticeship. Comparatively, take a look at our level 3 financial services apprenticeship post.

You can also find out more about all things apprenticeships on our social media channels. We post the latest updates, answer your questions, and connect like-minded apprentices together. Follow us on Twitter, or LinkedIn.

Level 3 Water Treatment Technician Apprenticeship

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A man, water technician, in a white helmet points to something, while another man in a yellow helmet is holding papers.

Are you looking to start a career in Engineering and Manufacturing? Are you a self-starter and a great problem solver? If so, then a Level 3 Water Technician Apprenticeship might be for you.

What is a Water Technician?

Water Technicians are responsible for the development, installation and maintenance of water treatment programmes for the water systems of industrial and commercial buildings such as schools, hospitals and hotels. As a Water Technician you will be expected to ensure the quality of water is suitable and safe for specific uses e.g., for food production, drinking and washing, preventing and minimising health risks such as microbiological contamination and scale formation.

Within the Water Technician Apprenticeship there are different roles you may undertake. This may include: a Water Treatment Technician, Water Treatment Equipment Technician, Legionella Risk Assessor, Water Treatment Operations Supervisor. There will be some aspects of these roles that are similar and some that differ.

What are the entry requirements for this apprenticeship?

To apply for a Water Technician apprenticeship, the typical requirements are 3-5 GCSEs at grades A-C (including English and Maths) or equivalent.

What is required of a Water Treatment Apprentice?

As a Water Treatment Apprentice you should have a willingness to learn new skills and demonstrate the ability to be professional and respectful of others. In addition, you should be a self-starter and be willing to make independent decisions and develop solutions and improvements to work practices. Another core skill is to be able to work safely and to supervise the safety of others, as well as be receptive to feedback.

Water Treatment Apprentices will also learn the appropriate water treatment for specific water systems and be able to treat them. As well as, but not limited to, giving presentations and demonstrations to customer/site personnel regarding treatment recommendations and creating reports.

What technical knoweldge will you learn on a Water Technician apprenticeship?

Some of the technical knowledge all Water Treatment Technicians will be required to know are:

  •  The Chemical reactions involved in the corrosion and scaling processes in water systems.
  •  The cell structure of waterborne microbes and the interactions with biocidal products used to control them.
  •  The concepts of flow and heat transfer in water systems and how they affect water treatment processes.
  •  Ion transfer technologies, including resin and membrane based systems, used to change water quality.

The importance of health and safety

As a Water Technicians you should be able to keep yourself and others safe by understanding, complying and implementing statuary health and safety regulations and contribute to improving safer working conditions.

What technical tasks will you prepare and perform?

As a Water Treatment Technician you will:

  • Gather system data to enable the correct selection of operational resources that may be required e.g. access equipment (ladders, scaffold or cherry picker).
  • Complete work task risk assessments and develop work plans and method statements for the task(s) involved.
  • Ensure the suitability and correct operating condition of resources and equipment for the work tasks involved. This can include test equipment, chemical dosing equipment, water pumps and other specialised equipment.

You will also perform the:

  • Identification of suitable sampling and application points in a water system
  • Assessment of relevant test parameters and sampling plan for specific water systems
  • Performance assessment and evaluation of water system conditions and operations utilising specific monitoring equipment
  • Application of water treatment programmes to specific water system types e.g. cooling towers, steam boilers, heating and chilled systems etc.
  • Interpretation of test results and development of treatment programme improvements and recommendations

Undertaking an apprenticeship can be a great alternative to college or higher education.

For more information and to apply for the Level 3 Water Technical Apprenticeship check out www.apprenticenow.com.  

If a Water Treatment Technician isn’t for you, but you’re still interested in career in Engineering and Manufacturing, why not check out the Level 3 Digital Engineering Technician Apprenticeship.

Level 3 – Learning Mentor [New Apprenticeship]

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The origins of mentoring can be traced as far back as Homer’s Odyssey. When Odysseus leaves his home to fight in the Trojan War, he hands the care of his wife and son to his trusted friend Mentor, who took the role of teacher and overseer to his child.

Although our world has changed a lot over the last 1,300 years, the role of a mentor – particularly in the areas of learning and development – is central and still reflects the principles of its origin. Mentors are experts who guide novice learners on a personal and professional journey towards expertise.

Nowadays, mentoring takes place in all parts of the Education and Training Sector (ETS) and staff-development contexts. Learning Mentors support learners of all ages, and all levels, to develop within a new work role.  These learners may be, for example, apprentices, trainees or new recruits (ranging from young entrants to new CEOs) in the workplace, or any vocational learning environment. Mentoring is indeed the foundation of vocational training and apprenticeships, yet this standard is the first formal recognition of this role.

The importance of effective Learning Mentors

Effective mentors make a difference. They steer novice and early career learners to progress more rapidly, increase their resilience, boost their self-confidence and most importantly create an environment where their trainees can progress, thrive – and remain!

Some of the benefits of mentoring include encouraging new learners to develop more quickly, improved learning outcomes and enhanced job satisfaction. Significantly, working with an effective mentor will also help reduce the likelihood of novice learners leaving the profession.

Learning Mentor Apprenticeship

What does a Learning Mentor do and is it for you?

Learning Mentors support the development of learners’ knowledge, skills and behaviours, throughout their programme, particularly in applying theoretical learning in practical work environments (and usually on a one-to-one, or small group, basis). They give practical, technical and/or pastoral support and guidance. 

They collaborate closely with colleagues, other ETS professionals, employers and/or human resource colleagues to meet learners’ needs and achieve their potential.

In addition to specific experience and qualifications, a Learning Mentor should possess and further develop specific behaviours:

  1. Promote an ethos of motivation, aspiration and a passion for learning.
  2. Operate at all times to ethical and legal standards and within professional boundaries.
  3. Value equality and diversity and work with others to improve equality of opportunity and inclusion.
  4. Be resilient and adaptable when dealing with challenges and change, maintaining focus and self-control.
  5. Demonstrate, encourage and expect mutual respect in all professional contexts.

What experience and skills do I need to become a Level 3 Learning Mentor?

Learning Mentors will have sector-specific experience and qualifications, as determined by their employer or professional body, which they use to guide and advise those who are less experienced and new to a work role. The Learning Mentor is therefore a ‘dual professional’ having both up-to-date knowledge and skills in a specialist vocational or subject area, together with the generic skills necessary to support learners (as potentially a first step towards a secondary role as an education and training professional).

The Level 3 Learning Mentor Apprenticeship has a minimum duration of 12 months. 

Upon completion of the Apprenticeship, the Learning Mentor could progress further within their vocation specialism and/or into roles involving the assessment and coaching of vocational learners.  They may also be eligible to progress onto a full teaching role within an education and training provider organisation.     

Learning Mentor Apprenticeship

How to apply for Level 3 Learning Mentor Apprenticeship

If you are interested in applying for this apprenticeship or have any questions, please get in touch with us via our contact form HERE. 

To hear more, please register to our Newsletter on the following:

We look forward to hearing from you!

Level 3 Laboratory Technician Apprenticeship

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Are you interested in working at the head of technology to carry out laboratory experiments and improve system performance across the work environment? If so, carry on reading to find out how the Level 3 Laboratory Technician apprenticeship could be right for you.

Man looking into a microscope with his colleague
Man looking into a microscope with his colleague

Key Roles and Responsibilities of a laboratory technician apprentice

A Laboratory Technician apprentice can be found in a wide variety of organisations including chemical, biotechnology, and nuclear companies. The primary role of a laboratory technician is to proactively identify areas for business improvement and discover solutions to problems. The typical laboratory technician is able to work both individually and also as part of a team, with minimum supervision and is able to take responsibility for the quality of their own work. As a laboratory technician, you will need to follow quality procedures and methods to meet the highest requirements relevant to your work.

As part of your job role, you will have to carry out duties such as:

  • Applying regulatory health and safety procedures when performing and preparing laboratory experiments
  • Demonstrating use of a Laboratory Information Management System and handling accurate records of laboratory work that has been undertaken
  • Preparing and performing laboratory experiments and tasks following specified methods to provide reliable and accurate data
  • Applying scientific statistical techniques for data presentation
  • Identifying problems and selecting appropriate scientific methods to recognise causes and reach solutions
  • Participating in improving business performance by analysing schemes to aid workplace systems and processes

Additionally you will need demonstrate the following behaviours:

  • Effective teamwork with the ability of working independently and taking responsibility for initiating and completing tasks to the highest standard
  • Demonstrate reliability and integrity in regards to confidentiality on work related & personal matters
  • Interact with others when working in a team and respect equality and diversity within the work environment
  • Evaluate data, recognise and call attention to anomalies or unusual results
  • Use standard applications and software packages e.g. Microsoft Office suite

For more information about this apprenticeship, you can check out the Laboratory Technician Occupational Standard as well as the assessment plan to understand what you should do to prepare for end-point assessment.

Man and woman doing an experiment
Man and woman doing an experiment
Entry Requirements and assessment:

For apprentices without level 2 English and Maths, you will need to achieve this prior to taking the End-Point Assessment (EPA). A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification can alternatively be used for those whose primary language is BSL.

Full time apprentices will typically spend 24 months on-programme (before gateway) working towards the occupational standard, with a minimum of 20% off-the-job training. All apprentices must spend a minimum of 12 months on-programme.

The End-point assessment is an assessment of the knowledge and skills that have been learnt throughout the apprenticeship and tests the apprentice’s ability to apply them in the workplace. This will be observed during your normal work hours by an independent assessor, and will consist of the following:

  1. A multiple choice test consisting of 40 questions
  2. An observation of practice undertaken in the workplace
  3. A portfolio of evidence completed by the apprentice and an interview.
Conclusion

As you can see, the Level 3 Laboratory Technician apprenticeship is a great introduction for anyone who is interested in a career in health and science. If you are looking for an health and science apprenticeship that will help you excel in the health and science sector, then please apply for this opportunity through Apprentice Now and start your future today!

If you feel like this is not what you are looking for then here are some other healthcare-related apprenticeships that may be a better fit:

This WordPress SEO Plug-In is a MUST for Digital Marketing Apprentices

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Search engine optimisation may seem like a daunting task for many digital marketing apprentices that have a lack of experience with web design or WordPress. However, it isn’t as scary as it may seem thanks to this invaluable free plug-in for WordPress which guides you in your SEO endeavours with its easy-to-use interface and informative tips and tricks. Here’s why Yoast SEO is an absolute must-have for digital marketing apprenticeships looking to navigate the SEO space.

What is SEO?

SEO stands for search engine optimisation and it is the process of improving aspects of your website to increase its visibility in the rankings of search engine results pages, with the outcome leading to more traffic to your site and build your reputation in your industry. Search engines use bots to crawl pages on the web and collect information about them before sorting them into an index, which are then analysed by algorithms based on factors such as keyword density and readability to determine the order in which pages should appear in the search results for a given query. SEO gives you the ability to make improvements to your website to help increase your websites reputation in that index and in turn push your website higher up in the search rankings.

Diagram of a webpage with highlighted content labelled with the relevant SEO technique.
Altering aspects of your webpage will help boost your ranking in search engine results.

What is Yoast SEO?

Yoast SEO is a free to install plug-in for WordPress which simplifies the processes of SEO considerably, making it an effective tool for new digital marketers to understand the fundamentals. Once installed, it is automatically applied to all of the previous webpages on your website, providing them with two scores, a SEO score and a readability score. Further inspection of these will show that Yoast provides detailed criteria that your page needs to meet in order to improve on its scores. These analysis results provide you with easy solutions and guidance on how to effortlessly improve your SEO score. Yoast also acts as a tool to apply other changes to your webpage which you may not have been able to previously, such as the meta description that appears underneath the webpage title on search engine results pages.

Yoast SEO analysis results showing several areas for improvement.
Image: Bluehost Inc.

5 aspects of SEO Yoast will help you improve on

Keywords

Keywords are specific terms which generalise the ideas and topics of what your content is about. These are an integral part to improve search engine rankings as search terms will often contain keywords that relate to the webpages they are looking for. Using Yoast’s editor, you can set a focus keyword that appears regularly in your page content to be pushed into search queries with the same keyword more frequently.

Meta descriptions

A meta description is a short summary of what the contents of the page is about. This appears underneath the title of the page in search engine results page and can be filled with important keywords and search phrases to help improve visibility. This can be done with the help of Yoast’s editor, even informing you on the perfect number of words you should use for it for the best results.

Inbound and outbound links

This refers to hyperlinks that take users to other pages on your website (inbound) and hyperlinks that take users to webpages on different websites (outbound) respectively. These are extremely important for SEO as it helps link your page to other relevant pieces of information on the web which will be analysed by bots and will result in your page ranking higher on search results. Yoast provides guidance on the recommended number of each type of link in webpages.

Images

Yoast can help make your images as rich in information as possible to help your images appear in Google Images searches. Making sure all of the images you have used include relevant captions and alternative descriptions can make them more likely to appear higher up in image searches that share similar terms.

Text readability

Finally, Yoast’s dedicated readability score provides insights on par with professional copywriters about the readability of your webpage. Yoast will inform you on how to utilise headings more effectively, how to alter sentence length and vocabulary to improve readability and so much more. All of this is confined in a dedicated analysis to ensure that your page is as user-friendly as possible to keep readers engaged for longer periods of time.

Conclusion

The 5 criteria I just mentioned are just a small portion of what Yoast SEO can help you to improve on within all of your webpages. It’s incredibly user friendly interface and simplistic approach to SEO makes it a powerful tool for any digital marketing  apprentice to have in their arsenal. The best part is there’s no catch, it’s completely free and you can go and install it for your website right now. Click here to find out how to add Yoast to your WordPress suite now.

Learn more about the Level 3 Digital Marketing apprenticeship.

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