Plans to develop a new health and safety apprenticeship for England have the potential to be a “real asset to business”, according to the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).
The Institution is one of a number of professional bodies supporting efforts to establish a Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) apprenticeship for England as part of the UK Government’s ‘Trailblazer’ programme.
The news comes in the same week the Institute for Apprenticeships was launched and the Government’s Apprenticeship Levy comes into force. From Thursday 6 April, all employers operating in the UK with a pay bill over £3 million each year will be required to contribute to the levy, which will be used to fund new apprenticeships.
The gap in the market for a safety, health and environment apprenticeship was raised at the London Health and Safety Directors Forum recently, and the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has facilitated setting up an employer’s working group to address this.
UK-based engineering solutions provider Costain has volunteered to lead the working group, given its in-house experience in running health and safety development programmes for graduates and apprentices.
The working group also includes representatives of Balfour Beatty, Skanska, Sisk, Persimmon Homes, Morrison Utilities, High Speed 2, Thames Water, Mitie and Sapa UK.
Additional support is also being provided by bodies including IOSH, CITB, Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), Engineering Construction Industry Association (ECIA) and Unite the Union.
Shelley Frost, Executive Director of Policy at IOSH, said: “By having an employer-led group, supported by IOSH, this apprenticeship will develop professionals with highly transferable skills which are a real asset to business, beyond simple technical skills.
Given the level of interest received in the idea, the employer working group is now widening beyond those with a construction and engineering background to include the National Theatre, emergency services, nuclear clients and specialist assessment bodies.
