Introducing our Facilities Management Supervisor apprenticeship
Posted on: 1 February, 2019
All businesses which manage property need some form of facilities management, whether it’s managing use of physical space or providing software and systems that support an organisation’s key purpose.
Increasingly, businesses are recognising the importance of their facilities management (FM) departments to ensure their operations run smoothly.
To support this vital business function, UCEM has launched its first FM apprenticeship – a Level 3 Facilities Management Supervisor apprenticeship. To help you understand if our newest apprenticeship could be right for your organisation, we’ve imagined a conversation with you asking the key questions on behalf of your business. The Q&A is below:
How could a Facilities Management Supervisor help my organisation?
FM Supervisors typically undertake duties such as managing health and safety requirements, developing and implementing risk assessment plans, monitoring FM budgets and procuring supplies. For a more detailed list of typical FM Supervisor duties, see our FM apprenticeship page.
What would the apprenticeship involve?
The apprentice would gain the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM) Level 3 Diploma in Facilities Management upon completion of the 480-hour qualification.
Apprentices need to produce a portfolio of evidence made up of work-based products and complete a reflective log on their experience of gathering information for the portfolio. The apprenticeship culminates in an independent end-point assessment by the IWFM.
For more on the subjects the apprentices would be taught, take a look at our apprenticeship outline page.
How much of a commitment would it be for my organisation?
As an employer, you have to provide your apprentice with real workplace experience that will provide the apprentice with the skills they need to pass their end-point assessment.
You are also required to release your apprentice during their normal paid working hours to undertake off-the-job training. This has to be a minimum of 20% of their normal paid working hours from the start of their apprenticeship through to confirmation of their readiness to take the end-point assessment, and we have found that one day a week tends to be the appropriate amount of time to release apprentices for this purpose.
How do you teach your apprenticeship?
The apprenticeship is delivered through a blended approach of online supported study on our virtual learning environment (VLE) and contact with an allocated tutor/assessor.
What additional support do you provide?
In addition to the support from the allocated tutor/assessor, who will work with you and your apprentice to ensure everything is on track with the programme, UCEM also provides access to academic support tutors where required. Our Disability and Wellbeing Team is available to discuss and respond to any learning difficulty, disability or health condition support requests.
Can I use the apprenticeship levy to fund this?
Yes, subject to sufficient funds being available in your Apprenticeship Service account. Non-levy paying employers are required to contribute 5% of the agreed price for the apprenticeship. Our ‘Employing an apprentice’ page provides more details on apprenticeship funding.
When’s the deadline to apply?
Friday, 26 April, 2019. We are accepting applications from today (Friday, 1 February) and the apprenticeship start date is Monday, 17 June. The induction is planned for week commencing 4 June.
We hope the above ‘conversation’ will have answered some of your questions but if you would like to have a real conversation about the apprenticeship, please get in touch with our Business Development Team on businessdevelopment@ucem.ac.uk and they will be able to answer any further queries you may have and provide guidance on possible next steps.
