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: