Facilities Management Apprentice Luke Gilbert, 21, is taking the facilities management (FM) apprenticeship while working at one of the government’s flagship academy schools, the Petchey Academy in Hackney, east London.

He’d previously been working as a full-time shelf-stacker in Waitrose and was offered the chance of training as a manager but wanted a job with more variety.

Having heard about facilities management through a relative and finding out what was involved, Luke applied for a job vacancy as site operative, or facilities assistant, at the academy.

He was successful and started his level 3 FM apprenticeship straight away.  His training takes place at work and in the classroom at Westminster Kingsway College.

“My job was as a facilities assistant and this training has been a great chance of learning about all the different aspects involved in maintaining a building. Every day is different; I love this job and understanding all the hidden aspects of a building that work to keep it functioning efficiently. The time has gone so fast which is always a good sign that you’re enjoying what you’re doing."

“My role involves monitoring the energy readings; making sure batteries and appliances work; that things are getting fixed. We’re in a school so the kids often break things like windows or doors. Since starting my job in FM, my aim has been to work my way up from the bottom so that one day I can be a facilities manager. I’ve got the experience in an education setting but I’d like to work as a facilities manager anywhere in the facilities world.”

Housing Apprentice Stephanie Wood was studying hairdressing at college but was interested in applying for a Level 2 Housing Apprenticeship opportunity.

Although she had no formal experience of working in housing, she had customer service skills from her previous job in a restaurant. This was enough for her to be taken on to the level 2 apprenticeship at the housing association, Wigan and Leigh where she now works as a housing assistant.

“I really enjoy this job and am so glad I saw the advert for the apprentice scheme. The best thing about it is meeting new people and gaining experience. It’s the little things that are the most valuable - like the confidence I now have about speaking on the telephone. I now have all this brilliant work experience under my belt. I love this job and want to do well for myself but also to show my employer how much I appreciate their commitment in investing in my training.”

Property Apprentice Charlotte Cooper, 17, decided against college and university and chose a vocational path into estate agency through the Property Apprenticeship, Residential Lettings.

She studied with the Bloom Apprenticeship Academy for Estate and Letting Agents in Birmingham. The intensive course blended formal learning at a training centre with assessment at her place of work, Alan Cooper Estates in Nuneaton.

Property apprentices take exams in every aspect of estate agency including the NFoPP (National Federation of Property Professionals) Technical Award in the Sale of Residential Property and an ABBE NVQ Level 3 Diploma demonstrating vocational competency.

In 2011, Charlotte scooped the prestigious 'UK Young Estate Agent of the Year' accolade and celebrated at a glitzy awards bash in London with the BBC's Apprentice star Jamie Lester, seen pictured with Charlotte.

She was also a finalist in the category of 'Sales Negotiator of the Year' in the 'Property Awards for Women 2011' held at Wembley Stadium.

“I love this job and the apprenticeship was a great way in. I know I’ve made the right choice and have a promising career with a future. I’ve learnt so much stuff and gained solid experience along the way. Another major plus point is that I’m not starting my career with a huge debt to pay by having gone to university.”

Cleaning Apprentice Sean McEnery works in a hospital.

At the age of 21, Sean has taken an NVQ as part of the Apprenticeship in Cleaning and Support Services. He works for a support services company as a hospital cleaner and ward host.

Sean was in several jobs after leaving school, including shop work and bricklaying. Following a spell of unemployment, he decided to give cleaning a go after seeing a job advert for staff at the hospital. He enjoys the variety of the job and was pleased when offered him the chance to train for an NVQ.

The qualification covered areas like handling chemicals properly to the colour-coding of cleaning products. He also learned about correct infection prevention procedures.

"I was surprised at how much is involved in being a good cleaner and how much there was to learn. In a hospital you have to get all the procedures exactly right - it's so important. I get a real sense of achievement from that."

Facilities Management Apprenticeship - There is a growing need for skilled people to work in facilities management (FM), the industry responsible for the care and maintenance of commercial or public buildings like arenas, shopping centres, office complexes, schools, hospitals or hotels.

We launched the level 3 Apprenticeship in Facilities Management in 2010 in response to what employers were telling us they needed.

“Facilities management is a growing area as more and more organisations recognise the benefits to be gained by employing highly-skilled people to manage their support services,” says Sarah Bentley, Chief Executive of Asset Skills.

“With a professional team of facilities managers looking after the building maintenance functions, firms are free to concentrate on their core business.

“The FM apprenticeship is an excellent way for young people to get a foothold in an industry that’s playing a big part in helping the UK meet tough new targets on cutting carbon emissions from buildings. New legislation means it’s essential staff are getting the right training and skills from the start. That’s what this programme offers.”

Higher Apprenticeships in FM - Asset Skills has secured more than £1m to develop higher level apprenticeships in facilities management.

The £1,105,400 from the Higher Apprenticeship Fund will support apprenticeships up to degree equivalent in FM at levels 4, 5 and 6.

“The Higher Apprenticeship Fund will create new routes into higher levels of workplace learning in facilities management,” says Chief Executive of Asset Skills, Sarah Bentley.

“The range of skills required by FMs is wide and hugely varied; new green technologies are likely to bring even greater need for new understanding and skills. This investment, which will create new routes into higher levels of workplace learning, is really positive news for the facilities management sector.”

For more information, contact Karen Waterlow on kwaterlow@assetskills.org or call 0845 678 2 888.

UK Academy network - We are also developing a level 2 Facilities Services Apprenticeship and this, together with the level 3 programme, can be accessed by employers through our UK Academy for Business Services.

The UK Academy offers hands-on help and assistance in sorting out training for businesses and delivering apprenticeships. Asset Skills also runs academies delivering the levels 2 and 3 Housing Apprenticeships and the levels 2 and 3 Property Apprenticeships.

Becoming a member of the UK Academy gives employers an account management service; help in identifying suitable training programmes; access to funding (where available) and the chance to save costs through collaboration.

We have also built a trusted network of training providers offering our apprenticeships as part of the Academy. We would like to hear from training providers and employers interested in joining our UK Academy network. Prospectuses are available for the difference academies in business services, housing and property.

For more information, visit the UK Academy area of our website, email ukacademy@assetskills.org or call 0844 822 2525.

Housing Apprenticeships 

The Housing Apprenticeships offer an excellent entry point and early career path into work in local communities. A safe, suitable home is the platform for the delivery of a wide range of other services especially for vulnerable people.

The programmes at levels 2 and 3 involve developing skills in generic as well as specialist areas including:

• Information systems in housing
• Advice and guidance
• Customer service
• Housing law
• Health and safety

In 2011, we incorporated leadership and management options into the level 3 apprenticeship, following requests from employers and training providers.

There is now increased scope to develop young talent in 'people management' as well as 'housing management' skills.

For people already working in housing there are a wide range of additional qualifications to consider, up to postgraduate level.

For more information, contact Catharine Hinton on chinton@assetskills.org or call 0845 678 2 888.

Property Apprenticeship - In an industry with no tradition of apprenticeships, take up of the Property Services Apprenticeship has been encouraging.

It comes in two parts – Residential Sales and Residential Lettings – the latter is helping many estate agents meet the new demand for rentals. Training in the lettings industry is essential for staff and managers and the apprenticeship helps give them a good understanding of the vast amount of legislation involved.

The increase in estate agents taking on apprentices is helped by more training providers offering it.

Training provider Property Synergy and the Xperience group of lettings agents are putting 100 staff through the apprenticeship in lettings, while the NVQ in Property Sales is being used by Pattinsons in North East England. The company ran two programmes with Hartlepool College. In one, 52 staff took the NVQ; in the other, the apprenticeship in sales helped around 20 unemployed people to train as self-employed estate agents.

Elsewhere in property, Asset Skills revamped the Surveying Apprenticeship to update and take account of employer needs in this profession. It now incorporates a new qualification, the Subsidiary Diploma in the Construction and the Built Environment (Surveying), which is being offered at four training centres.

We are working with training providers and the industry to help boost take up of this apprenticeship. Leeds College of Building and Liverpool Community College are planning to deliver it if enough candidates register. Asset Skills is looking for other training providers to consider offering the programme.

Contact us at 0845 678 2 888 if you are interested, or for more on apprenticeships in the property industry contact Liz Black on lblack@assetskills.org or call 07921 976 815.

Apprenticeships for an essential workforce  

The Apprenticeship in Cleaning and Environmental Services is offering an excellent route into work for hundreds of people. The programme involves training in a number of specialist skills areas, including:

• Infection control in hospitals to combat superbugs
• Disaster recovery operations (train crashes/post floods, etc)
• Crime scene clean ups
• Chemical mixing and correct use of machinery
• Health and safety

Cleaners form an essential workforce, without which we would have vermin-infested and disease-ridden streets and buildings; a return of dirty hospital wards and increasing cases of superbugs. The training contained within the level 2 apprenticeship tackles all this and more.

For more routine cleaning jobs, there are a number of level 1 qualifications which do not form part of the apprenticeship.

The broad spectrum of training involved in the cleaning apprenticeship and its flexibility is what appeals to employers. More than 1,200 certificates have been issued to people who have completed this apprenticeship in the last year.

The apprenticeship is a route into a job that then teaches a person work skills and opens up new opportunities. The cleaning sector is a place that offers an excellent route for entrepreneurs who want to start their own business. Where you start is not necessarily where you stay.

For more information, contact Karen Waterlow on kwaterlow@assetskills.org or call 0845 678 2 888.

Gold, silver and bronze certificates - A new online system has been launched to support the statutory certification of apprenticeships in England.

The Apprenticeship Certificates England (ACE) system will help track the progress of apprentices from registration to completion. It will also empower candidates throughout their apprenticeship journey, by giving them the chance to request their own apprenticeship certificate on completion.

It is being run by the Alliance of Sector Skills Councils, the organisation that represents Sector Skills Councils, in conjunction with the National Apprenticeship Service.

To link in with the Olympic theme, the ACE system will issue gold, silver and bronze certificates to mark different level apprenticeship completions.

For more information on ACE, contact our Apprenticeships Development Manager Gill Spatcher on gspatcher@assetskills.org or call 0845 678 2 888.

Attracting small firms to take on apprentices - A new incentive to encourage thousands of small firms that don’t currently employ apprentices to take on a young apprentice aged 16 to 24 has been introduced by the government.

The incentive is for employers with up to 50 (and in some cases up to 250) employees and comprises a payment of £1,500 payable in two stages.

It will be available to small firms in all industries and for apprenticeships at all levels from April 2012. Watch for announcements on the NAS website at www.apprenticeships.org.uk.

To help mark Apprenticeship Week, we've compiled this round up of colleges and training providers offering apprenticeships in the Asset Skills footprint.

Facilities Management Apprenticeship - Manchester College

The Manchester College is a leading training provider in the North-West of England. It offers the level 3 Apprenticeship in Facilities Management.

This programme equips new and existing FM professionals with the latest industry knowledge and specialist skills to ensure the smooth running of premises. The FM Apprenticeship includes leadership training, space management, sustainability and environmental issues.

The college also offers an apprenticeship in Cleaning and Support Services which covers health and safety, dealing with waste and communicating with customers.

As part of its partnership with Asset Skills, it is working to develop higher apprenticeships in facilities management which will be aimed at more experienced managers.

For more information, email business@themanchestercollege.ac.uk or call 0161 203 2100 (option 1). Alternatively, visit www.themanchestercollege.ac.uk.

Facilities Management Apprenticeships – Westminster Kingsway

Westminster Kingsway offers the level 3 Apprenticeship in Facilities Management. For more information, email courseinfo@westking.ac.uk or call 0870 060 9800.

Housing Apprenticeship - New College Durham

New College Durham is delivering the CIH level 3 Apprenticeship in Housing to anyone working in housing aged over 16.

It is suitable for people with no experience and those who have worked in the sector for a while and want a formal housing qualification.

The apprenticeships delivered by New College Durham are funded and therefore available at no cost to the employer. For more information, visit www.newcollegedurham.ac.uk/school/apprenticeships/Pages/Apprenticeshiphomepage.aspx

Housing Apprenticeship - City Training Services Ltd

City Training Services is an apprenticeship training provider covering West Yorkshire and offers the Housing Apprenticeship among others.

For more information, email info@citytraining.org.uk or call 01274 728 316.

Property Apprenticeship - Training Synergy

Training Synergy delivers apprenticeships in property and local government taxation.

For more information, visit www.synergyinproperty.com or call 0800 072 9844.

Surveying Apprenticeship - Havering College

Havering College in Essex offers a range of apprenticeships, including surveying.

Working with Asset Skills and the National Apprenticeship Service, the college runs a level 3 Surveying Apprenticeship in partnership with Westminster Kingsway College. It’s a good alternative to the traditional graduate route into the surveying profession.

For more information, visit www.havering-college.ac.uk, email EmployerEnquiry@havering-college.ac.uk or call 07792 848 104.

Cleaning and Support Services Apprenticeship - South Thames College

The Level 2 Apprenticeship in Cleaning & Support Service Skills is being offered by South Thames incorporating Merton College.

For more information, email mary.schramm@south-thames.ac.uk or call 020 8918 7518 or visit www.south-thames.ac.uk/PA823/Cleaning_and_Facilities_Services

Cleaning and Environmental Services Apprenticeship - B-Skill Limited

B-Skill Limited supports young people and adults to access and achieve vocational, educational and employability skills in the support services industry. It delivers apprenticeships in:

• Cleaning and Environmental Services
• Customer Services
• Business Administration
• Team Leading

For more information, please email B-Skill Limited on business.training@b-skill.co.uk or call 0191 230 3737.

Cleaning and Support Services Apprenticeships - Babcock

Learning provider Babcock delivers the apprenticeship in cleaning and support services, as well as in a number of cross-sector areas including administration, management and team leading.

To find out more, visit www.babcock.co.uk/training or call 0800 731 8199.

Property Apprenticeship - Neighbour Training

Neighbour Training provides the property apprenticeship in sales and lettings.

Achievement of the advanced apprenticeship means candidates can apply for membership of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) or Association of Residential Lettings Agents (ARLA).

Funding for applicants aged 16 to 24 years is available for the Apprenticeship and Advanced Apprenticeship in the Sale of Residential Property and Residential Property Letting and Management.

For more information, visit www.neighbour-training.co.uk or call 01737 842 286.

Property Apprenticeships - Positive Outcomes

Positive Outcomes is a training provider delivering apprenticeships in estate agency and business services such as:

• Business Administration
• Customer Service
• IT
• Retail
• Estate Agency
• Warehousing & Storage
• Team Leading
• Management

For more information, please visit www.positiveoutcomes.org.uk or call 0845 643 5566.