The Lift and Escalator Industry Association (LEIA) is delighted to promote a new Lift and Escalator Apprenticeship Standard this week – during National Apprenticeship Week. On 29 January this year, the Lift and Escalator Trailblazer Group’s Level 3 Standard and Assessment Plan for Lift and Escalator apprentices was approved for delivery by the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education. The standard is available to industry to develop employees capable of carrying out the installation or maintenance, repair and modernisation of lifts and escalators. A maximum funding level of £21,000 has been awarded for this apprenticeship programme.
LEIA members represented on the Lift and Escalator Trailblazer Group (the Group) have worked with representatives from the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education (the Institute) to create a training route with greater flexibility for employers, for raising the skill standard for the industry. The program has been awarded with a level of funding that allows for an enhanced and comprehensive program to be built. Age barriers have been removed from the “apprentice” role, allowing employers to recruit candidates that have decided that Lifts and Escalators is their vocational calling, or for existing employees (or “improvers”) to also benefit.
The Standard pulls together practical training, vocational assessment and academic qualifications, enhanced with detailed industry created courses, to ensure the specialist skills of the lift and escalator electromechanic are retained for future generations. These extensive programs are fully funded from the Apprenticeship Levy account of larger companies, with the same programs being accessible to the smaller employers for a contribution of 10%.
Dan Charlesworth, LEIA Training & Safety Manager said: “The amount of training possible with £21,000 leaves no excuses for any small employer to recruit apprentices. Larger employers can now expand programs without fear of squeezing budgets.”
Further information about the Standard is available at: