Sector - Education & Training
CPA launches Hire Controller Trailblazer Apprenticeship programme

The Construction Plant Hire Association (CPA) has launched an apprenticeship programme supported by CITB.
The Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) has officially launched the new Hire Controller (Plant, Tools and Equipment) Trailblazer Apprenticeship to ensure effective rollout and delivery of the new apprenticeship programme. Following approval of the new Hire Controller Trailblazer Apprenticeship by the Institute for Apprenticeships (IfA) in December 2018, the CPA hosted a focus implementation group launch in London in conjunction with CITB to outline the new standard, documentation and end-point assessment devised to support the new apprenticeship programme.
The Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) has provided extensive managerial and administrative support throughout the process and both the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) and Hire Association Europe (HAE) have also been involved in the development of the new Hire Controller Trailblazer Apprenticeship which is supported by CITB. This means that the new Hire Controller Trailblazer Apprenticeship is recognised and accepted by all primary trade bodies and industry federations in the hire sector and members of the CPA, IPAF and HAE will all be able to make use of the new pathway into the hire and powered access rental industry.
The new apprenticeship has been set by the group at a level 2 and will take between 12-18 months to complete, with 20% of that time to be devoted to ‘off-the-job’ training. The IfA has placed this Trailblazer in funding band 8 which equates to £5000 that can be spent or claimed by employers (subject to current funding rules) for apprenticeship levy and non-levy paying organisations, in line with typical training costs supplied by training providers.
The Hire Controller Trailblazer Apprenticeship process aims to develop certain behaviours including forming positive relationships with customers, working both within a team and independently, developing a ‘Health and Safety-first attitude’, being self-motivated to meet operational targets, remaining respectful of equality and diversity and remaining committed to continual personal and professional development. The new apprenticeship programme also has support from several other training providers including Reaseheath College, West Nottinghamshire College and Stephenson College.
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