The Apprenticeship Assessment Plan for England has been agreed and published by the Institute for Apprenticeships (IfA), according to the Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technician Apprenticeship Board.

The Assessment Plan was apparently submitted and approved by the IfA in March 2017, with conditions, which the Board worked through until early November.

The Apprenticeship Assessment Plan for England provides a prospectus for apprentices, employers and assessing organisations, detailing what is involved in the Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technician Apprenticeship.

Jeffrey Lee, National Apprentices Manager at Mitie Technical Facilities Management and Board chairperson, said: “Apprentices will undertake a structured programme of study while in employment and complete training and assessment both in and out of the workplace. Successful completion of the Apprenticeship will result in the award of the Level 3 Plumbing and Domestic Heating Qualification along with completion of the Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technician Apprenticeship, graded at Pass, Merit or Distinction.”

The goal of the Apprenticeship Qualification is to “deliver an appropriately skilled plumbing and heating workforce in England, able to work at a world-class standard”.

Graeme Dryden, Technical Services Manager at APHC, who has been involved in developing the Apprenticeship Standard since the project’s inception in 2014, said: “The development process has been challenging to get to this stage. Those involved in this project should be congratulated for giving up their time to review documentation, attend meetings and provide their valued input. Their only motivation has been to increase the quality of apprenticeships and skills delivery in the plumbing and heating industry.”

Board member Paul Hull, well known in the industry for his efforts with Gas Safety Superheroes and on Twitter as @PRHull, said: “It has been both enjoyable and interesting looking at and defining the key competences that I and fellow employers laid down. The key vision from employers across industry will be delivered through this apprenticeship, including a rigorous endpoint assessment that tests knowledge and practical skills and performance, albeit within the IfA’s vision for endpoint assessment delivery. Achieving the endpoint assessment will mean the apprentice and their employer can be proud of that achievement.”

The Assessment Plan can be accessed at www.gov.uk/government/publications/apprenticeship-standard-plumbing-and-domestic-heating-technician.