Liverpool man Jay Gregson is the first person in the UK to sign up to complete an innovative new qualification that will help to shape the future of the construction industry.
Just nine colleges in the UK are offering The Higher Level Apprenticeship in Sustainable Built Environment which provides work based learning at university level. The first course starts in September and is open to A level students (with 80 or more UCAS points), Level 3 Advanced Apprentices, those with BTECs and people already working in the industry.
Jay, who works as an air conditioning engineer for an international air conditioning firm, will complete the course at Leeds College of Building where he will study towards an NVQ Level 5 in Construction Management (Sustainability) and a Higher National Diploma in Construction & the Built Environment. He will then choose Construction, Civil Engineering or Building Services as a specialist subject.
Jay, who is 19 years old, explains: “I’ve always been good academically but when I left school I was keen to start earning a wage so doing an apprenticeship was the obvious choice. I’ve just finished a Level 3 Apprenticeship and want to carry on gaining qualifications but university and the costs associated with it still didn’t appeal to me.
“This new HLA qualification offers the best of both worlds because I’ll still earn a wage, the course is paid for by my employer and it effectively offers three qualifications rolled into one so it will give me lots of career options in the future. Only a handful of colleges are offering the course and Leeds College of Building is the most convenient for Liverpool and I have friends in Leeds who I can stay with when I’m at college. It’s exciting to be the first person in the country to sign up for the course and I can’t wait to get started.”
Sarah Carter, Higher Apprenticeship Project Manager at Leeds College of Building, says: “We’re delighted that Jay has already signed up to the course and there are plenty of others now following his lead. The qualification has been developed with employers, colleges, universities and all the leading sector skills councils in order to add real value to the industry by creating a skilled workforce that is productive and can help businesses to grow. The course is extremely dynamic and demonstrates all the latest methods of design, construction and maintenance.
“Throughout the course apprentices will have to apply critical reasoning and analysis techniques to solve built environment and engineering problems using industry standards, appropriate codes of practice and work based evidence. In addition they will have to consider the environmental impact of all their activities which could include evidencing the need to recycle, reclaiming or re-using material resources, waste management planning and reducing carbon emissions on projects.
”Successful participants will be able to pursue a career in a wide range of disciplines including architecture, building services, civil engineering, construction management, maintenance, planning and surveying. The colleges offering the course are Leeds College of Building, Bradford College, Grimsby Institute, Highbury College in Portsmouth, Leicester College, Moulton College in Northampton, New College Nottingham, Oldham College and Stephenson College in Coalville.
For further information on The Higher Level Apprenticeship in Sustainable Built Environment course visit www.hasbe.co.uk
