Energy & Utility Skills

In March 2011, Energy & Utility Skills (EU Skills) was invited by the Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning to become the Issuing Authority for English Apprenticeship frameworks in the energy and utilities sector. Issuing Authorities are designated through the provisions of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning (ASCL) Act 2009; EU Skills commenced this statutory function on 1 April 2011.

A full understanding of the role of an Issuing Authority can be found in the English Issuing Authority Directions. This role supersedes that previously undertaken by the Apprenticeship Approvals Group and the Quality Monitoring Group.

Issuing Authority Checklists

> Issuing Authority Checklist for SASE

> issuing Authority Checklist for SASW

The Issuing Authority will use these checklists for England/ Wales when reviewing the draft Apprenticeship framework to:

• Determine whether a draft framework complies with the Specification of Apprenticeship Standards (SASE).
• Determine whether a draft framework has been developed using the quality assurance process.
• Notify a framework developer with reasons, within 10 working days of receiving a draft, if it decides not to issue a draft framework.

EU Skills is both a framework developer and an Issuing Authority, however, these are independent functions in order to avoid potential conflicts of interest at the point of issue.

New Government policy on Apprenticeships means that any organisation can now seek to develop an Apprenticeship framework. Apprenticeship frameworks must be developed through the Apprenticeship Frameworks Online (AFO) portal. AFO is the repository for all Apprenticeship frameworks that meet national standards in England and Wales and is the platform on which Apprenticeship framework development and issue takes place. AFO can be accessed at: http://www.apprenticeshipframeworksonline.semta.org.uk/

To develop an Apprenticeship, the developer must start by contacting their Issuing Authority using the Expression of Interest form available through AFO. This form will enable early dialogue with the relevant Issuing Authority to commence. It was also enable the Issuing Authority to provide log in details for the password protected areas of the portal.

AFO provides the information required to develop an Apprenticeship framework. The key questions to ask when considering development are:

• Is there evidence of employer demand for this Apprenticeship?
• Does something similar already exist?
• Do the appropriate qualifications exist (and are they already in use in another Apprenticeship)?

Early dialogue with the Issuing Authority will support developers with these questions.

Quality Assurance

> Apprenticeship Quality Assurance Process SASE

> Apprenticeship Quality Assurance Process SASW

Develops must follow the Quality Assurance processes for England/ Wales and can seek additional guidance and support from the Standards, Qualifications and Apprenticeships Team at EU Skills on: 0845 0787 9922 or enquiries@euskills.co.uk