Centrica chooses Pearson to support their new apprenticeships standards delivery and end-point assessment
Pearson has announced a new partnership with Centrica, the energy and services company, to provide end point assessment and support across a number of their key apprenticeship standards.
Apprenticeships are highly valued in the UK economy and with the development of the new apprenticeship standards the benefits are greater than ever before. The new standards will put employers in the driving seat, increasing the quality of apprenticeships making them more relevant and therefore more attractive to existing and new employers.
Centrica is the parent company of British Gas, and following a successful submission to the Register of Apprenticeship Assessment Organisations, Pearson will be the preferred End Point Apprenticeship Assessment Organisation for the Customer Service Practitioner Apprenticeship Standard and Dual Fuel Smart Meter Installer Apprenticeship Standard.
End point assessment of British Gas Dual Fuel Smart Meter Installer apprentices by Pearson will begin in March 2017 and Customer Service Practitioner apprentices late 2017.
“We’re excited to announce this new partnership with Centrica at such a pivotal point in their apprenticeships development programme,” said James Emmett, Director of Strategic Relationships for Pearson BTEC and Apprenticeships. “We were successful in a competitive procurement process over a number of other Apprenticeship Assessment Organisations, and we believe that was primarily down to our industry knowledge, deep understanding of apprenticeships and our collaborative approach to working in partnership with employers in delivering to new standards.”
“Centrica is committed to identifying potential, providing development and career opportunities, and empowering our people to make a difference in our business,” said Ulf Bengtsson, Group Head of Learning and Development for Centrica. I can confidently say that our Apprenticeship schemes are the ‘Crown Jewel’ of our offering. We’ve built on our industry wide excellence in delivering Apprenticeships and skills with partners like the Duke of Edinburgh and the Princes Trust. We are now leading the way in the UK’s skills agenda ensuring quality, opportunity and thought leadership for all, throughout our Apprenticeships.”.
Over 200,000 workplaces in the UK already offer apprenticeships, enabling learners to study and earn a salary while gaining valuable work-based skills and experience. With the government planning to increase the number of high-quality apprenticeships available in the UK and calling on employers for investment, the demand for apprenticeships is growing.