Role and person specification
About the Institute
The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (the Institute) is the employer-led body responsible for overseeing the development and approval of apprenticeship standards and technical qualifications (T Levels).
Our aim is to ensure that apprenticeships and technical qualifications provide opportunities for the broadest range of individuals and employers and are viewed and respected as highly as other education routes.
Route panel role
To lead the review and approval of apprenticeship standards and technical qualifications, we have appointed 15 sector-based route panels. Each panel is made up of individual employers, chosen for their expertise and standing in the industry sectors they represent
The 15 occupational routes are:
- agriculture, environmental and animal care
- business and administration
- care services
- catering and hospitality
- construction
- creative and design
- digital
- education and childcare
- engineering and manufacturing
- hair and beauty
- health and science
- legal
- finance and accounting
- protective services
- sales, marketing and procurement
- transport and logistics
Route panels meet regularly to consider proposals put forward by employer-led trailblazer groups (who develop apprenticeships) and T Level panels. They take a strategic and collective view of apprenticeships and technical qualifications for their route, ensuring that high-quality development opportunities exist for all relevant occupations and offer clear pathways that enable people to progress in their careers. Their recommendations feed into the Institute’s Approval and Funding Committee, where final decisions are made.
Route panel Members also act as ambassadors for the Institute, championing apprenticeships and technical education within their sector.
Route panel Member: person specification
As a route panel Member, you’ll not only be helping to drive economic growth and social mobility nationally, you’ll also be making an important investment in building the capability of your own sector, ensuring that employers like you have the workforce they need for future success.
We are now looking for exceptional individuals both to strengthen existing route panels and to manage future changes in panel membership.
You don’t need to be an expert in apprenticeships or technical education, but you do need to be able to demonstrate:
- specific expertise (rather than generalist knowledge), leadership experience and credibility in one or more sectors of an occupational route
- current and in-depth insight into the realities of working in your industry
- an understanding of what it takes to bring on talent
- a passion for – and appreciation of the impact of – workplace learning
- sound judgement when dealing with complex situations and a willingness to be open to challenge
- a willingness – and ability – to commit to regular attendance at meetings and set time aside for reading and meeting preparation
- experience of operating within a panel or board structure to arrive at balanced and timely decisions (desirable)
Route panel meetings currently take place once every eight weeks. Most meetings are held remotely, enabling Members to dial in. From time to time, we invite Members to attend meetings or other events in person, including our bi-annual membership summits. These are usually held in London but may occasionally be hosted in other parts of the country by panel Members themselves.
This is a two-year appointment which may be extended by mutual agreement, up to a maximum term of five years. Route panel Members are not paid a fee but may claim reasonable expenses incurred as a consequence of participating in panel meetings and other Institute activities.
Conflicts of interest
When submitting an expression of interest, you must declare to the Institute any personal or business interest which may or may be perceived (by a reasonable member of the public) to influence your judgement in performing the functions and obligations of a route panel Member. These interests include (without limitation) personal direct and indirect pecuniary interests and any such interests of your close family members and/or people living in the same household as you or as your close family members.
To ensure the work of route panel Members remains entirely independent, we are unable to consider applications from individuals actively serving as members of trailblazer groups or T Level panels. We do though welcome applications from former members of such groups.
Candidates successfully appointed as route panel Members will be invited to attend an induction and must complete this before joining a panel. All Members are expected to uphold the standards of conduct as defined by the Committee on Standards in Public Life in the Seven Principles of Public Life.
How to apply
The closing date for applications is midnight on Monday 5 July 2021.
We are committed to eliminating discrimination, valuing diversity and promoting equality of opportunity and we will welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.
We are particularly keen to hear from applicants who work in the catering and hospitality, health and science, protective services or transport and logistics sector.
If you are interested in being considered for this role, please complete the expression of interest form and upload a copy of your CV.
One-to-one discussions will be held with shortlisted candidates during July and August These will be conducted by the Institute’s Head of Membership. Candidates who have not been shortlisted will be contacted by the middle of July. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer feedback to individuals whose applications have been unsuccessful at this stage.
If your application is successful, we may offer you a place on a panel straight away or hold your details on file (with your permission) until future panel Member opportunities become available.
We’ll contact you by email to acknowledge receipt of your application and to update you on its progress, so it’s advisable to check spam folders regularly.
The Institute operates a Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS) for disabled people. If you wish to apply for consideration under the scheme, please complete the Guaranteed Interview Scheme form (included on the expression of interest form) and submit this with your application.
Additional information
If you have any queries about this role or the application process, email: Institute.MEMBERSHIPOFFICE@ education.gov.uk. Please ensure you include ‘Route panel Member application’ in the subject line of any email.