Severn Partnership have both advised on and taken advantage of the Government Geospatial Trailblazer scheme which is a true win-win situation for both the employees and the company as the government helps to fund the placements and there is no student loan involved! Read a summary of the scheme below and follow the link to the Government blog to read a case study by Severn Partnership surveyor Luke Blakemore on a Level 6 (degree level) Apprenticeship.
Via the Government Geospatial Apprenticeship Blog:
What is a geospatial apprenticeship?
For many years apprenticeships have provided an opportunity for starting a career whilst receiving on-the-job training, gaining experience and getting paid to undertake it. Following the UK government introduction of the Trailblazer Apprenticeship initiative in 2017, RICS, Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES) and The Survey Association (TSA), along with representatives from the wider geospatial industry, established the Geospatial Apprenticeships Trailblazer Group to develop specific geomatics sector apprenticeship proposals.
Following cross-industry discussion by the group, including later participation by Historic England, two standards were formally approved for delivery in 2018 by the UK governments Institute for Apprenticeships (IfA):
Both combine on-site work with off-site study by mixing 80% on the job training provided by the employer with 20% classroom learning on a range of related topics supplied by an external training provider.
Comment via Luke Blakemore, Geospatial Apprenticeship Surveying & Mapping Sciences Degree: “Not only do I learn about Geospatial theory, but one of my current modules ‘Business Management and Professional Studies’ allows for a greater insight into the management side of the construction industry, important for my career advancement. Whilst on the course I have gained promotion to Senior Surveyor and currently manage some of the larger mapping projects using the latest Pegasus: Two Leica Geosystems technology, which has taken me to some great locations, here and abroad.”
Comment Via Severn Partnership Director Mark Combes: “As a previous president of The Survey Association (TSA) board, geospatial apprenticeships are a great career path into a dynamic, varied industry. Severn Partnership’s apprentices have quickly become an integral part of the business, helping increase productivity in the workplace. We have been able to free up time for more senior colleagues to work at a higher level, as capability and trust has grown amongst the team. The Geospatial Apprenticeship scheme has enabled Severn Partnership Ltd to meet the future needs of our clients as they embrace the digital revolution. We are preparing for the future now by building a more capable workforce, whilst offering opportunities to people who may not otherwise have a gateway to such a fantastic industry.”
Read the full article on the Government’s Geospatial Commission on this link
If you would like to know more about advancing your career at Severn Partnership and potentially joining a Geospatial Trailblazer scheme, then contact recruitment@severnpartnership.com and see our careers page.