Apprenticeship Photo

Apprenticeships

education and training

Recruiting or upskilling staff using the apprenticeship model 

We’re sorry to say we’re not currently recruiting any new apprentices and are therefore unable to support any new employers looking to partner with us to train up a new apprentice in their workplace.

If you have any questions, please email our apprenticeship team at info@lancashirefa.com


Our History…


In 2011 we expanded our education offering to stakeholders and became the first and only of 52 county football associations to deliver an apprenticeship programme to support our post 16 stakeholders in Lancashire with an alternative pathway into Further Education and the workplace.

We have been a working partner of both Blackburn College and Lancaster and Morecambe College on a sub-contractor basis over the past decade. This has seen us build positive working relationships with as many as 48 schools both Primary and Secondary, whilst also partnering with approved private sports coaching companies, borough councils and professional football clubs to support the growth and development of their new and/or current staff. The programme has been an enormous success and has enabled 145 apprentices enrol and progress to gain meaningful employment, career progression, or enrol onto a Higher Education course.

Following changes to the shifting landscape in education, in October 2021 Lancashire Football Association were accepted onto the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (RoATP) as a ‘Main Provider’ to apprenticeships.

 

 

WHAT WE OFFER…

As an Apprenticeship ‘Main Provider’ we are delighted that we can now offer a wider range of apprenticeships to meet the needs of many employers, employees, and trainees. The seven apprenticeship standards that we are currently supporting are as follows;

Andy and Alex• Level 2 – Community Activator Coach Standard

The Community Activator Coach Standard will underpin occupations such as an Activator, Sports Coach, Activity Leader and or Community coach. These roles are predominantly employed by Schools; SMEs who operate in the sport and physical activity sector; local authorities; sports clubs; leisure centres.

• Level 2 – Leisure Team Member Standard

The role of the leisure team member is to support, enhance and deliver the day-to-day operations and services of a leisure / fitness facility. In a typical working day, they may perform all these roles in one shift, for example: Open or close the facility, welcome customers, deliver a gym induction, run a group exercise session, teach a swimming lesson, clean the facility, walk the gym floor, prepare the sports hall for a sports activity (for example badminton), and deliver the session.

• Level 2 – Early Years Practitioner Standard

This occupation is found in a range of private and public settings including; full day care, children’s centres, pre-schools, reception classes, playgroups, nursery schools. In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with parents, children, colleagues and wider multi agency professionals and partners. They will be responsible for supporting child initiated and adult led activities based around the needs and interests of each individual child, supporting children’s learning through planned, purposeful play opportunities and educational programmes, and working as part of a team to ensure each child feels safe and secure.

• Level 3 – Early Years Educator Standard

Apprenticeship PhotoEarly Years Educators, and other job roles such as nursery nurse and childminders, are highly trained professionals who play a key role in ensuring that young children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe. They work in a range of settings including full day care, children’s centres, pre-schools, reception classes and as childminders. They may either be working on their own or supervising others to deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) requirements set by Government for the learning, development, and care of children from birth to 5 years old.

• Level 3 – Business Administration Standard

The responsibilities of the role are to support and engage with different parts of an organisation, interacting with internal or external customers. With a focus on adding value, the role of Business Administrator contributes to the efficiency of an organisation, supporting functional areas, working across teams and resolving issues both proactively and reactively. The flexibility and responsiveness required to be successful in role, allows the Apprentice to develop a wide range of skills.

• Level 4 – Sports Coach Standard

This occupation is found in the sport and physical activity sector in high-performance, community and school environments. 

SCHOOL SPORT COACHES design and deliver coaching programmes that focus on the acceleration of sustainable mastery of children’s psychomotor skills and wider physical education standards.

COMMUNITY SPORT COACHES design and deliver coaching programmes that focus on sustainable engagement and enrichment of participants. They use targeted approaches to the deliver sport and physical activity through community initiatives or clubs, considering Sport England participation and wider government agendas.

HIGH PERFORMANCE SPORTS COACHES design and deliver coaching programmes that focus on the acceleration of sustainable development and high performance of athletes/players to enhance the national and international positioning of the sport.

• Level 5 – Early Years Lead Practitioner Standard

This occupation is found in a range of settings which can include day nurseries, playgroups, nursery schools, pre-schools, kindergartens, primary schools, hospitals, social care settings, out of school environments and local authority provision. The broad purpose of the occupation is to be a proactive and influential practitioner, working directly with children, skilfully leading day to day practice at an operational level.

Apprenticeship PhotoWe also offer the below 4 additional qualifications (FOC):

• 1st4Sport Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Multi Skills Development in Sport
• 1 day Emergency first aid at work (Level 3)
• First aid for Mental health courses (Level 2)

 

Benefits of employing an apprentice

o 78% of employers said apprenticeships helped them improve productivity
o Apprenticeships are a way to upskill new/current staff members
o You can give a person an opportunity to learn new skills
o They are motivated to learn new skills
o You can adapt their training according to the needs of your business 
o It can free up senior members of staff to focus their attention to where its most needed
o Apprentices can offer a fresh perspective

The County Ground

Delivery Model

Our model for delivery has been developed over the past decade with a ‘learner and employer centred’ approach. Our aim is to be as flexible as possible with our training to support the needs of the learner whilst providing regular contact options that are not typically offered by most training providers.

All apprentices are required to complete a compulsory 20% of their contracted hours fulfilling ‘Off the Job’ training to develop the Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours (KSB’s) that are outlined in the respective apprenticeship standard being undertaken, to be prepared and in readiness for the Independent End Point Assessment.

meet the staff...

Colin Greenall.

Colin Greenall – Education and Training Manager

Colin has worked at Lancashire FA since July 2005 and manages the Education & Training Department which includes the Apprenticeship Programme. Prior to his role at Lancashire FA, Colin was a professional footballer. His former clubs include Preston North End, Blackpool and Wigan Athletic and he still active in the game supporting referees on behalf of the English Premier League. Colin is also often heard on BBC Radio Lancashire giving a live summary of the match.

Andrew Watson

Andrew Watson – Apprentice Mentor

Andrew is an experienced educator and mentor who has worked for Lancashire FA in various education and coaching roles since 2008, he started his current role back in 2013. Andrew’s position includes planning, developing, and delivering our Apprentice Programme offering. Andrew, a Manchester United supporter, is also heavily involved in football outside of Lancashire FA citing FA Level 1 and Level 2 coach educator for the national FA. Moreover, Andrew is also a former Manchester United trainee and semi-professional footballer who has enjoyed two promotions and an amazing FA Cup run with Curzon Ashton Football Club.

Apprenticeship Photo

Lee Murphy – Apprentice Mentor

Lee has been working for the Lancashire FA as a Coach Educator since 1998 in a part time role. Lee has also worked on the Football Education program run in partnership with Hopwood Hall College for 7 years from 2002. Lee then went on to run a successful business in FE (Further Education) in partnership with various colleges across the county. He has recently returned from abroad where he was working on various projects with the National FA and has joined the team as an Apprentice Mentor. Lee has also coached across the football pyramid from grassroots to professional clubs. 

 

Lancashire FA

Avril Palmer-Fye – Apprentice Mentor

Avril has a wealth of experience in the education setting, with a significant skill set in coaching, mentoring and leadership, and has coached and mentored apprentices from Level 2 through to Level 7. Avril is also an End Point Assessor (EPA) for the’ L3 Business Administrative’ standard with Pearson Qualifications, as well as working up at Lancaster University in the ‘Management School’ where she has been employed since 2020. Outside of Education Avril is also a successful business women, and the founder of a successful nail company.

Find Out More…

Employers

If you would like to find out more about how we might be able to support your organisation through our Apprenticeship Programme offering, then please do not hesitate to contact us on the details below and start your journey of training and developing your future workforce today!

For All Enquiries

Email: info@lancashirefa.com

Phone: 01772 644269