CfA

CFA and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) have been successful in their bid for funding to develop a Higher Apprenticeship in Human Resource Management, as part of the £18.7m Higher Apprenticeship fund announced by Business Secretary Vince Cable in December 2011.

The Higher Apprenticeship in Human Resource Management will provide a new progression route for anyone wishing to pursue a career in HR or business more generally. This will provide an opportunity to build a pipeline of competent and skilled professionals capable of making a meaningful contribution to the organisations that train them. The CFA and CIPD are now calling on HR professionals to register their interest in contributing to the development of the Higher Apprenticeship in Human Resource Management. The aim is to create 725 Higher Apprenticeships in Human Resource Management by 2016, with the support of a fund of nearly £800,000.

With youth unemployment currently running at over 20%, Higher Apprenticeships will provide aspiring professionals with the opportunity to develop competence, skill and knowledge-sets to pave professional careers. The availability of Higher Apprenticeships across all sectors of the economy and all areas of England will give people the chance to develop capability and will lay firm foundations for the next generation of competent Business professionals.

Stephanie Bird, director of HR capability at the CIPD, comments: “The CIPD strongly supports the creation of Higher Apprenticeships as a route into the professions for people of all ages and from all walks of life. The HR apprenticeship will help to attract the brightest and best talent to a profession that has a crucial role to play in driving productivity and growth for organisations. HR is a rewarding career of choice in itself and can also provide a route into other business disciplines. Gone are the days when HR was a predominantly administrative profession: today’s brightest HR professionals display a huge amount of business savvy and are real agents of change who contribute significantly to sustainable organisational growth.”

John Hayes, Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, said: “I want more bright young people to build careers in vital professions like human resources, and to receive nationally recognised training to the highest standards. By giving practical learning the same status and recognition as academic study, the Government will help build a stronger economy and redefine the concept of higher education.”

CFA Chief Executive, Jenny Hewell, said: “We are delighted to add the Higher Apprenticeship in human resources to CFA’s expanding portfolio of apprenticeship frameworks. The Higher Apprenticeship in Human Resources will enable learners to develop the skills required to ensure that Human Resources are managed effectively in the UK. Higher Apprenticeships are a credible alternative to higher education and will play a vital role in the development of professional knowledge, skills and competencies in the future.”

Should anyone like to help with the development of Higher Apprenticeships in HR, they should register their interest here. More information can also be found on the CIPD website here.

Notes to Editors

• A total of 19 bids will be supported by the Higher Apprenticeship Fund, following a competitive bidding process to identify the most innovative proposals to meet employer’s skills requirements. CFA and CIPD will develop a Higher Apprenticeship in Human Resource Management. 725 apprenticeships in Human Resource Management will initially be offered by 2016, with the support of a fund of nearly £800,000. Funding will be used for engaging key employers, engaging employees, improving provision and developing products. CFA will also be developing a higher apprenticeship in project management in partnership with the Association of Project managers (APM). Apprenticeships showcase the need to progress from assessing knowledge through traditional qualifications, to developing competence and experience. A press release from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills was distributed on 01 December 2011.
• For more information on the CIPD website, visit: www.cipd.co.uk/qualifications/choose/_HRhigherapprentice
• If you are interested in helping to develop the Higher Apprenticeship in HR, please register your details here: www.cipd.co.uk/qualifications/_HigherApprenticeshipHRM-RegisterOfInterest
• CFA are the leading government-recognised apprenticeship issuing authority responsible for business skills, and represent over 10 million UK employees to date. As the leading authority on providing and promoting both business skills and knowledge, CFA ensure that employees from all types of organisations have the required skills to excel and develop throughout their careers.
• The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is the world’s largest Chartered HR and development professional body, setting global standards for best practice in HR. With over 135,000 members across 120 countries, the CIPD is focused on supporting and developing those responsible for the management and development of people within organisations.