To consider the report relating to Apprenticeship End Point Assessments (CFO/24/2526).

Chief Fire Officer, Nick Searle, introduced the report and reminded Members  that the Authority moved from the previous National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) approach for the development of new firefighters and implemented the Operational Firefighter Apprenticeship in 2019, which was a two-year programme. Members noted that under the apprentice programme, the Authority was able to reclaim significant costs associated with the training and development programme from the apprenticeship levy. It was explained that the final stage of the apprenticeship for a firefighter was the End-Point Assessment (EPA) and costs would only be incurred once an EPA was requested. 

Members were advised that an independent End-Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO) was required as part of the apprenticeship. 

The Chief Fire Officer acknowledged that the route to market was through YPO’s Apprenticeships and Associated Framework that allowed direct award to providers. Members were advised that the direct contract award to SFJA would enable a continuation of the ongoing successful partnership that the Authority had. It was explained that the current SFJA cost per EPA was £1980 and the contract value had been estimated based on a maximum of 40 EPAs per year which would equate to £396k for five years. The Chief Fire Officer drew Members’ attention to the table on page 50 which showed the predicted EPA’s and costs over the years. He explained that the table suggested that the number of EPAs would reduce to around 10 per year from 2029 lowering the predicted cost to £265k. He reassured Members that the Authority would only book enough EPAs for firefighters who reached that element of the apprenticeship.

The Chair commented that this had been a very successful system of functionally managing and enabling new recruits to progress through a structured process.

Councillor Dave Hanratty praised the use of the apprenticeship levy and did not think organisations utilised it enough. He asked how people had come through the apprenticeship scheme and the King’s Trust and Beacon Courses. Councillor Dave Hanratty commented on succession planning taking two years to implement and stated that the Authority might not know when firefighters would retire, however, if the Authority could work out the amount of apprenticeships needed to backfill any vacancies, this approach could be seamless.

Councillor Les Byrom suggested that the Authority have a learning lunch on the modern apprenticeship scheme.

The Chief Fire Officer confirmed that quarterly meetings were held to monitor staffing levels and ensured resources were appropriately allocated.. It was noted that, historically, firefighters typically retired after 30 years of service, however, this was no longer the case, making retirement projections more difficult to predict. Members were informed that over the past six years, three recruitment courses had been conducted annually. This would be reduced to two courses per year, with a longer-term goal of recruiting approximately 9–10 new firefighters annually. Consequently, adjustments to the recruitment process would be required to reflect these changes.

Councillor Dave Hanratty mentioned that there were a lot of benefits that could be utilised from all Fire and Rescue Services across the country by taking part in the apprenticeship scheme. The Chief Fire Officer noted that there had been firefighters from the Isle of Man on the previous recruit courses and the Authority had already had a further request from the Isle of Man and Guernsey for firefighters to be put on future  courses. He made Members aware that there were apprentices in a number of control and Green Book roles across the Service. He also noted that participants in the King’s Trust scheme did not necessarily aspire to pursue careers as firefighters; rather, the programme aimed to equip them with the skills required to gain employment within their communities.

RESOLVED that:

a)    the contents of the report be noted; and

b)    the award of a contract for the End Point Assessment of Apprenticeships to Skills for Justice Awards for a period of 5 years based on a total maximum value of the contract of up to £396k, all of which is fully paid from the Apprenticeship Levy, be approved.