The latest SEMAP briefing pack can be found here

The key 2016 and 2017 dates for employers are shown below.

Employers (both using direct grant and lead provider funding models) will be required to provide the SFA with the number of apprentices intending to start in Cohort 2a and Cohort 2b by late spring 2016.

Numbers must be submitted before this date to allow the SFA to allocate funding against the SEMAP apprenticeship. Employers are also encouraged to ensure internal budgets have been secured before this point in time.

Each Apprentice will be assigned a Mentor that will be there to help assist and develop the apprentice throughout the scheme.

Several key steps in the apprenticeship have been described below. Further mentoring guidance can be found here.

The mentoring process described above is provided for guidance only. Employers are free to use any mentoring process they wish to avoid any duplicated effort or misalignments.

A number of useful documents, templates and internet links have been provided. These may be altered to fit your own organisational needs.

• Example Logbook (for the apprentice)
• Example Development Action Plan
• Competency Self-Assessment Template
• Link to the INCOSE Competency framework (INCOSE membership required)
• Link to the Engineering Council UKSPEC

Vocational placements in other businesses may offer candidates opportunities to develop competency areas which they may be unable to develop in their own company.

Employers are free to organise vocational placements in other businesses. No guidance or governance is currently offered under SEMAP for cross organisational placements, but it is recommended that Mentors closely consider and then monitor these placements to ensure each opportunity is offering and continues to offer the development required.

Information on Employer feedback will be added soon.

This section will be added soon.

This section will be added soon.

The direct grant funding model puts the employer in control of the administration, quality control and funding of the apprenticeship. Using this model, Employers will be expected to pay subcontractors (for example, academic institutions, training providers, administration bodies) directly, while maintaining an interface with the SFA to enable the drawdown of government financial contributions. An example structure of the direct grant funding model is shown below.

To use the direct grant funding model, employers must comply with a number of SFA rules. Details of these rules can be found in the Trailblazer Funding rules.

• Direct grant employers are those employers who hold a current funding agreement with the SFA and are listed on our Register of Training Organisations. Direct grant employers can directly deliver all or part of their apprenticeship standard training programme.
• Direct grant employers can claim the core government contribution for their evidenced employer contributions for the direct delivery of their apprenticeship standard.
• The same principles apply as for other employers; government will pay £2 for every £1 the employer pays up to the core government contribution cap allocated for the standard. Direct grant employers can claim additional incentive payments for which they are eligible.

The lead provider funding model transfers the responsibilities of administration, quality control and funding of the apprenticeship to a ‘lead provider’ organisation. Using this model, employers will be expected to pay the lead provider for these services (as set out in a contract with the lead provider) as well as the costs associated with delivery of the apprenticeship (for example, academic costs, all other training costs and assessment organisations). The lead provider will then pay all providers and interface with the SFA to enable the drawdown of government financial contributions. Any eligible incentive payments will be paid back to the employer via the Lead Provider. An example structure of the lead provider funding model is shown below.

A Lead Provider will typically provide the employer with the following services for the Systems Engineering Master Level Apprenticeship:

• Establish funding agreement and hold the contract with the Skills Funding Agency (SFA).
• Receive, manage and distribute appropriate payments between Employers, SFA and Academic Provider. This activity shall include (but is not limited to):
  • Maintaining financial records.
  • Preparing, agreeing and maintaining payment schedules with each organisation.
  • Paying Academic Institution.
  • Paying incentive payments to Employers.
• Hold contracts with the individual employers.
• Hold contracts with the Academic Institution to provide academic content and assessment.
• Contract an Assessment Organisation for each Employer.
• Establish candidates Individual Learning Records and other documentation as required by the SFA
• Undertake Employer and Apprentice eligibility checks and other checks as required by the SFA to meet their funding rules.
• Maintain Non-Technical oversight of the Academic Institutions.
• With the HOST EMPLOYER, review the learner’s progress on a regular basis to ensure timely achievement of the apprenticeship
• Facilitate any required Ofsted inspection

A simple cost calculator has been created to provide the estimated cost for completing the apprenticeship. Any figures calculated should be used for guidance only.

The calculator allows the user to input their own organisational costs and allowances to determine the likely overall cost of completing the apprenticeship. This calculator incorporates the government 2/3 contribution towards certain elements of cost, the available additional incentive bonuses and also allows users to switch on and off certain internal costs.

The cost calculator can be downloaded here.