This release was initially published on: http://www.cogentskills.com/about-cogent-skills/news/new-apprenticeship-standard-approved-science-manufacturing-process-operative/

The Institute of Apprenticeships (IfA) has announced that another science industry Standard has now been approved – Science Manufacturing Process Operative. It describes the job role that an apprentice will be doing and the skills required of them by the life sciences and industrial science sector.

A Science Manufacturing Process Operative will undertake basic operations and monitoring of plant and equipment, including pumps, valves, temperature gauges, filtration equipment, tanks, vessels and production/processing machinery; or they will safely operate machines to process/manufacture, assemble and finish component parts or finished products by hand, appropriate to their level of responsibility.

The Chair of the Task & Finish Group for the new Standard, John Falder, Managing Director HMG Paints Ltd said: “This is another new Standard which is critically important to employers in the processing and science-based industries. Industry relies on a well-trained, specialist workforce and this and the other new Standards which have been developed for our sector, are now enshrined in clear documents, developed by employers in language which reflects their workplaces. In effect they act as a blueprint for world class apprenticeships in our specialist sector occupations.”

An apprenticeship Standard is only available for delivery when both the Standard and Assessment Plan is approved and a funding band (core government contribution) has been assigned to the Standard. The Assessment Plan will now be developed by Trailblazer employers supported by the Science Industry Partnership and Cogent, the skills body for the sector.

The aim is for the standard to be ready for delivery by September 2017, it will take about 18-24 months to complete.
If you are interested in finding out more about the new Standard please contact Cogent Skills (http://www.cogentskills.com).