Apprenticeships by their nature are an inclusive education option for so many people and are demand led through employers offering a chance for individuals to learn new knowledge and skills in a work-based setting. They are a job accompanied by an approved learning programme so appeal to individuals who don’t work well in a classroom setting. Unlike some of their academic counterparts such as T-Levels, apprenticeships are available to any age. There are no prerequisites unless the employer sets their own requirements, and any individual who has low prior attainment in maths and English is not excluded, they are supported to complete functional skills which are embedded into their apprenticeship. Apprenticeships range from level 2 to level 7 allowing funded training for anyone from entry-level to higher qualified individuals and new or existing staff (find out more). A good apprenticeship is co-created by the training provider and employer to ensure it is tailored to everyone’s needs, and additional learning support can be funded and built-in to ensure nobody is excluded based on their specific needs.
| Apprenticeships therefore possess the ability to be inclusive and meet the needs of a diverse group of people, however, it is how they are implemented, that really makes the difference. We’ve shared an example of one of our learners who completed an apprenticeship and the support and structure we put in place to facilitate that. |  |
Jim is a Real Tennis professional on a Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship. He identified at his initial assessments he had severe dyslexia and based on this we discussed his needs and what support we could give. Additional face-to-face visits with the tutor were planned throughout his apprenticeship which supported Jim in learning the material and consolidating the learning. The line manager was heavily involved throughout the process and extremely supportive in attending face-to-face sessions to get a clear understanding of what Jim needed to do and evidence to meet his apprenticeship requirements. Ultimately, we wanted Jim to feel he had the full support and backing of everyone helping him on his apprenticeship as and when he needed it but also allowing him the confidence and authority to drive his own learning and to be empowered to succeed.
Jim had a particular challenge in completing multiple-choice questions based on the way the text was worded and written. For the Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship, the endpoint assessment dictates that a multiple-choice exam must be taken and this is set by the endpoint assessment organisation. Although this testing method couldn’t be altered, we identified the access arrangements available to Jim from the endpoint assessment organisation in relation to his final knowledge test and put in place a reader and additional time to support. His tutor set up clear guidance and links to learning material to help him revise and Jim completed a number of mock tests in preparation. Jim also set aside a lot of time to revise his work and to practice and practice the type of questions he was going to receive in the exam.
Jim spoke:
"I learnt so much throughout my apprenticeship in the assignment work and presentations. I was very well supported by Sport Structures and my employer to help me succeed."
Sarina (tutor/assessor) said:
"Jim was quiet and reserved at the start of the apprenticeship. We worked together with his manager to identify development opportunities and I quickly see a real change in his personality as he became both confident and assertive as he approached activities. He was always willing to work hard and this was more than evident with the work he did in relation to undertaking his multiple choice test, he never gave up, his determination was a real inspiration and I am so pleased to see this paid off and he finally got the outcome he deserved. He was a dedicated and focused learner, and it was a real pleasure to work with him."
Embrace equal opportunities, foster innovation, and tap into a diverse talent pool for a competitive advantage in today's market. Empower underrepresented groups, break barriers, and drive social change by unleashing the potential of inclusive apprenticeships for a brighter future.
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