Consultation on SR Apprenticeship Occupational Standard

A group of social research employers and other organisations have formed a Trailblazer Group to develop an apprenticeship providing a new route into careers in social research. We see an apprenticeship as a pathway for a wider range of people to establish careers in the profession and support efforts to increase the diversity of the social research workforce.

The Trailblazer Group includes a range of employers interested in employing apprentices from central Government departments, research agencies and institutes as well as representatives from membership organisations such as the Market Research Society and the Social Research Association. The Group is working with the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE).

Following earlier consultation on the Occupational Proposal, the Trailblazer Group has now developed the full Occupational Standard for the Social Researcher Apprenticeship that we will submit in May 2023. IfATE will review the Standard, alongside an End-Point Assessment (EPA) Plan and funding evidence. Once approved, the Standard will provide a description of the occupation for potential apprentices and interested parties, and will be used by employers and training providers to:

• analyse individual jobs for apprenticeship coverage/suitability
• assess the prior learning of apprentices at the start of their apprenticeship
• design and deliver the on-and-off-the-job training

Views on the Standard and specifically the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours required for occupational competence were welcome for submission between 9 March 2023 and Friday 24 March 2023. This consultation is now closed. Please direct any enquiries to GESR.Enquiries@hmtreasury.gov.uk