Scottish Funding Council: Apprenticeship Committee - Proposals for statutory guidance from the Scottish Ministers

Section A – Composition of the committee

28. It is essential that the apprenticeship committee is comprised of members who bring an appropriate balance of skills, knowledge, and experience to support the effective discharge of its functions on apprenticeships and work-based learning.

29. Paragraph 12A(4) of schedule 1 the 2005 Act requires the SFC, when appointing members to the apprenticeship committee, to have regard to the desirability of including persons who:

• are apprentices or appear to the SFC to be representative of apprentices,
• appear to the SFC to be representative of businesses, including small and rural businesses, with an interest in apprenticeships,
• are employers of apprentices or appear to the SFC to be representative of such employers,
• appear to the SFC to be representative of the post-16 education bodies,
• are training providers (within the meaning given by section 12J(3) of the 2005 Act) or appear to the SFC to be representative of training providers,
• are representative of trade unions (within the meaning given by section 1 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992) which appear to the SFC to be representative of the interests of apprentices.

30. Paragraph 12A(5) of schedule 1 of the 2005 Act requires the SFC, when appointing members of the apprenticeship committee, to consult and consider views of key stakeholders such as apprentices and their employers (as well as other parties that the SFC determines to be relevant). Therefore, the SFC must consult with the below persons in appointing members of the apprenticeship committee:

• persons who appear to the SFC to be representative of apprentices,
• persons who appear to the SFC to be representative of employers of apprentices,
• such other persons as the SFC considers appropriate.

Skills and experience

31. Given the apprenticeship committee’s role in advising on all apprenticeships and work-based learning, the SFC must ensure that the membership of the committee reflects the full range of these responsibilities.

32. The SFC should consider achieving an appropriate balance of competencies and expertise, as well as reflecting the diversity of Scotland’s population and labour market. This will support robust, informed decision making and help to ensure that the apprenticeship committee’s advice is representative, credible, and aligned with the needs of learners, employers, and the wider economy.

33. The SFC should, therefore, appoint members with appropriate knowledge, experience and expertise in the following areas:

• the existing apprenticeship landscape and policy environment;
• the delivery and management of apprenticeship programmes;
• regional and local skills needs, including any cross-border considerations;
• relevant industry or sectoral experience;
• the tertiary education and training system;
• the design or delivery of vocational qualifications;
• quality assurance and standards relating to apprenticeship provision;
• best practice in apprenticeship delivery, including from other countries;
• the experience of apprentices and learners;
• advancing equality, diversity and inclusion; and
• the ability to think creatively and contribute to innovative approaches to apprenticeship development.

Membership

34. The membership of the apprenticeship committee should be capable of evolving over time to reflect changes in apprenticeship delivery and emerging priorities. Given the dynamic nature of skills needs in Scotland, the SFC should ensure that employer voice remains central to the apprenticeship committee, so that apprenticeships are aligned with current and future labour market demands. The Scottish Ministers expect at least 50% of the committee membership to comprise employers with experience of employing apprentices or providing work experience or placements to work-based learners, as well as employer representatives.

35. The SFC should recognise the important role of apprentices and work-based learners, ensuring that they are fully considered within the committee’s work. Their perspectives should be meaningfully captured which will help ensure that provision remains responsive, relevant, and learner-focused.

36. The Scottish Ministers expect that the membership of the committee includes the following:

• a chair who meets the requirements set out in Section B;
• representatives of apprenticeship providers including:
  • one college representative;
  • one university representative, and
  • the Scottish Training Federation (representing other training providers).
• two members of the SFC who are also employers;
• one or more employers drawn from the Scottish Government’s strategic skills priority sectors, ensuring the committee membership comprises a mix of large, medium-sized, small and micro employers;
• two representatives from industry bodies, such as members of the Scottish Government’s Industry Leadership Groups, sector skills councils or trade bodies;
• at least two apprentices or learners;
• a trade union representative from the Scottish Trades Union Congress; and
• a Developing the Young Workforce representative.

37. The SFC should also consider appropriate representation on the apprenticeship committee from other education and training bodies, such as Qualifications Scotland, Education Scotland and Skills Development Scotland, in a capacity appropriate to the apprenticeship committee’s remit.

38. The SFC is expected to appoint members for the expertise, insight and experience they will bring to discussions and to make it clear in their terms and conditions of appointment that they should refrain from narrowly representing their own interests or that of their particular organisation. The SFC is expected to appoint members who will draw on their knowledge and experience to support balanced, objective and collective decisions.

39. The SFC is to ensure that, where appropriate, Scottish Government officials with responsibility for apprenticeship policy are invited to apprenticeship committee meetings as observers.

Size of the committee

40. Taking account of the membership outlined above, the need to ensure appropriate representation of skills and experience, and the importance of maintaining manageable meetings, the SFC should consider keeping the apprenticeship committee membership to no less than 10 and no more than 20 members.

Recruitment and appointment of members

41. The SFC should adhere to its Standing Orders, standard processes and governance protocols when recruiting and appointing members to the committee, in compliance with the 2005 Act and having regard to this guidance.