{"id":1327,"date":"2021-10-27T12:08:57","date_gmt":"2021-10-27T11:08:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bwcmg.org\/?p=1327"},"modified":"2021-10-27T14:00:23","modified_gmt":"2021-10-27T13:00:23","slug":"apprentice-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bwcmg.org\/index.php\/2021\/10\/27\/apprentice-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Apprentice News"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Information in Timepiece helps to keep members of the Guild abreast of apprenticeship opportunities, ideal for filling that gap in the workshop. This edition reports on the latest news about the government \u2018Trailblazer\u2019 apprenticeship for watchmakers, a new initiative from the Clockmakers\u2019 Company and \u2018Kickstart\u2019.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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1. At the moment, preparations are in place at the Watchmaker Apprentice Training School (WATS) for the next group pf apprentices to begin.\u00a0 Don\u2019t delay, arrange a place for your apprentice, email <\/strong>enquiries@watchmakertraining.com<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Background:
A shortage of watchmakers makes recruitment difficult, and companies are now busier than ever. The government will pay for 95% of the training costs for an apprentice meaning there is no better time to employ an apprentice. With the Funding Band of \u00a327,000, the employer receives \u00a325,650 of training and support for their apprentice from the Watchmaker Apprentice Training School for nothing, the employer contribution is just \u00a31,350; for levy payers, there is no charge. The scheme offers small group teaching in a specialist training workshop for fourteen weeks during the two-year apprenticeship. E-learning ensures progress continues in the workplace \u2013 assignments are set on a weekly basis, marked and returned with feedback. At first, the apprentice masters \u2018part jobs\u2019, battery changing, fitting new stems and bracelets; soon, the emphasis is on servicing quartz watches and quickly progresses to manual winding watches and automatics. It is not just learning in a classroom; nearly all the teaching concentrates on practical watch servicing using commercial equipment including polishing machines to refurbish watch cases and bracelets. Employers are delighted with the training provided which helps the apprentices to quickly become an asset to their business.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Figure 1 \u2013 The Watchmaker Apprentice Training School.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Figure 2 - commercial polishing equipment.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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here is a government initiative, which applies to the Watchmaker Apprenticeship with its January 2022 start date, but you need to be quick.<\/p>

A \u00a33,000 incentive to employ an apprentice is available but the scheme ends on 31st January 2022. Once applications open in January 2022, you will be able to apply for a payment of \u00a33,000 for an apprentice with an employment start date from 1st October 2021 to 31st January 2022. This means that employers will receive \u00a33000 for every new employee who starts employment, and is enrolled onto an apprenticeship with them, before the cut-off date.<\/p>

Employers are responsible for making the claim, which will be paid directly by the government in two equal instalments, at 3 months and 12 months from the start date of the employee. All new employees of any ages starting any apprenticeship programme will be eligible.<\/span><\/p>

A statutory review by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) commenced in 2019 to consider the need for the watchmaker apprenticeship in the future. It was good news when IfATE reported the apprenticeship was fulfilling the needs of the industry and should be continued. There was, however, a sting in the tail. So much had changed since the apprenticeship was originally written and the documentation required rewriting to ensure conformity with the latest standards. It sounded just a very simple task but actually took a number of months to complete. Without this, the \u00a327,000 payment from government to train each apprentice for two years could be lost. Richemont generously supported this process which is now complete and was submitted on 8th September. Fingers crossed for approval in about two months.<\/p>

One very important feature of the apprenticeship is off-the-job training. All apprentices who are part of the government scheme must receive 20% off-the-job training to ensure the apprenticeship is a genuine learning opportunity. Careful calculations were required when planning the programme to be certain the block release sessions, together with three hours e-learning each week when the apprentice is in the workplace, totalled the requisite one fifth of the hours of employment. Progress reviews and on-programme assessment are an essential ingredient of the apprenticeship and are included in the off-the-job training. A practical assessment is arranged at the start of each block release session with the objective of determining whether the skills taught previously have been maintained or if additional practice is necessary.<\/p>

At the end of the apprenticeship the employer, with the apprentice and teacher at the Watchmaker Apprentice Training School, decide whether the apprentice is ready for the End-point Assessment, an independent evaluation of the apprentice\u2019s servicing skills, knowledge and behaviours. Servicing skills, and knowledge are self-explanatory but what are the \u2018behaviours\u2019? Behaviours, mindsets, attitudes and approaches necessary for competence, were introduced with the Trailblazer approach to apprenticeships.
The apprentice is part of a team working together to undertake watch servicing for clients; for that team to function effectively, it is important for everyone to contribute safely and harmoniously without tension or disagreement. In many instances behaviours are innate or instinctive and the employer will unconsciously consider how well a new apprentice will \u2018fit in\u2019 with the workforce but behaviours can be learnt.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Figure 3 - Practising servicing watches.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Examples of behaviours from the watchmaker apprenticeship include:<\/p>