Training
From September 2017, for England only, TICA will deliver apprenticeships at both Levels 2 and 3 on a standard – moving away from our current framework. All English candidates will follow the standard, and will complete their apprenticeship with an End Point Assessment (EPA) which will be overseen by an independent EPA organisation.

The end result will be either a L2 apprenticeship as a Thermal Insulation Operative, or a L3 apprenticeship as a Thermal Insulation Technician.

The L2 Thermal Insulation Operative will follow a ‘fit only’ pathway, competent in the fitting of metal cladding and coverings, but not fabricating and making templates. It will take about 18 months to complete.

The L3 Thermal Insulation Technician apprenticeship will be inclusive of fabrication and pattern production, and the apprentice will become competent in fabricating metal cladding from a flat sheet. It will take about 24 months to complete.

Apprenticeships from Scotland and Wales will continue to be delivered on the current frameworks and will remain inclusive of the S/NVQ at the appropriate level.

Funding
Funding of apprenticeships is also going through radical reform.

A number of our larger TICA employer members will pay the National Apprentice Levy, and will pay for training using their Apprentice Service (AS) account.

Both TICA and the employer will have a direct contract with Government for the apprenticeship.

In the future, all of our employers will have an AS account – whether they pay the National Apprentice Levy or not.

Non levy paying employers will be co-funded and expected to pay 10% towards the cost of apprenticeship training, with small employers (less than 50 employees) employing 16 to 18 year old apprentices, paying nothing for the training at all.

TICA members will receive more detailed information at the spring regional webinar.