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Apprenticeships
CPA – The Leader on Construction Plant-based Apprenticeships Development
Apprenticeship Developments and Reviews 2025/2026
Approved for delivery in 2025:
- Construction Equipment Maintenance Technician (Level 3) – new.
- Hire Controller – revised
Under review by an employer-led steering group:
- Construction Equipment Maintenance Mechanic (Level 2)
- Construction Plant Operative
- Lifting Technician – revised
More information on these apprenticeships can be sought from Peter Brown at peter@cpa.uk.net
What is an Apprenticeship?
The standards-based apprenticeship programme (known as ‘trailblazers’) was launched in England in 2013 with a set of principles were established that puts the employers in the driving seat, increase the quality and consistency of apprenticeships, simplify the system to aid understanding, and give employers purchasing power and choice in the delivery of an apprenticeship
There are now a large number of occupations either available for delivery or under development and those approved or in development can be viewed below on the FInd An Apprenticeship section.
The existing apprenticeship framework within England has been phased out and replaced by the standards-led apprenticeships. There are no changes planned for apprenticeships administered through Scotland and Wales and continue to be offered through the existing framework programme.
Apprenticeship Development
Employers can form a consortium and become a trailblazer development group to set a standard for an occupation though making a submission, providing no other standard exists, or overlaps other standards. The group should consist of at least 10 employers with 2 small employers (less than 50 employed) being present, and chaired by one of the employers.
The group’s role is to develop the standard which set out the skills, knowledge and behaviours for the occupation and the end point assessment, being the measurement of the competencies for the occupation, ensure the apprentice is ‘job-ready’ at the end of the apprenticeship. In determining the standard, the occupation requires at least 12 months of rigorous training – with 20% of that time allocated towards off-the-job’ training.
CPA Apprenticeship Development Management
The CPA have provided a project-management service (and/or technical support) to the employer development groups for these trailblazers:
- Lifting Technican Level 2
- Construction Plant Operative Level 2
- Construction Equipment Maintenance Engineering – Mechanic – Level 2
- Construction Equipment Maintenance Enginering -Technician – Level 3
- Hire Controller (Plant, Tools & Equipment) Level 2
The CPA will further act as a public point of contact for each trailblazer and will post updates and draft documentation for public review.
Apprenticeship Delivery – Supporting Employers
To assist CPA Members in navigating the process of identifying approved training providers, assessment organisations and other aspects on employing apprentices, the Association has appointed an Apprenticeship/Skills Delivery Ambassador, Paul Skitt, who is working with the providers to encourage the take-up and advise them on the particular aspects of each of the plant-based occupations. Paul is further working with CPA Members in guiding them through the process on taking on apprentices and how the employers themselves can deliver the majority of the required training in-house.
Paul would be pleased to assist any CPA Member in navigating the registration and delivery aspect of apprenticeships and can be contacted at paul.skitt@cpa.uk.net
Find an Apprenticeship
Further information about apprenticeships can be obtained from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education
Available Apprenticeships and a List of Training Providers and Assessment Organisations
Find A Training Provider/Assessment Centre
This page lists the available training providers able to offer approved training for the trailblazer apprenticeships, and assessment organisations able to offer the end point assessment, which is taken at the end of the apprenticeship period that determines that the required skills, knowledge and behaviours have been demonstrated and verified.
Lifting Technician
Training Providers
The latest list of approved training providers for the Lifting Technician apprenticeship can be found at: https://findapprenticeshiptraining.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/courses/219/providers
Assessment Organisations
The latest list of Approved End Point Assessment Organisations (EPAO) for this apprenticeship can be found at: https://find-epao.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/courses/219/assessment-organisations
Hire Controller
Training Providers:
The latest list of approved training providers for the Hire Controller apprenticeship can be found at: https://findapprenticeshiptraining.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/courses/385/providers
Assessment Organisations:
The latest list of Approved End Point Assessment Organisations (EPAO) for this apprenticeship can be found at: https://find-epao.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/courses/385/assessment-organisations
Construction Plant Operative
Training Providers
The latest list of approved training providers for the Construction Plant Operative apprenticeship can be found at: https://findapprenticeshiptraining.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/courses/575/providers
Assessment Organisations
The latest list of Approved End Point Assessment Organisations (EPAO) for this apprenticeship can be found at: https://find-epao.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/courses/575/assessment-organisations
Construction Equipment Maintenance Mechanic
Training Providers
The latest list of approved training providers for the Construction Equipment Maintenance Mechanic (level 2) apprenticeship can be found at: https://findapprenticeshiptraining.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/courses/588/providers
Assessment Organisations
The latest list of Approved End Point Assessment Organisations (EPAO) for this apprenticeship can be found at: https://find-epao.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/courses/588/assessment-organisations/epa0565
Construction Equipment Maintenance Technician
Training Providers
The latest list of approved training providers for the Construction Equipment Maintenance Technician (level 3) can be found at:https://findapprenticeshiptraining.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/courses/800/providers
Assessment Organisations
The latest list of Approved End Point Assessment Organisations can for this apprenticeship can be found at: https://find-epao.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/courses/800/assessment-organisations
Apprenticeship Support Material
The CPA, on behalf of the plant-based Trailblazer development groups, has provided a portal for supporting material and allow a free-of-charge download facility for the following documentation:
Plant Occupations Apprenticeships.
Construction Plant Operative
Following the formation of an employer group back in late 2016 to develop an apprenticeship for the occupation of Plant Operative at level 2, approval was eventually given in early 2018 by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATA) to develop this apprenticeship. A working group, chaired by Patrick Flannery from P Flannery Plant Hire, started work in earnest to develop a trailblazer apprenticeship for construction plant operatives.
The working group consists of employers representing construction equipment owners and hirers, including those from the demolition, rail, and extractives sectors as well as clients and training providers. The group developed the standard – the skills, knowledge and behaviours (KSB) required for the apprenticeship, with learning taking place with four machines over a fifteen-month period. The machine types include an excavator, dumper or dump truck, forklift and ride-on roller, acting as the stepping-stone into the sector and occupation.
The content includes learning on operator-level servicing and basic maintenance techniques as well as the marshalling of plant, providing apprentices with an overall understanding of plant operations and supporting activities. Although there is a requirement to have at least 20% of the learning of the job, the majority of learning will be undertaken within the workplace.
The apprenticeship is set at level 2 and over a duration of 15 months. 20% of that time should constitute off-the-job learning although this can be taken within the workplace through methods such as projects, assignments, mentoring etc. Employers need to appoint an approved training provider from the Government’s Register of Approved Training Providers.
Once the apprentice is deemed ready by the employer and provider, the apprentice undertakes the end point assessment conducted by an approved end point assessment organisation (EPAO) who must have had no involvement with the training of the apprentice.
The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) have placed this level 2 apprenticeship in funding band 17 (£14K) - the maximum amount an employer can spend on the apprenticeship.
Lifting Technician
This apprenticeship has been designed for those who will operate either a tower, crawler or mobile crane, and undertake slinging and signalling duties.
The employer development group was set up in early 2014 consisting of crane owners and contractors with the lead employer being Laing O'Rourke. The group have devised the standard and the assessment plan, and have set the following criteria for this apprenticeship:
- The apprenticeship is at level 2.
- The total training period including work experience is over 24 months of which 20% of that time will be delivered 'off-the-job'.
- A formal training qualification does not form part of this apprenticeship. As part of the trailblazer rules, the end-point assessment determines the competency of the apprentice at the end of the training period.
- NVQs - Plant Operations (Cranes and Specialist Lifting), and Controlling Lifting Operations (Slinger/signaller) - will be need to be achieved before the end assessment can be undertaken.
- There are no age restrictions imposed for this apprenticeship, but suitable and effective supervision, based on risk assessments, must be made for young persons.
- A CPCS or similar CSCS-badged skills card does not form part of the attainment criteria (based on Government rules)
The working group have devised a training record portfolio to be completed during the training period which confirms that each element of the training syllabus has been completed during the training period. An EPA portfolio accompanies the training record and indicates the level and activities that the apprentice must complete during their work experience, along with the behaviours that need to be demonstrated.
The end point assessment consists of a: practical test on the crane set of written questions professional discussion. Information contained within work record book will be examined during the professional discussion. The training syllabus, training record portfolio, EPA portfolio can be downloaded from the Apprenticeships Material Support page.
The standard and assessment plan can be viewed and downloaded from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) website through the following link:
Hire Controller (Equipment, Plant and Tools)
Update 2025:
This apprenticeship was reviewed during 2024 but with minor amendments made and for which were mostly based around the revised IfATE apprenticeship format. There has however been an increase in the funding band from £5k to £6k. The apprenticeship duration of 12 months remains unchanged.
Background:
A meeting of interested employers was held back in September 2016 in order to develop a new trailblazer apprenticeship for those that work as a hire controller within the plant hire and rental sector. A working group was formed with a lead employer - Southern Hoists chairing the meetings. The employer group consists of a range of employers representing the plant, tools and equipment hire and rental sector including general plant, access, small plant and tools, concrete pumping, crane hire, shoring etc. along with the supporting federations of CPA, HAE and IPAF.
The Expression of Interest - the formal application process made to Government in order to develop new trailblazer apprenticeships was subsequently approved and the group progressed in developing the standards and assessment plan. To encompass the full range of hirable equipment to the construction and allied sectors, the title of the occupation was altered, during the development of the standards, from Plant Hire Desk Controller to Hire Controller (Plant, Tools and Equipment).
The apprenticeship has now been approved for delivery by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education with the standard and assessment plan available for download on their website . This apprenticeship has been set at Level 2 with a notional training time of 12 months. It has been allocated to funding band 8 (£5000), inline with training quotes provided by a number of training providers.
A work record book which is to be completed by the apprentice during their work experience and used within the professional discussion part of the end point assessment can be download free of charge within the apprenticeship support material page.
Construction Equipment Mechanic
An employer development group was formed in order to develop a standards apprenticeship for those that maintain and service plant and equipment. There are a number of employers representing owners and hirers and include representatives from the extractives, access, demolition and rail sectors. As a requirement of Government in the development of the apprenticeship, a lead employer is required and for this trailblazer, both Liebherr GB Ltd and Clee Hill Plant are acting as joint-Chairs for the development group and who welcome the particpation of employers from the extractives industry, and the small tools and access sectors to help form this apprenticeship. CPA development staff are project-managing the apprenticeship process on behalf of the group.
The apprenticeship will be designed for those who will ensure that construction-based equipment functions safely and efficiently allowing construction and other projects to be carried out efficiently and on time. This apprenticeship will build upon an existing framework apprenticeship which has a long and established route of providing skilled maintenance staff within the construction and allied industries to function at all levels. This occupation provides a vital service that is crucial to the prosperity of the country through the completion of vital infrastructure projects such a power generation, roads, airports etc.
The apprentice on completion of the apprenticeship will be able to work across the construction and allied sector employers including quarrying, demolition, utilities (water/gas/electric etc.), piling, rail, waste/landfill, housing, highways, access, ports/docks, and offshore and the apprentice mechanic would learn how to undertake core functional activities around the checking, servicing and basic fault finding on a wide range of equipment, or within a specialised field. They would either through their own fault-finding activities or through given instructions, remove, dismantle, repair, assemble and refit a plethora of components, and ensure that the item of plant is fully functional prior to handover to the operational side. At various stages of their daily work, the apprentices would - both during and subsequent to apprenticeship completion - be mobile and working on-site undertaking maintenance activities and work alone, unaided and autonomously. They will be interacting directly with customers and other employees, for which behavioural, adaptability and thinking skills will form a crucial element to this occupation.
The standard - the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) and assessment plan have now received approval from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) and allocated a funding band of £10k for the 24 month period of this apprenticeship.