Apprenticeships rewritten  

by Carmen Daley, BMF Apprenticeships Plus
15 March 2018

The BMF is making giant strides to transform apprenticeships in the merchant industry.  With our accredited Apprenticeship Training Agency (ATA) and a new division, BMF Apprenticeship Plus, we are helping members gain maximum benefit from the opportunities created by the Government’s apprenticeship reforms.   Carmen Daley, who runs the BMF Apprenticeship Plus programme, explains what’s new.  

Last year the Government took the book on Apprenticeships and shredded it. A better way to think of Apprenticeships now is as a means to train - or develop further – staff at any level, whether they are new or existing employees. These changes come at a time when the challenges faced by the industry mean staff need to be well trained and upskilled more than ever.   

The new reforms, however brilliant, don’t come without complexities, employer responsibilities and time-consuming administration. The BMF Apprenticeships team manage these on behalf of members.  We oversee all aspects of Apprenticeship learning, such as Levy management, recruitment, contracting of Training Providers and learner monitoring and reporting.  We can even employ Apprentices on behalf of members through the BMF ATA. Whilst this service is new to BMF members, it is not new to us.  We have been working with the Electrical Distributors Association for over six years and employ 400 Apprentices on behalf of their members.

Carmen is passionate about apprenticeships, and her goal is to encourage more people to join the industry, including young women, who are often hesitant when they call. 

If someone says, ‘Can I apply for the Driving Apprenticeship’, I know what’s coming next …’I wasn’t sure if girls could’.  

I love any opportunity to introduce people to this industry, and if it is someone who thought they might not be welcome, then it is even better. I tell them about the many BMF members who focus only on talent and enthusiasm. I explain that historically, yes, we might have been a male-dominated industry, but that is changing.

There may be a long way to go to bring greater numbers of female candidates into the industry but Carmen believes Apprenticeships are an excellent conduit for doing so.  

This year also sees the introduction of the new Trade Supplier Apprenticeship Standard, which – in another first for the industry - was jointly written by BMF and EDA members to ensure that newcomers are equipped with relevant workplace skills. With this additional resource in their toolbox, Carmen and her team are aiming high.  

Our aim this year for BMF members is to start 110 Apprentices to mark the Trade Association's 110th Anniversary. We are thrilled to already be working with a number of members on a range of Apprenticeships as diverse as Accounting, Driving, IT and Warehouse Operative. The coming weeks will also see the first learners begin the new Trade Supplier standard.

For further information on the services offered by BMF Apprenticeships Plus, please contact me at carmen@bmfapprenticeshipsplus.co.uk or 0333 305 7656.