Apprenticeship Skills Coach

Salary: £29,605 to £30,487 with progression to £32,982 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 11 June 2024

The Role

We are looking for Skills Coaches to support the high-quality delivery of Apprenticeships across subject areas including Engineering and Business Management. Apprenticeship Skills Coaches are work-based trainers who review the progress of the apprentice in relation to Apprenticeships Standards offered by Newcastle University.

You will join a dedicated team within the University based within the Lifelong Learning and Apprenticeship Hub. Ofsted described our learners as being successful in "developing knowledge, skills and behaviours that help them to thrive at work and benefit their employers". You will have the opportunity to work closely with academic experts and professional services colleagues to support your apprentice and their workplace employer in developing new workplace knowledge, skills and behaviours.

Supported by the Lifelong Learning Senior Manager, you will monitor and discuss learner progress to support the apprentice and Workplace Employer to understand what and how current and potential workplace experiences could enable further progress and evidence for the successful completion of the apprenticeship.

Using the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours from the Apprenticeship Standard as a framework you can structure and support developmental conversations to evidence apprentices' progression. Therefore, we are looking for candidates with excellent communication skills and the ability to work with multiple stakeholders.

It is important that you bring with you the passion and empathy to enable guidance and support for your learners and their development and progression in relation to the Apprenticeship Standard. A practical understanding of the discipline you are supporting with will be the key to your success in enabling them to embed their learning experiences into their workplace.

We are keen to hear from candidates who have experience of supporting individuals to achieve training or learning goals. Areas of particular interest would be those who have vocational interest in business and engineering sectors who are looking to move into a learning and development role. We can provide training and support for those who have the vocational experience and a passion to develop into a highly effective coach.

For a chat about this opportunity, please contact Sonia Dutton at

This is a mainly place based opportunity in Newcastle with some opportunities for hybrid working. We are happy to have conversations about flexible working needs at interview.

To apply, please upload your CV and letter of application that outlines how you can evidence the requirements.

Interviews to be held Monday 24th June 2024.

Key Accountabilities

• Manage a caseload/cohort of Apprentices by preparing and supporting them through to successful completion of their End Point Assessment
• To establish clear learning, delivery, and monitoring plans, including monitoring and reporting of learner progress each month and recording of sufficient off-the-job training (OJT) requirements
• Maintain Aptem apprenticeship data and records for allocated caseload/cohort. All documentation and evidence following meetings, support sessions and progress reviews to be uploaded within 48 working hours after contact
• Take a lead role in the planning and delivery of regular progress review meetings as required with the apprentice, their line manager to track and communicate progress against plans, manage any issues that arise and ensure that follow up actions are implemented
• Support apprentices, their work mentors and line managers in confidently applying and evidencing knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) in the workplace
• Conduct workplace visits and observations to support Apprentices, workplace mentors and line managers in the continued development of their apprenticeship portfolios and preparations towards End Point Assessment. Resolution of any challenges that may arise, making referrals to the dedicated academic and support services as required
• Deliver Functional skills training in English and maths. Prepare and support apprentices in the completion of this mandatory apprenticeship component
• Provide awareness and guidance to ensure that the apprentice is kept safe in terms of Safeguarding, Prevent and Health & Safety. Discuss this as part of the review process and make any necessary referrals to the relevant University support services as required
• Develop and maintain employer relationships using university channels to monitor the apprentice's university attendance & engagement, progress at work. Update the apprentice line managers about their progress and their apprentice's progress at the University
• Assist with the planning and delivery of induction programmes and on-gong induction to support Apprentices transitioning to Higher Education learning
• Support apprentices, work mentors and line managers in using Aptem. Develop good practice regarding making regular reflective entries in their apprenticeship learning plan and End Point Assessment portfolio preparation
• Assess and report on Aptem entries that apprentices submit as evidence. Provide the apprentice with quality, constructive and supportive feedback
• Engage with quality assurance procedures to ensure University standards are met and compliance with confidentially and data protection policies
• Attend staff development/information events, where appropriate, that will inform and influence practice within Degree Apprenticeships

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Experience of delivering and/or internally quality assuring Apprenticeship framework or standards
• Experience of participating in Ofsted quality assurance inspection
• Ability to work to tight deadlines with a high level of accuracy
• Excellent organisational skills
• Ability to prioritise workload
• A high level of intercultural sensitivity
• Experience of meeting demanding targets
• Demonstrable competence in planning, project management and evaluating effectiveness
• Flexible approach to working patterns to meet the needs of employers and their apprentices
• Competent in the use of Microsoft Office

Attributes and Behaviour

• Good interpersonal and negotiation skills both in person and by phone
• Excellent writing skills
• Excellent problem solving with ability to use own initiative
• Strong user-focused approach
• Team player, able to develop and maintain productive working relationships

Qualifications

• A relevant first degree or equivalent professional and work based experience

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a silver Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.

Requisition ID: 27124

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