Jayne Edwards has been appointed to lead the new Technical Apprenticeship Service (TAS), an employer-led initiative funded initially from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills' Growth and Innovation Fund.
The TAS scheme is designed to especially benefit SMEs looking for an apprentice, as the support includes the establishment of local employer networks. It should also help apprentices who complete their frameworks to progress to Higher Level Education.
“The Government’s backing for TAS is a clear signal of the importance of science-based apprenticeships to the economy; we will be able to support employers, particularly SMEs, in finding the right calibre of people for their business,” said Edwards.
“I am delighted to be leading this service to promote real jobs for real apprentices – it’s an exceptional opportunity to help individuals, employers and the economy through one programme.”
Ms Edwards previously managed several high profile skills initiatives for sector skills council Cogent, including the Sector Compact, a Cogent programme which successfully increased demand for technical skills across England through the Train to Gain programme.
Joanna Woolf, Cogent’s chief executive, added: “There is already a great appetite from employers to get involved in the TAS and Jayne will work with them to support them in securing skills for the future, providing companies with talented, motivated individuals, who are ready for the unique technical challenges of working in the science-based industries.”
Cogent training frameworks will be available to employers in the Cogent Process Sector and Cogent Gold Standard qualifications are part of the scheme, initially at no additional cost.
