MILITARY
head of business
development
(technical and
uniformed services)
at Pearson TQ, says:
“Working in partnership,
we have supported
both corps to make the
successful transition from
frameworks to standards
across a variety of trade areas
from carpentry to engineering
and ordnance munitions operations
to LGV driving, as well as plant operations
and port operations.
“Our role is to work with the corps
to ensure that as much of the initial
trade training can be used as knowledge
towards the standard. We deliver all
functional skills training, ensuring all
apprentices are at least ready for their
rst promotion and we deliver the
associated quali cations.
“We provide the apprenticeship
wrapper of support to the learners
and prepare them for their end point
assessment. In addition to providing the
technical and academic expertise, when
coupled with the Army’s training expertise
and employer leadership, creates a worldbeating
apprenticeship solution that
provides high levels of learner success,
much higher than those found in civilian
delivery.”
ROYAL LOGISTIC CORPS
In early September 2021, the part of the
Army responsible for supply, fuels, food
services, movement, mail, transport, port
and maritime operations, ammunition
and explosives ordnance disposal,
The Royal Logistics Corps (RLC), was
named employer of the year at the
Army Apprenticeships awards. With
soldiers joining the RLC in one of 12 trade
groups, it leads the way in terms of its
apprenticeship programme.
Maj (Retired) Peter Ramsden is the
RLC’s apprenticeships project o cer.
He says: “Not all military trades have an
equivalent role in the civilian
world, and there is not always an
ideal match between military roles and
civilian-based apprenticeships. However,
by liaising with the groups of civilian
employers who have responsibility for
de ning apprenticeship standards in
the civilian logistics sector, it has been
possible for us to achieve an appropriate
apprenticeship o er to soldiers in all
of the trades to which the RLC directly
recruits.”
He explains two of its roles below.
“The RLC’s marine engineers train
alongside REME vehicle mechanics for a
large part of their trade training and are
enrolled on the engineering technician
apprenticeship. This apprenticeship
enables professional registration as an
engineering technician.
“The new ordnance, munitions and
explosives technician apprenticeship
speci es and accredits the knowledge
and skills required by our ammunition
technicians in explosives testing, storage
and evaluation, using safe working
practices. This apprenticeship is one
of the very few Level 4 apprenticeships
o ered across the Army.”
While the Army is keen to retain its
technicians and engineers once they have
gained their quali cations, the majority of
soldiers leave the service after a full career
before they reach 40. Now these service
leavers can make an easier transition
into a civilian career in engineering,
construction and logistics thanks to the
Army’s fresh approach to vocational
quali cations.
mechanics. There are also engineering
technician apprenticeships for aircraft
maintenance tter technicians ( xed and
rotary wing) in the aviation and avionics
pathway. Finally, combined engineering
technician apprenticeships (mechatronics
maintenance technician) is available for
vehicle mechanics, technician electronics/
armourers and marine engineers.
ROYAL ENGINEERS
Soldiers joining the Royal Engineers
from basic training complete a combat
engineer course, before starting
speci c trade training. RE trades
include: communicators, drivers,
logisticians, tters, fabricators, armoured
engineers, plant operators, carpenters,
bricklayers, building and structural
nishers and plumbers. Like REME, its
new apprenticeship programme is now
recognised, with the majority of courses
being delivered.
Pearson TQ has been the Royal
Engineers’ apprenticeship partner since
2011 and the Royal Logistic Corps’
since 2015. It currently supports around
2,500 Army apprentices. Garrie Owens,
Winter 2021 www.operationsengineer.org.uk 81
/www.operationsengineer.org.uk