UK Government gives go ahead for Geospatial Apprenticeships

Posted by Fiona Miller

Geospatial Technician Apprenticeship

The Secretary of State for Education, Damien Hinds, has given final approval for a Geospatial Technician Apprenticeship by approving the funding band meaning that this is now ready for delivery. The Institute for Apprenticeships has also recommended a final funding band to the Secretary of State for the Geospatial Mapping and Science Degree Apprenticeship and this will also be ready for delivery very shortly.

Both these apprenticeships were approved in September 2017 by the Institute for Apprenticeships and the employers who developed these have been awaiting these funding band approvals before delivery can start – now agreed at £9,000 for the Geospatial Technician Apprenticeship and £27,000 for the Geospatial Mapping and Science Degree Apprenticeship (the latter subject to final sign off from the DfE).

Martin Penney at Technics said, “This is a really positive move from the government and one that is expected to have a strong impact on the industry encouraging more professionals to join. There’s a current skills shortage in the industry and to deliver the existing pipeline of projects there’s a very real need for a skilled and experienced workforce to come through.”

Alongside our involvement in the steering group that has helped push forward and create these standards, we’re dedicated to the improvement of the industry and better practice and recognise that new talent plays a huge part of this as the next generation.”

Antony Jenkins, Chair of the Institute for Apprenticeships said, “I’m delighted that we’ve been able to approve these standards. High quality apprenticeship standards like this help learners and employers reach their potential.

“More and more businesses of all sizes are realising the benefits that high quality apprenticeships can offer. The Institute is putting employers in control of developing the standards they need, giving learners a basis for lasting employment and overcoming national skills gaps.”

The geospatial apprenticeships have been developed by a group of 19 employers, led by Skanska and supported by the two relevant professional bodies, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (ICES). The apprenticeship development was also supported by Class of Your Own and The Survey Association (TSA).

The Geospatial Technician apprenticeship will provide the knowledge, skills and behaviours for successful apprentices to apply to become Associate members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors or of the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors and successful apprentices from the Geospatial Mapping and Science Degree Apprenticeship can apply to become Members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors or the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors.