Apprenticeship framework and standards

Funding for apprenticeships can be very confusing at first glance but simplified the funding depends on the size of the business and if the business pays into an apprenticeship levy pot or not.  The website GOV UK Apprenticeship Funding explains this in great detail and a senior member of staff is usually nominated as the apprenticeship lead to manage this for the business.

Frameworks are primarily qualification focused. The main aim at the end of a framework is to have achieved a competency-based qualification, such as an NVQ, and a technical qualification, such as a BTEC.

It’s possible for an apprentice to achieve all qualifications in the framework but not actually have the right skills to carry out their job. This means some apprentices may need further training from their employer. In a framework, apprentices are assessed throughout their apprenticeship. They must obtain a number of qualifications during the apprenticeship. Once they’ve completed a unit, it is ticked off and they won’t necessarily need to demonstrate the skill again. There is no overall end assessment, which means no one is actually checking if the apprentice has the right skills to do their role.

Standards meet the needs of employers. A standard contains a list of the skills, knowledge and behaviours an apprentice will need to have learned by the end of their apprenticeship. Standards are occupation-focused; they are not qualification-led. The learning happens throughout the apprenticeship and the apprentice is assessed at the end. They need to prove that they can carry out all aspects of their job. They develop transferable skills and gain credibility too.

There are pros and cons to each, and Pharmacy Apprenticeships are often a hybrid of both and are known as pathways. There are a huge multitude of training providers, colleges etc all offering different pharmacy apprenticeships at different levels. The website GPhC approved courses and recognised qualifications has a very useful search filter where you can search for all different apprenticeships in all different areas depending on your need.

There is a Buttercups  section on Numarknet which reminds Numark members that they can receive discounts on Buttercups courses and this includes apprenticeships. The website Buttercups Training has a wide variety of different apprenticeships available including:

The NI Pharmacy services level 3 apprenticeship framework  sets out the Northern Ireland (NI) standards and criteria a candidate  must meet to complete their apprenticeship programme and receive your apprenticeship certificate for level 3 pharmacy services. This is the only level 3 training in this skill acceptable for apprenticeships funding in NI and Buttercups has a course which reflects this also.