Facilities management to benefit from £25m to fund NHS apprentices
July 30th 2009 The Government has announced funding for facilities management apprentices in the NHS just as the new apprenticeship in FM is officially approved.
The money is part of a £25 million package to more than treble the number of apprenticeships in non clinical roles such as estates and facilities management, catering and IT support and clinical roles such as dental nurses and pharmacy support workers.
NHS organisations will receive the money to create 5,000 new apprenticeships by March 2010. The funding forms part of the Prime Minister’s commitment made in February to increase the number of apprenticeships by 21,000 across the public sector.
“We welcome this announcement of funding for apprenticeships in facilities management in the NHS,” states Richard Beamish, chief executive of Asset Skills. “FM plays such a crucial role across the NHS and the wider public sector and it is only right that this is recognised through investment in skills training. This funding announcement could not have come at a better time with the brand new FM apprenticeship having just received formal approval.”
The approval has been given by the Apprenticeship Framework Quality Monitoring Group and follows work by Asset Skills to fast track the apprenticeship in FM in response to huge employer demand.
“Facilities management now has its first dedicated apprenticeship programme,” states Beamish. “This is an enormous step forward for the industry and will help raise skills levels right across the board.”
The new apprenticeship comprises an NVQ in FM, a level 3 technical certificate and key skills training. There is also the flexibility to take either the NVQ or the technical award as stand-alone qualifications depending on individual circumstances and experience. It will provide an excellent starting point for anyone wanting to enter or develop a career in facilities management and will be available to employers in England from September.
Asset Skills is continuing to work with training providers to ensure the delivery is in place. We are keen to hear from employers with potential candidates for the apprenticeship so we can register demand. Please contact Karen Waterlow kwaterlow@assetskills.org or call 01392 423 399.
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