Hiring an Apprentice is a great idea for the future timeline of any business in the tank storage sector. But, it isn’t something that can happen overnight. There have been many instances when a prospective employer has contacted us, enquiring about enrolling an Apprentice on the upcoming cohort, without realising the lead-time involved.
The truth is – if you want to enrol an Apprentice in the course beginning September 2024, you need to start the process now!
So, let’s explain the timeline, showing exactly how long it will (reasonably) take to hire, then enrol an Apprentice.
Table of contents
- Making the Decision to hire an Apprentice
- The Timeline for Hiring an Apprentice
- The Timeline of the Apprenticeship
- Who is our Apprenticeship Right For?
Making the Decision to Hire an Apprentice
It all begins with the employer acknowledging they have a skills gap in their business that an Apprentice can bridge this gap. The Apprenticeship route is an ideal solution to create a sustainable pipeline of talent feeding into your organisation.
If you’re concerned about the possible cost of taking on an Apprentice – don’t be. We explain here why there’s a good chance you could get the training of your Apprentice paid for you! Or, at the least, you can benefit from a 95% discount on the training costs. And, if you have any concerns about how relevant or valid an Apprenticeship is, we’ve also detailed, here, the vast network of Apprenticeship Roles, those individuals and organisations who make training Apprentices possible.
If you are thinking of taking on an Apprentice, but you’re unsure if you need one, the only way to know definitively, is to perform a Gap Analysis. So, really, the first step on the timeline of hiring an Apprentice is doing the due diligence to find out that you need one.
If you’d like to enrol an Apprentice on the next cohort – commencing September 2024, you really need to open the valve on that pipeline now!
Here’s the realistic timeline:
The Timeline for Hiring an Apprentice
| WHEN | WHAT | WHO |
|---|---|---|
| Sept – Nov 2023 | Gap Analysis (ideally this will have been prepared in advance but, if not, Reynolds Training can provide a convenient and timely analysis to help you identify your training requirements | Employer (with Reynolds Training help if required) |
| Nov -Dec 2023 | Senior Leadership Team Approve Apprentice Recruitment Plan | Employer SLT |
| Dec ’23 – Jan ’24 | Advertise Apprentice Roles | Employer / Recruiter (Reynolds are happy to assist with advice on Essential & Desirable traits if needed) |
| Jan ’24 | Review Applications | Employer |
| Feb – Mar 2024 | Interview short-listed candidates | Employer |
| Apr 2024 | Make offers of employment to those candidates who demonstrated the best aptitude | Employer |
| June 2024 | Employment Begins | Employer |
| July 2024 | Apprenticeship Onboarding Add Apprentices to Digital Apprenticeship Service (DAS) Account We will also conduct a detailed RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) audit | Reynolds Training |
| Aug 2024 | Optional Introduction to BLO Workshop (Additional costs apply) This is a good chance to give learners a reality check – to ensure they are committed to the course. It’s important to discover that early – before too much time or money is potentially wasted | Reynolds Training |
| 3rd week of Sept 2024 | Apprenticeship Programme Commences What follows are 27 months of training, followed by 3 months of assessment | Reynolds Training |
The Timeline of the Apprenticeship
The 27 months of the actual Apprenticeship are broken down into two stages – which, in practice, divide neatly into ‘Year 1’ and ‘Year 2’, followed by (up to) three-months for the ‘Assessment’.
“We’re creating managers of the future!
Everyone understands the value of working for managers who have risen through the ranks – it gives a better grounding to make management decisions.
Apprentices can go from Operator to Supervisor to Manager, or wherever their ambition takes them!”
Year 1 is the Core Training, where Apprentices learn the basics they need to complete their roles safely and effectively. This will make extensive use of our real-world-emulating training facility, the NCPM.
Year 2 will add time-served experience at the Apprentice’s own workplace to the Core Training as well as including all of the curriculum elements for the qualification: Level 3 Bulk Liquid Terminal Technician Specialism.
Upon completion, at the end of Year 2, Apprentices then have three months to complete the Assessment requirements.
Is Our Apprenticeship Programme Right for YOU?
We understand that hiring an Apprentice is a big commitment, in terms of time, in terms of resources and, to an extent, financially. So, let’s look at a few of the questions we are most often asked about our Apprenticeship programme:
Q: Who are Apprenticeships right for?
A: You – if you want enthusiastic, motivated and fully-rounded Operators. You want to recruit staff who have the knowledge, skills, and behaviour (both professional and personal behaviour) to become a valuable, essential part of your team and a passionate advocate for your business.
Q: What do you get from our Apprenticeship programme?
A: Customisation! As a pioneer in developing and delivering Apprenticeships to the High Hazard, Bulk Storage and Process sector, we know that no two facilities are exactly the same. That’s why we will consult with you and customise the learning experience to ensure that it is bespoke to your specific needs and the needs of your Operators. We will train candidates to suit your business model, not anyone else’s, ensuring that your candidates achieve the knowledge, skills and behaviours required by the standard.
Q: Why are Apprenticeship a great idea?
A: Instant professionalism! An Apprenticeship is a uniquely successful method for producing Operators who are skilled, experienced, knowledgeable and ready to make a constructive and productive contribution to your business in particular and the sector as a whole. Delivery is underpinned by focusing on developing the personal and professional behaviours that will drive professionalism.
Tell us about YOUR training needs
So, to recap:
- Our Bulk Liquid Storage Apprenticeship (With Level 3 Technical Specialism) process begins when you realise you need Apprentices.
- It takes 12 months from that realisation to the Apprentices beginning their studies – so start planning now for 2024!
- We’ve broken down every step of the process, and given you a realistic timeline in order to ensure your Apprentices are ready to go in September 2024.
- We’ve also broken down the 27 months of the actual Apprenticeship.
- Apprenticeships – who, what and why …
If you haven’t already, feel free to read part one of this three-part series, where we reveal how surprisingly affordable training an Apprentice can be – especially when you can expect to get a minimum 95% discount on training costs!
After that, you can check out the third part of this short series, where we reveal the list of Apprenticeship Roles – the vast number of individuals and organisations who stand behind every Apprentice we train, ensuring their skills and knowledge are of the highest calibre.
Ask us about arranging Apprenticeships for your business, or we could create any customised training course to your precise specifications. Just get in touch by filling-in the contact form below:
