Workplace

In recognition of the fact that employers need young people with a broader grounding in the skills required for an engineering job, the government has brought in new diplomas in the subject.

The diplomas have the backing of employers and are intended to provide 14- to 19-year-olds in England with a new route to both work-based and academic learning.

Two examples of these new diplomas are the Engineering Diploma, and the Construction & The Built Environment Diploma, which are planned for launch in schools in September 2008. They are being developed by a partnership of Sector Skills Councils, including SummitSkills. In general, there will be three levels of diploma:

• Levels 1 and 2 combined will be the equivalent of five GCSEs

• Level 3 will be the equivalent of three A levels

The new diplomas mark a major reform of the education system that will no doubt have a huge impact on the sector's employers. They will provide a real material benefit by reducing recruitment and training costs and staff turnover, as young people start jobs with higher levels of skills.

There should certainly be no lack of demand for the new certificates. CITB-Construction Skills has warned that young people will be lost to the industry because they are not being offered an apprenticeship soon enough. The training organisation said it had received more than 350 applications a week so far this year.

Each level of the new diplomas is to include functional skills in English, Maths and ICT; wider employability skills; personal development skills; vocational-related learning; and work experience to underpin the general and academic knowledge.

This combination of work experience, and specialised learning in the classroom, focused on a sector-specific occupation, before moving on to an apprenticeship, further education or into the workplace, should be a winning combination.

We want to know what you think

One of the principal aims of the reform is to prepare young people for the workplace, so the involvement of employers is an important ingredient. For this reason, SummitSkills will be undertaking an initial consultation.

SummitSkills is interested to hear the views of employers and partners on areas such as:

• What do employers feel the diplomas should include? This is an opportunity for employers' to define the content.

• What skills do employers rate most highly from an employee? For instance, self management/initiative, communication skills, subject knowledge or skills and competence…

• What qualifications or training schemes have employers had a good experience with in the past?

These and many other issues will be discussed over the forthcoming months - so if you have something to contribute, get in touch. This is a rare chance for employers to influence the content and structure of the diplomas that in the future will deliver the skilled individuals needed to make their industry thrive.

Employers wishing to take part in the consultation, or join the virtual advisory group that enables them to give their views at various stages of the diploma development, should visit this web address:

http://www.summitskills.org.uk/14-19

Alternatively, call SummitSkills on 01908 303960.