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I have been asked by Salon Owners regarding the New procedures for Apprenticeship Certification in England. The information below has been copied for your convenience from the Apprenticships.gov website and you can view the document here: http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/Partners/Certification.aspx
Your collage or training provider should be able to provide all information needed, however if you need more information or if you have any questions you can email David Martin at david.martin@apprenticeship.gov.uk.
As you may be aware, the majority of the Apprenticeship provisions of the Apprenticeship, Skills, Children and Learning (ASCL) Act are now in force. We are have now written to Providers via the Association of Learning Providers (ALP), Association of Colleges (AoC) and the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) update on the changes this will mean for the way Apprenticeship certificates are issued as stated in the regulations of the Act, and to let them know about the certification service that is currently being developed by the Alliance of Sector Skills Councils.
The Act introduces specific regulations for a new nationally consistent service which comes into force on the 13 April 2011. We have been working with the Alliance and BIS officials to put in place plans for this and have agreed that the Alliance of Sector Skills Councils will be the new certifying authority for England. The Alliance will have this role under a formal delegation, given to them by the Chief Executive of the Skills Funding Agency. When the new service comes into effect SSCs/SSO must cease from issuing certificates under existing arrangements.
The Alliance has put in place transitional arrangements for issuing completion certificates to comply with the requirements of the Act. The Alliance will also be working on developing the new single service further, in order to deliver a streamlined certification service which will commence later in the year.
The issuing of a statutory completion certificate will apply to all apprentices (including both publicly and privately funded) who complete a recognised Apprenticeship framework on or after the 13th April 2011. The new certificate will be of a single national design and the Alliance will send copies of this to providers as soon as it is available. Further details on the delivery and management of this process, in the form of guidance, will be shared with providers by the Alliance as part of their duties in becoming the certifying authority.
The ASCL Act now requires the apprentice to apply for the certificate, however, the application may continue to be facilitated by a college/training provider. We expect the Alliance c/o the relevant SSC/SSO to process the application within 10 days subject to all evidence requirements being met. The Act also introduces a single charging policy for all completion certificates. The maximum cost that can now be charged for issuing an original Apprenticeship completion certificate is £25 or the actual cost (which ever is lower). Any individual who requests a subsequent copy of an Apprenticeship completion certificate the maximum charge will be £30 or the actual cost (again, which ever is the lower).
Sue Williamson says
Hallo! My bro has told me to have a look at your writing. And I’d like to say that I really value what you’re providing here.
Harry says
Sorry – did not see this post and have left a comment on your minimum wage page. Are you saying that we are considered ‘apprentices’ until 21? I read Jennis comment and she states that she did training and then completed her 1st year as junior stylist – does that not make her qualified?? I’m really confused as I don’t see that training ever stops in this industry! So a school leaver of 16 joins a salon as an apprentice – I understand the training is 2/3 years – which takes them to 18/19! At that stage they think – great I’m qualified – only to find out that they will be on minimum wage til 21! What percentage of Salons dare to think outside the box and give more than the minimum wage to staff. Also can you tell me just how valid contracts are for both parties.
Mick Say says
Hi Harry
No – I did not say that.
An apprentice will sign a contract for a fixed term – generally the term is two years but could be three.
Your qualification or qualifications bear no relation to the “term” of an “apprenticeship”
If you (or any person) signed an apprentice contract for a fixed term then your apprenticeship ends when the contract period ends. During this time you may have acquired several professional qualifications such as NVQ’s
Hope this helps. Mick
Jamie Marshall says
The minimum wage is all well and good but it should not be national. I am in London and the cost of living is much higher. I would have thought that in the larger most costly Cities the minimum wage would have been higher
Mick Say says
Hi Jamie
I don’t disagree with you, however I think that the government consider that “apprentices” and young people still live at home with parents and unfortunately these are the rules.
You are in a great industry where the people who prove that they are good – will be able to earn really good money. Once you have completed your training and if you think your skills are good enough you may have to seek employment with a salon who are prepared to pay more.
Thank you for your comment – Mick