Promoting the added value of established best practices in work-integrated learning and apprenticeship design at this stage in the history of apprenticeship reform, is an opportunity that as a sector, apprenticeship providers cannot afford to miss. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if by working together across further education, higher education and the world of work we identified successful learning pedagogical practice in a job role, one professional or occupational area that may have features or characteristics which are adaptable or transferable to others – in both public and private sector roles? 

What may be well-established and widely understood in one sector or industry may help to provide fresh insights and new practices across traditionally unconnected sectors. Coordinated approaches to assessment of achievement in health and adult social care roles across institutions and health trusts in London, for example, could be of interest to other geographies and regions and to other occupational and professional areas where such coordinated approaches would be desirable but are not in place. The encouragement and support for peer education in teaching roles and nursing roles could provide new insights for the recruitment and retention of young and older people from underserved communities to policing apprenticeships, to give yet another example. 

Bringing practitioners together to explore ways of working and to continually drive improvements that reflect and creatively respond to Government priorities is the DfE fully funded Apprenticeship Workforce Development programme. Designed and delivered by the Education and Training Foundation (ETF) in partnership with the Association of Colleges (AoC), Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP), Strategic Development Network (SDN), and the University Vocational Awards Council (UVAC) represents a major opportunity for reassessing apprenticeship provision in the context of practitioners’ own skilling-up. 

What is on offer is intended to appeal to all staff, whether an assessor, a leader, a workplace mentor, lecturer, or a governor. The range of modules HERE are presented as a brilliant development opportunity for delivery staff, managers, leaders and governors, and those in all types of support roles in apprenticeship delivery.