ApprenticeshipServices

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Benefits of hiring an apprentice

The benefits of hiring apprentices are well publicised. In a recent poll, 50% of employers found that apprentices stay in their business longer than any other recruits, and 75% say they actively promote their apprenticeship credentials when pitching for new business.

Nationally, the government is still looking to have 3 million new apprentices by the end of its parliament, and in our industry, initiatives like the Rail Sector Skills Delivery Plan and the Transport and Infrastructure Skills Strategy are creating an environment where high quality rail apprenticeship programmes are both attractive and vital.

And of course, in many cases, with the Apprenticeship Levy on the horizon, it might actually be of detriment to NOT hire an apprentice.

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What is NTAR?

Background and Mission

“All change” is a phrase that every rail passenger is used to hearing. But it’s now a phrase that has special resonance throughout the UK rail industry, as the move toward the ‘Digital Railway’ of the future gathers pace – just at the time when many of the industry’s workforce are approaching retirement age.

Both government and industry alike recognise that this combination of technological and demographic pressure needs a very clear strategy. Only by addressing training and recruitment needs now can we ensure that the UK can draw upon a highly-skilled talent pool in rail engineering – and create a truly world-leading 21st century rail network.

With immediate needs on the timetable too, such as expansion of the workforce to maintain new fleets, the response to the challenge has been a unique and ambitious public/private partnership between government agencies and private enterprise: the National Training Academy for Rail (NTAR).

NTAR, with its multi-million pound state-of-the-art facility based in Northampton, will act both as a UK flagship and an international Centre of Excellence for skills development and collaborative working in traction and rolling stock: addressing a skills gap that would otherwise become a barrier to both maintaining and growing the workforce.

How NTAR works and operates?

NTAR is a joint project between the National Skills Academy for Rail (NSAR), the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) and the Department for Transport (DfT), with industry partner Siemens.

The academy plays a leading role in the new railway skills development programmes being driven by NSAR – working with the market to make sure that industry priorities are met.

NTAR specialises in vital traction and rolling stock training: offering unrivalled facilities and courses, with our Northampton centre acting as a hub to support and deliver services to customers across the country.

“Generations of young people will benefit from the apprenticeships and training provided here to find new jobs and get on in life... this academy is well on its way to becoming a much-needed facility to support our railways.”

Transport Minister Baroness Kramer, 2014

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Apprenticeships

“Apprentices offer UK businesses a significant ROI, with economic output often exceeding costs”

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Introduction to Apprenticeships

Apprentices delivered around £1.8 billion of net economic benefits to UK organisations in 2013. According to the latest research compiled by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR)*, apprentices offer UK businesses a significant return on their investment, with economic output often exceeding average wage and training costs.

Nevertheless, the administration of an apprenticeship training scheme is often something that businesses find difficult to develop or manage. Of special concern is how to devise a scheme with sufficiently relevant and valuable content. NTAR is pleased to offer a range of different services for employers and Lead Providers interested in developing a high-value, levy-attracting apprenticeship training programme against one of the following rail occupations:

• Rail Engineering: Technician (Level 3)

• Rail Engineering: Advanced Technician (Level 4)

• Leadership and Management: Team Leader/Supervisor (Level 3)

• Leadership and Management: Operations/Department Manager (Level 5)

Lead Provision

We would welcome the opportunity to become Lead Provider for your apprenticeship training programme, managing the delivery of all of the programme elements required to meet the Rail Engineering and Leadership & Management standards, including:

• learner registration, onboarding, and monitoring

• management and delivery of all required learner training and assessment

• help with levy coordination

• government incentive(s) eligibility check and administration

• preparation and management of all required programme documentation and records

• management of subcontractor(s), including the partner college

• management of the learner End Point Assessment process

• safeguarding arrangements where applicable

• programme reporting and quality assurance

Specialist Provision

Where employers and Lead Providers have an existing scheme, but are unable to deliver some of the more specialist content of the Rail Engineering apprenticeships standards, NTAR is able to play the role of Specialist Provider, using our expertise and award-winning facilities to deliver specific programme elements, including:

• delivery of Rail Engineering foundation knowledge and skill training, via our Apprentice Development Programme (ADP)

• delivery of Rail Engineering competence qualifications

• delivery of specialist pathway Rail Engineering knowledge qualification units

“The government has pledged that 30,000 apprentice positions in road and rail will be created during the lifetime of this parliament”

*research compiled for the AAT covering the year 2012-2013

Our Curriculum

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End Point Assessment

NTAR is an End Point Assessment organisation, and is able to work with employers and Lead Providers to deliver the complete End Point Assessment process for the Rail Engineering apprenticeship standards, including:

• collation of qualification certificates

• review of portfolio of evidence

• Occupational Competence Validation Interview (Viva)

• Professional Assessment against EngTech requirements

• final sign off and employer endorsement

• submission for Apprenticeship Certificate

Programme Enrichment

We also offer services aimed at helping employers enrich their existing apprenticeship programmes, including:

• programme design

• additional training and assessment

• local workplace plan design and guidance

Engineered by Siemens – Managed by NTAR

NTAR is able to field expertise in apprenticeships to offer best-in-class managed services to a wide range of rail customers. Our partnership with Siemens offers benefit in three important respects:

• Experience: Siemens manages over 600 apprentices in the UK for its businesses and solutions partners in Engineering, Project Management, Health, Safety & Quality, Manufacturing, Research & Development, Sales & Marketing, Procurement & Logistics, Finance, and Information Technology at Levels 2, 3, and 4.

• Specialism: Our apprenticeships are customised to meet business requirements – they are designed to ensure learners are well equipped for their business’ challenges.

• Pioneering: Siemens is an early adopter of Trailblazer standards, and is involved in the development of standards in Phase 1, 2 and 3.

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By drawing on Siemens’ experience, which complements NTAR’s dedicated mission to support the rail industry, we are uniquely well-positioned to manage specific, industry-relevant apprenticeships to support your business:

• Future-proofing: We can support you in developing an apprenticeship that provides the skilled employees your business needs.

• Career Paths: We ensure that the apprenticeships we support are authentic, aligned to occupancy standards, and clearly linked into established or developing industry career paths.

• For the industry: We are able to take advantage of a broad range of suppliers across the industry to ensure your apprenticeship scheme is robust, up-to-date and quality assured.

The Apprentice Experience at NTAR

We strive to provide a social, engaging, and stimulating learning experience for our apprenticeships:

• Community: Learners have access to an online space, resources and community; before, during and after each interaction with NTAR – creating a valuable group identity.

• Blended Learning: Many modules and programmes are delivered through a blended approach – allowing employers to take a flexible approach to the development of their staff.

• Bring Your Own Device (BYOD): Learners access the community and resources via their own devices. NTAR IT is available at the hub and spokes, but learners are empowered to connect in their own way.

• Social Media: Learners are encouraged to update social media during programmes. Tweeting questions and discussion points adds another dimension to the learning space and prompts dialogue amongst the community and industry at large.

• Technology: NTAR utilises industry equipment and the latest technologies to create unique and effective learning events. For example, learners set up real train doors, track faults in ERTMS simulations, test live motor-bogies, access sealed components in virtual reality environments, and compete to top the Torque Awareness game leaderboard.

Learners on apprenticeships managed by NTAR also have access to:

• Team Engagement: Your apprentices will often be invited to support community engagement projects in their local area.

• Partner Colleges: College learning content is tailored to meet our requirements. Where possible we have bespoke classes, and tutorials, and assignments, projects and assessments are designed to our specifications or co-written by us to ensure relevancy and consistency. This is possible only as a result of close collaboration with our network of partners. We only work with the highest-quality learning providers, where each is subject to stringent checks and regular inspections.

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Apprentice Development Programme: CORE (ADP:CORE)

Apprenticeships

Key OutcomesUpon successful completion of this event, the learner will have begun to develop foundation Rail Engineering knowledge, including:

• be able to describe how each of the major fields of Rail Engineering contributes to the running of The Railway

• be able to describe the safe and professional working practices - including legislation, regulation, industry procedures and safety requirements - associated with The Railway

• be able to discuss the general engineering techniques required to support the maintenance, renewal and construction of The Railway

• be able to discuss the commercial principles applicable to The Railway, and the implications of these

• be able to describe the behaviours of a successful Rail Engineering technician

IntroductionA super-interactive, week-long, introduction to Rail Engineering, ADP:CORE is targeted at entry-level talent (apprentices, graduates, interns) in engineering and non-engineering roles and is applicable to all new entrants into The Railway.

ADP:CORE introduces learners to each of the major fields and features of Rail Engineering. The course is of particular benefit for apprentices enrolled onto the Rail Engineering standards, as it introduces much of the Core Knowledge, Core Skills, and Behaviours required to be a successful Rail Engineer.

Course OverviewOur well-equipped, state-of-the-art training facility and extensive partner network means that over the ten modules of ADP:CORE we are able to provide a unique learning experience; an interactive and engaging introduction to the Rail Engineering safety, the history of The Railway, the future of Rail Engineering, and the principles of traction and rolling stock, electrification, telecoms, track, and signalling.

LocationNorthampton

RequirementsEvery part of this course is practical and interactive. Learners will not be sitting down for more than 20 minutes at a time.

Before attending the event, you will need to complete the following pre-event learning: www.ntar.co.uk/jigsaw

Social MediaAt NTAR we encourage our learners to use social media, from a place of safety, when attending our programmes. Feel free to tweet @ntarail any feedback, updates, or questions before, during, or after the event.

Maximum Attendees24

By attending this event learners will be better prepared for a career in Rail Engineering.

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Module About

YRP

An opportunity to meet Young Rail Professionals (YRP) and learn more about their work and membership, and eat pizza! www.youngrailpro.com/about-yrp

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Session 1

Railway Overview TelecomsWheel x Rail

InterfaceCurrent Collection

and TractionSignalling

Session 2

Railway Safety Pinnacle Challenge Track Electrification Digital Railway

Evening

Young Rail Professionals (YRP)

Apprenticeship Development Programme Timetable

Modules

Apprenticeships

By attending this event learners will be able to demonstrate a wider knowledge of rail engineering.

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Module AboutRa

ilway

Sa

fety

An introduction to Railway Safety, including:• legislation, regulation, and industry procedures• terms and roles• setting up a safe system of work• and safety critical communications

Sign

allin

g An introduction to the principles of signalling engineering, including:• the anatomy of blocks, points, track circuits, and time and space interval signals• installation and operation of axle counters• and the interface between signalling engineering and other rail engineering functions

Trac

k

An introduction to the principles of track engineering, including:• the design, construction, and operation of UK railway track systems• the common failure modes of track engineering systems• the effects of abnormal conditions on the performance of the track system• and the interface between track engineering systems and other railway

engineering functions

Elec

trifi

cati

on

An introduction to the principles of rail electrification engineering, including:• the design, construction, installation, and commissioning of OLE, third, and fourth rail• main components, regulations, and challenges• and the interface between rail electrification and other railway engineering functions

Tele

com

s

An overview of next generation rail telecommunications engineering, including:• the science of rail telecommunications• fibre telecommunications cabling, networks, and techniques• and the interface between rail telecommunication engineering and other

railway engineering functions

Pin

nac

le

Ch

alle

nge

A set of social, physical, and mental challenges designing to highlight and develop the behaviours associated with a successful career within Rail Engineering.

Wh

eel x

Rai

l In

terf

ace

An introduction to the principles of wheel and rail interface, including:• wheel set and bogie assembly• wheel profiles and wear• inspection and condition monitoring• and maintenance and replacement techniques

Cu

rren

t C

olle

ctio

n a

nd

Trac

tion

An introduction to the principles of current collection and traction, including:• AC and DC power collection and motors• the diesel engine• traction conversion• common fault diagnosis• and maintenance and replacement techniques

Railw

ay

Ove

rvie

w

A unique overview of The Railway, including:• The History of the Railway• the franchising model• the Railway as a system• basic terms, documentation and regulation

Dig

ital

Ra

ilway

A introduction to the Digital Railway, including:• what is meant by the ‘Digital Railway’• the Railway’s current challenges• problem-solving and innovation• The Future of the Railway

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Bridging the skills gap.Setting Standards and raising the bar.Changing perceptions.Creating a different kind of facility.

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Contact us

We welcome all enquiries. If you are a business or individual interested in finding out more about NTAR, and the courses and services that we offer, please do not hesitate to contact us at our state-of-the-art facility in Northampton. We would also be keen to hear from you if you are a training provider or supplier interested in working with NTAR, to further support our curriculum. We can be contacted through the enquiry form on our website, by email or by calling us on:

t: 01604 594 440w: ntar.co.uke: info@ntar.co.uk

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Please contact the NTAR Apprenticeship Team if you would like to receive a proposal for our apprenticeship services.

t: 01604 594 440w: ntar.co.uke: info@ntar.co.uk

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NTAR Unit 5Heathfield Way Kings Heath Northampton NN5 7QP

Email: info@ntar.co.ukWeb: ntar.co.uk

NTAR_APPRENSHPS_11_16_s1v8

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