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Railway Higher Apprenticeship

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Railway Engineering Higher Apprenticeship

Programme Outline

Overview Higher Apprenticeships are a new industry driven and government sponsored approach to embedding cutting-edge engineering practice in the workplace. It gives employers access to the latest developments while ensuring their employees understand the core principles underpinning the industry. The programme has been developed with industry partners, such as Amey, Balfour Beatty, Network Rail and Transport for London, to develop an innovative package that combines formal education with work-based learning. The course is aimed at either current employees (upskilling) or new employees whose role will entail access to the rail Benefits for employers • You will have access to our cutting-edge facilities and benefit from the world-class , and is an opportunity to stretch • Connect with a leading university with a expertise of our staff. and mould your employees, while helping strong tradition of working with industry them realise their full potential within your partners to produce highly-skilled • We can help you to navigate the organisation. It gives you direct influence over . apprenticeship system, including using the educational development of apprentices. the new Digital Apprenticeship Service and • Attract and retain their best talent, whilst claiming additional funding incentives After completing a common first year, supporting the youth employment agenda. participants choose from five pathways where they apply. • Establish a clear progression route for reflecting the structure of the industry. They • As experts in student recruitment, we can aspiring and established engineers. will benefit from academic and practical support you to attract new apprentices, sessions at the University while the value of • Generate a return on investment through developing your future talent pipeline, as work-based learning is strongly emphasised accelerated development and increased well as increasing the capacity of your within your organisation. commitment. existing employees. • The higher apprenticeships in engineering • We can provide assistance to help Key drivers at Sheffield Hallam University foster the understand government funding. • The National Skills Academy for Rail skills, creativity and loyalty employers need predicts that £1.1 billion GVA per year to drive their organisation to the next level. Awards could be lost if 20 per cent of planned rail • The principles, techniques and practical We have a range of courses which fulfil investment is delayed or cancelled as a skills learned at university are further academic requirements of the higher result of skills gaps and shortages. developed in the workplace, which develops apprenticeship. The Foundation Degree • The Engineering UK 2016 report employees’ confidence and professional (FdEng) in Railway Engineering is a level recommends that the number of graduates competence. 5 qualification that meets the needs of (both STEM and non-STEM) entering • Projects are negotiated with employers to employers to develop their workforce. engineering occupations needs to double by ensure they benefit all parties. The course develops engineers with a sound 2022. • Students meet the academic requirement understanding of engineering principles • Engineering companies are projected to for professional body membership. and specialist knowledge in either signal demand 182,000 people with engineering engineering, electrical and mechanical • Assist the employer with candidates skills each year to 2022. engineering, , who can become part of the business’s engineering or civil and track engineering • The Royal Academy of Engineering succession plan. estimates that 820,000 science, engineering All parties benefit from a knowledge and • Receive government funding for staff and technology professionals will be skills exchange, with participants applying development. required by 2020 to replace existing skills the academic building blocks of the course to and meet new demands. How we can help you live projects that can deliver outputs with real value. • The introduction of the apprenticeship levy. • Sheffield Hallam University’s engineering department has a strong history of NVQ awarded at level 4 in a relative collaboration with employers to deliver engineering area through the successful work-focussed education and training, and completion the NVQ portfolio modules. are waiting to help you capitalise on higher and degree apprenticeships. Railway Engineering Higher Apprenticeship

Duration Options for larger employers The programme is usually delivered over three Where an organisation has 15 or more learners, years, part-time. Sheffield Hallam University can work with you to co-create tailored content to meet individual Delivery method business needs. Block release, typically one and two week blocks (Monday to Thursday) for a total of 24 Entry requirements weeks over the three years. Candidates must possess qualifications from one of the following entry levels Course description • at least one GCE A Level pass in a relevant All students study the same Level 4 modules, scientific/technology subject. Two AS Level which provide core engineering skills, passes are considered equivalent to one A knowledge and relevant legislation and Level pass economic appreciation. Participants then • an Advanced VCE award in an appropriate choose one of the five Level 5 pathways, engineering/manufacturing/technology appropriate to their chosen occupational role. topic Assessment • an EdExcel/BTEC/SCOTVEC National The foundation degree award will incorporate Certificate or Diploma in a science or a mix of innovative and traditional assessment technology-based subject types to monitor and evaluate progress. • a pass in the preparatory year of Assessments will enable learners to integrate the Extended Degree Programme in academic learning and on-the-job training Engineering and Mathematics or other As part of the higher apprenticeship your suitable science/technology-based employee will also benefit from the structured foundation or access course containing an training provided by a level 4 NVQ delivered appropriate level of mathematics, with an by one of our partner colleges. This will overall average mark of at least 40 per cent involve support from the assessor to review • a qualification that is deemed to be and complete competencies to meet the needs equivalent to any of the above of the employee in his or her organisational Applicants for the higher apprenticeship must setting and work-based specialism. also be currently working in the rail industry in a role relevant to the area of study. Professional recognition The course is accredited by the Institution Fees of Engineering and Technology (IET) and, Typically £9,000 per level, per learner, however As a leading provider of higher and degree subject to the completion of a top-up to tailored programmes may vary depending on apprenticeships, Sheffield Hallam University is Bachelor’s level, it also fulfils the educational requirements. working closely with government to maximise requirements for registration as an • Levy paying employers with wage bills incorporated when presented with an the benefits of our apprenticeship programmes above £3 million per annum can use their for both individuals and businesses. IEng accredited Bachelor’s programme. levy payments and a 10% government top- Please contact us to find out more and to get up to pay for apprenticeship course fees and Progression started. any end-point assessment up to the funding Employees successfully completing this cap. foundation degree are eligible to apply for Next steps two more years of part-time study to gain a • Non-levy paying employers (below the You can offer apprenticeships to upskill BEng (Honours) Railway Engineering that wage-bill threshold) can access government existing staff and recruit new talent. funding of 90% of the course fees (or 100% satisfies the requirements for registration as Working with our partners, Sheffield Hallam an incorporated engineer. for learners below the age of 19 at the start of the course for small employers with less University can offer a range of services Steps are also being taken to provide than 50 staff) up to the funding cap. to prepare and source candidates for candidates with an apprenticeship pathway apprenticeships. This will include advertising to full Bachelor’s degree (level 6 qualification). Apprenticeship funding is set by the through the National Apprenticeship Service Subject to the development of a level 6 government’s rules on the apprenticeship and other channels relevant to your sector. standard we would like to offer a higher levy and operated through the Apprenticeship Service Digital Accounts. We can also provide guidance to employers apprentice version of the top-up. However, and apprentices on funding eligibility, and currently you can top-up through the standard More information on the apprenticeship advise on whether a candidate meets the entry part-time mode of study. funding arrangements, including how the levy requirements of the course. works, can be found on the Department for Education website www.gov.uk/government/ For more information about higher and degree publications/apprenticeship-levy-how-it- apprenticeships contact apprenticeships@ will-work shu.ac.uk or 0114 225 3433. We can also help school and college leavers to prepare for apprenticeships and support their recruitment process. The apprentice can apply directly by emailing [email protected] identifying the course they wish to study. Railway Engineering Higher Apprenticeship

Course structure for Foundation Degree Railway Engineering Modules common to all five routes Rail Rail Engineering Principles Rail Specific Engineering Legislative and Business Studies

Rail Industrial Project Rail Specific Engineering LEVEL 4 Practice

Generic pathway* Geotechnics and Drainage Signal and Track Engineering Project and Quality Telecommunications Management Principles

Signal and Track Engineering Practice LEVEL 5 Telecommunications Principles Practice

Signal Engineering pathway* Electronic, Electrical and Signal and Signal Engineering Project and Quality Processor Engineering Theory Telecommunications Management Principles

Signal and Signal Engineering Practice LEVEL 5 Telecommunications Principles Practice

Electrical and pathway* Electronic, Electrical and Railway Railway Mechanical Project and Quality Processor Engineering Engineering Management

Railway Electrical Railway Mechanical LEVEL 5 Engineering Practice Engineering Practice

Civil Engineering pathway* Geotechnics and Drainage Railway Structures Performance of Materials Project and Quality and Structures Management

Railway Structures Practice Performance of Materials LEVEL 5 and Structures Practice

Track Engineering pathway* Geotechnics and Drainage Track Engineering Track Engineering Standards Project and Quality Management

Track Engineering Practice Track Engineering LEVEL 5 Standards Practice

Civil and Track Engineering pathway* Geotechnics and Drainage Track Engineering Railway Structures Project and Quality Management

Track Engineering Practice Railway Structures Practice LEVEL 5

Work-based learning undertaken in the workplace * The availability of a specific pathway is subject to a minimum student number requirement Course modules are subject to change.

“TfL explored a number of universities, including Sheffield Hallam, to design a niche course specific to the railway industry and chose Sheffield Hallam University because of their wealth of expertise in this area. Their reputation as a leading university in this field speaks for itself and they have successfully delivered this course to Network Rail over a number of years with great results. It was important that we got this right for the business and this opportunity will benefit both employees and TfL to achieve greater things and to build a stronger network for the future within the signalling discipline.” Susanna Dillon, capability development schemes specialist at Transport for London (TfL)

Find out more Whatever your query, our dedicated team are here to help. Email: [email protected] Phone: 0114 225 3433 SHUApprentice

shu.ac.uk/apprenticeships 03/17 Engineering Railway 142.8 All information is correct at the time of print – March 2017.