Apprenticeships

The Royal Town Planning Institute, Planning Officers Society and Construction Skills have developed a new Town Planning Technical Support Apprenticeship framework for England and Wales. This apprenticeship is aimed at people working in a technical or administrative support role in the field of planning and can lead to technical membership of the RTPI.

Apprenticeships are work-based training programmes designed around the needs of employers. Funding is available for apprenticeships which can be used to train both new and existing employees.

The Level 3 Town Planning Technical Support Apprenticeship framework includes the following qualifications

• Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Town Planning Technical Support
• Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Town Planning Technical Support
• Functional Skills (English Level 2 and Maths Level 2) or Essential Skills (Wales)
• Personal Learning and thinking skills
• Employee Rights and Responsibilities (ERR)

What are the business benefits of apprenticeships for an employer?

Apart from the obvious skills & knowledge it gives the individual, the Town Planning Technical Support Apprenticeship also provides the following benefits:

• a distinctive qualification for technical support allowing for the professionalisation of that part of the planning service
• it is a useful independent tool to distinguish staff within a career grade or between separate grades in a support team
• increase productivity and improve staff retention
• provide a subsidised training route for new entrants and existing staff
• the apprenticeship will greatly assist planning services that wish to encourage good technical support staff to progress to become professional planning officers
• help with staff retention by offering a career development route for those wishing to become a team leader in a Technical Support Team and possibly to higher managerial levels where technical support is provided in a centralised set up.

What funding is available for Apprenticeships?

Grants towards the cost of training an apprenticeship are available for 16-24 year olds from the National Apprenticeship Service.   Employers receive 100% of the training costs for 16-18 year olds and 50% for 19-24 year olds. 

What can I do now if I'm interested in employing an apprentice? 

The National Apprenticeship Service offers guidance and support in finding a college that provides the qualifications and on how to start employing apprentices.