Facilities Management Apprenticeship scheme launched by the Virtual Academy

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A new facilities management (FM) apprenticeship programme has been launched in London and the South East, with further events in Leeds and Manchester.

It was one of six FM Apprenticeship projects being trialled across England as part of the new employer funded Virtual Academy for Business Services pilot, set up by the Sector Skills Council for FM, Asset Skills.

A series of early evening network events started on 22 June in London for FM companies interested in the new level 3 training programme that starts in the autumn.

As the economy continues to recover there is widespread acknowledgement among employers of the ongoing need to raise skills in the workforce to retain a competitive advantage, particularly in an economic climate in which efficiency and effectiveness are paramount to success.

"This apprenticeship is a brand new training programme for the industry which we developed with FM employers," said Karen Waterlow, FM Specialist at Asset Skills.

"We believe it will have a big impact on raising skills across the facilities management workforce and we want to hear from employers who are interested in getting involved."

Apprenticeships have been identified by all political parties as an effective way of developing the highly skilled staff needed for long term economic prosperity.

The network event outlined how the Virtual Academy for Business Services pilot works in practice. 

Event details

The event will provide details of the costs and the criteria for funding support, and information about other FM accredited programmes that will also be available. There will be an opportunity to network with representatives from the Virtual Academy for Business Services, professional bodies and awarding bodies.

Click here to register for an event.

Further events are planned for Leeds on the 20 July and Manchester on the 21 September.  If you would like to register your interest in attending either of these events please email Tom Orton at torton@assetskills.org or call the Virtual Academy on 0844 822 2525.