Consultation on the proposed Apprenticeships Specification Cymru (ASC)

Overview

We want your views on the proposed Apprenticeships Specification Cymru (ASC), which would set the requirements for approved Welsh apprenticeships under the Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022.

We are consulting on the proposed Apprenticeships Specification Cymru (ASC), which would set the requirements for approved Welsh apprenticeships under section 115 of the Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022.

The proposals would:

establish a new specification for approved Welsh apprenticeships under the new legislative framework for apprenticeships in Wales
set requirements for the content, development, review, revision, withdrawal and publication of apprenticeship frameworks
maintain occupational competence as the central focus of apprenticeships
provide greater flexibility where qualifications are unavailable or require development
introduce a more proportionate approach to Essential Skills requirements at higher apprenticeship levels
support consideration of opportunities to increase access to Welsh medium apprenticeship provision
provide stability and continuity for learners, employers and providers during implementation of the new arrangements

This consultation also seeks views on the draft Guidance on the Application of the Apprenticeships Specification Cymru, the draft List of Recognised Proxy Qualifications for Essential Skills (Wales), and the draft Integrated Impact Assessment.

You must submit your response for it to be considered.

I understand that any text that I enter into this form will be recorded and accessible to the Welsh Government, even if I do not click on the “submit” button on the final page.

I also understand that only forms which have been submitted to the Welsh Government by the user clicking on the “submit” button will be considered as part of the consultation.

The Welsh Government will disregard any text which has been recorded on forms where the user has not clicked on the “submit” button.

I understand

Question 1: flexibility and future-proofing

Relevant ASC provisions

2.2.1, 2.2.7 to 2.2.10

Objective

The draft ASC is intended to provide a more flexible and future-proof framework for apprenticeships in Wales. This includes allowing apprenticeship frameworks to use occupational standards and specified assessment arrangements where qualifications are unavailable or require development, while maintaining quality and consistency across the apprenticeship system.

Question

To what extent do you think the proposed requirements will support this objective?

Please explain your answer, including any examples, risks, safeguards or additional flexibilities that should be considered.

Question 2: occupational competence and assessment

Relevant ASC provisions

2.2.7 to 2.3.2

Objective

The draft ASC is intended to ensure that occupational competence remains at the centre of apprenticeship frameworks through requirements relating to occupational standards, standards of attainment and assessment arrangements. This includes requirements for frameworks based on qualifications and, where qualifications are unavailable or require development, frameworks based on occupational standards and equivalent learning and assessment.

Question

To what extent do you think the proposed requirements will support consistent achievement of occupational competence across apprenticeship frameworks?

Please explain your answer and identify any requirements that should be strengthened, amended or clarified.

Question 3: minimum volume of learning

Relevant ASC provisions

2.1.6 to 2.1.9

Objective

The draft ASC would require apprenticeship frameworks to specify a minimum volume of learning expressed as CQFW credits and would retain a minimum requirement of 37 credits for occupational competence and technical knowledge.
The intention is to maintain a consistent minimum expectation across apprenticeship frameworks while providing stability during implementation of the ASC.

Question

To what extent do you think the proposed minimum requirement of 37 credits provides an appropriate basis for apprenticeship frameworks?

Please explain your answer, including any evidence, implementation issues or alternative minimum credit requirements that should be considered.

Question 4: occupational competence credit requirement

Relevant ASC provisions

2.1.10

Objective

The draft ASC would require occupational competence to represent at least 50% of the total credit value of a framework, unless delivered through a combined competence and knowledge qualification.

The intention is to ensure that occupational competence remains the primary focus of apprenticeship frameworks while allowing flexibility across occupations and sectors.

Question

To what extent do you think the proposed requirement for occupational competence to represent at least 50% of total credit value will support high-quality apprenticeship frameworks?

Please explain your answer, including any benefits, risks, implementation challenges or alternative approaches that should be considered.

Question 5: Essential Skills requirements

Relevant ASC provisions

2.6.1 to 2.7.3

Objective

The draft ASC would retain mandatory Essential Skills requirements for Foundation Apprenticeships (Level 2) and Apprenticeships (Level 3).

For Higher and Degree Apprenticeships (Levels 4 to 7), Essential Skills would no longer be mandatory. Instead, frameworks would be required to consider learner needs and could continue to include Essential Skills where they add value. Recognised proxy qualifications would continue to be accepted where specified within a framework.

The intention is to provide a more proportionate and flexible approach while maintaining support for learners who need to develop Essential Skills.

Question

To what extent do you think the proposed Essential Skills requirements strike an appropriate balance between maintaining the development of essential skills and providing flexibility for learners and employers?

Please explain your answer, including any likely impacts on learners, employers, providers and framework developers, and any alternative approaches that should be considered.

Question 6: Essential Digital Literacy skills

Relevant ASC provisions

2.6.1(ii), 2.6.2(iii), 2.6.3

Objective

The draft ASC would allow apprenticeship frameworks to include Essential Digital Literacy Skills where these are relevant to effective performance in the occupation, rather than requiring them in all cases.

The intention is to ensure digital skills requirements are proportionate, occupationally relevant and responsive to the needs of different sectors and occupations.

Question

To what extent do you think the proposed approach to Essential Digital Literacy Skills provides an appropriate balance between maintaining digital capability and allowing flexibility for different occupations and sectors?

Please explain your answer, including any evidence, implementation issues or alternative minimum credit requirements that should be considered.

Question 7: Essential Skills and Learner Age

Relevant ASC provisions

2.6.1 to 2.6.4

Objective

The draft ASC specifies Essential Skills requirements by apprenticeship level, rather than by learner age.

The intention is to ensure a consistent framework based on occupational and educational requirements while recognising that learners may enter apprenticeships with different prior achievements and experiences.

Question

To what extent do you think Essential Skills requirements should be determined by apprenticeship level and occupational need, rather than by the age of the learner?

Please explain your answer, including any evidence, implementation issues or alternative minimum credit requirements that should be considered.

Question 8: transitional arrangements and implementation of change

Relevant ASC provisions

1.7.3 to 1.7.4, 1.8.1 to 1.8.4

Objective

The draft ASC provides that apprentices who entered into an approved Welsh apprenticeship before a revised Specification comes into force may continue to completion under the requirements that applied when their apprenticeship was entered into, subject to any specified transitional arrangements.

The intention is to provide stability for learners and employers while allowing the apprenticeship system to respond to changing requirements and priorities.

Question

To what extent do you think the proposed approach to transitional arrangements and implementation of changes provides an appropriate balance between system improvement and stability for existing learners, employers and providers?

Please explain your answer, including any evidence, implementation issues or alternative minimum credit requirements that should be considered.

Question 9: draft guidance

Relevant document

Draft Guidance on the Application of the Apprenticeships Specification Cymru

Objective

The draft Guidance is intended to support the consistent interpretation and application of the ASC by providing additional information on how the requirements should be understood and applied in practice.

Question

To what extent do you think the draft Guidance provides sufficient clarity to support the development, approval, delivery, review and maintenance of apprenticeship frameworks?

Please identify any areas where additional guidance, clarification or examples would be helpful.

Question 10: proxy qualifications

Relevant document

Draft List of Recognised Proxy Qualifications for Essential Skills (Wales)

Objective

The draft Proxy List is intended to provide a clear and consistent approach to recognising qualifications that may be accepted as an alternative means of evidencing Essential Skills requirements within apprenticeship frameworks.

Question

To what extent do you think the draft Proxy List provides an appropriate basis for recognising alternative evidence of achievement for Essential Skills requirements?

Please identify any qualifications, qualification types or other evidence that you think should be added, amended or removed, providing reasons where possible.

Question 11: other comments

Relevant provisions

All provisions.

Question

Do you have any additional comments on the draft Apprenticeships Specification Cymru (ASC), draft Guidance, draft List of Recognised Proxy Qualifications for Essential Skills (Wales), or any other aspect of the proposals?

Please provide any views on:

the overall effectiveness of the proposals
implementation considerations
areas that may require further clarification
potential unintended consequences, or
any issues not addressed elsewhere in this consultation

Where possible, please refer to specific sections or paragraph numbers.

Question 12: draft Integrated Impact Assessment

Relevant document

Draft Integrated Impact Assessment.

Question

Do you think the draft Integrated Impact Assessment accurately identifies the likely impacts of the proposals?

Please identify any impacts that you think have not been adequately considered, including impacts on:

learners
employers
providers
people with protected characteristics
children and young people
Welsh-speaking communities
people living in rural areas
people experiencing socio-economic disadvantage
particular sectors or occupations

Yes
Partly
No
Don't know

Please identify any impacts that you think have not been adequately considered:

Question 13: equality and wider impacts

Relevant document

Draft ASC, Guidance, Proxy List and Integrated Impact Assessment

Question

Are there any impacts of the proposals on particular groups, communities or sectors that should be considered further, or any changes that could be made to enhance positive impacts or mitigate adverse impacts?

This may include impacts on:

people with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010
children and young people
Welsh-speaking communities
people living in rural areas
people experiencing socio-economic disadvantage
employers, providers or learners in particular occupations or sectors; or
any other groups you believe may be affected

Please provide reasons and evidence where possible.