The Furniture and Interiors Education, Skills and Training Alliance (Fiesta) has confirmed that eight Level 2 manufacturing apprenticeships will be renewed in 2020.
In July 2019, the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IFATE), the controlling authority on apprenticeship standards, warned that the current furniture manufacturer standard would need reviewing before the end of 2019, as it was no longer fit for purpose.
Gary Baker, Fiesta chairman, said: “The substantial steps successfully undertaken by Fiesta mean that nine of the existing 10 pathways will be developed into eight standards, with only the Foam Converter pathway ceasing to exist.”
Uwe Hanneck, acting chief executive of the Kitchen and Bathroom Manufacturers Association (KBSA), said these updated apprenticeships will support the KBB industry by providing Level 2 apprenticeships in kitchen installation for manufacturers and installers, allowing employers to have a skilled workforce.
Hanneck said: “A new apprenticeship for Fitted Furniture Design Technician at Level 3 has also recently been launched. The KBSA and The Kitchen Education Trust (TKET), in association with Fiesta, are working with employers and educational and skills consultancy Achieve+Partners, to develop a Kitchen Designer Higher Apprenticeship.
“These qualifications will help apprentices wanting to enter the KBB profession and employers looking to upskill new and existing workforce. Ultimately, these apprenticeships will produce well trained, skilled employees who can add significant value and help their organisations thrive.”
Hanneck said that the key to the success of these apprenticeships is having industry experts to assess apprentices on a one-to-one basis and small groups of select apprentices in various components of the apprenticeships.
“Achieve+Partners is working closely with KBSA and other industry associations to recruit for this role,” he said. “More information on this and these roles will be available soon.”