An event was held at Cornwall College Group (Camborne campus) on 24 May 17 to officially launch the new level 3 Laboratory Technician and level 5 Laboratory Scientist Apprenticeships.
The event was attended by local schools, colleges and industrial partners to promote and discuss the new standards.
Dr Mark Nason (Director of Science and Natural Environment at Cornwall College Group) gave the opening presentation. He discussed how the new standards would be delivered and the associated qualifications that apprentices would gain by completing the apprenticeships. There is a clear progression route for apprentices that enables them to study from level 3 all the way through to a level 7 masters.
The launch of a brand new pathway into a career in science has ignited interest and excitement for businesses across the South West.
“This event was an opportunity to introduce employers in Cornwall to the new level 3 and level 5 laboratory apprenticeships that Cornwall College is offering from this coming academic year,” Dr Nason explained.
“These apprenticeships represent a different way to study STEM with work-based progression available from Level 3 all the way to Level 7 allowing people to forge a successful scientific career, earning while they learn.”
Scientific professionals play a vital part in UK public and private sector organisations, yet many employers find it difficult to recruit and retain good laboratory technicians and scientists.
As a result, The Cornwall College Group (TCCG) and CCB created a steering group with The University of Exeter, Imerys, the Wheal Jane Group and various secondary schools to have an input into the development of these brand new programmes.
“The event has been really good and it has been really useful to get some feedback from employers about the delivery model for the apprenticeships and about the choice of optional modules. Those aspects of the standards where we can be flexible to meet the needs of employers we will endeavour to do so and it is really useful to find out about what they want to see in these standards.”
Jonathan Cresswell (Head of Apprenticeships at University of Exeter) gave a presentation about the benefits of apprenticeships and explained how we were embedding apprentices as part of our workforce and succession planning. He explained that the apprenticeships were aligned with Science Council professional registration at RSciTech and RSci levels, and that they were a fantastic stepping stone into the world of a professional scientist.
Jonathan said the event had been “a fantastic opportunity to meet other employers interested in both the lab technician and the lab scientist apprenticeships”.
“At the University of Exeter we are very excited about employing lab technicians and in the future lab scientists as a progression route, as a way to bring new people in and give them new skills, but also as a way to upskill some of our staff,” he added.
There were plenty of questions and much interest from the floor after the presentations.
The University of Exeter will be employing 2 Laboratory Technicians this September, along with IMERYS and Cornwall College Group who will also have apprentices in this pilot group.