The Institute for Apprenticeships (IfA) has said it will be “faster and better” after it was criticised for being too slow in its approval of new apprenticeship standards.

Skills minister Anne Milton had told the institute to “really speed up” the process of approving new apprenticeship standards for delivery.

The IfA’s chief executive Sir Gerry Berragan said they accepted the process needed speeding up adding: “These improvements should address these concerns.”

‘New age of apprenticeships’

The reforms include “simplifying” the institute’s position on including qualifications in apprenticeship standards, which until now had not been allowed.

Other changes include amending some of the criteria for approval of apprenticeship occupations and standards, improving guidance for trailblazer groups and upgrading its processes to speed up the delivery of standards.

The IfA’s chairman Anthony Jenkins said its interactions with employers and its processes must be fit for purpose in the “new age of apprenticeships” and added more than 200 standards had been approved since the institute’s launch last April.

Independent market regulator

The Confederation of British Industry’s (CBI) director of people and skills Neil Carberry said the IfA should be freed up to be independent.

He added: “As the key body for skills in England, the institute should be given the space to become an independent market regulator, setting a foundation for future investment in skills as part of our industrial strategy.’’

Emma Horne, co-chair of the Human Resources and Learning and Development trailblazer group, said: “We very much look forward to simpler guidance, clear templates, best practice examples, the use of videos and webinars - we think the idea of intensive workshops will really help speed things along, too.”

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