Secretary of State appoints Semta as Issuing Authority for apprenticeships
26/04/2011 Enginuity
Sector Skills Council, Semta has today announced its new role as the Issuing Authority for Apprenticeships in the science, engineering and manufacturing technology sectors. The appointment, made by the Secretary of State, gives Semta sole responsibility for issuing Apprenticeship frameworks in England.Apprenticeship frameworks outline the statutory requirements of individual apprenticeship programmes in England and Wales. Used by colleges, employers and training providers alike, frameworks ensure all programmes, wherever they take place, are consistent in content and high quality in their delivery.
Philip Whiteman, chief executive of Semta said: "Semta is really proud to have been awarded this new responsibility. We know that apprenticeships can deliver enormous benefit to businesses in our sectors, but it is important that they meet the needs of employers. We are already working closely with industry to develop apprenticeship frameworks that meet these needs, and this new appointment will allow us to support employers even further, understanding demand and helping develop the right solution."
Semta research shows that 32,000 new employees will be needed across its sectors each year between now and 2016. A third of these need higher skills highlighting the importance of apprenticeships in stemming the outflow of talent caused by retirements in a workforce where nearly a third is aged over 45.
Set against the backdrop of rising university fees, Semta expects that apprenticeships will have a greater role than ever before in ensuring businesses have the right skills to grow. The recent Budget outlined 50,000 new apprenticeship places, helping not only address the ongoing skills gaps in Semta's sectors, but also recognising that new technical skills are crucial for growth and maintaining competitiveness on the global trade stage.
For further information, please visit: www.semta.org.uk
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