BPIF seeks mentors for new apprentice support scheme

The BPIF calling for volunteer mentors for a new peer mentoring service it expects to roll out later this year. By pairing new apprentices with existing apprentices, the federation hopes that new learners will benefit from having an increased support network providing a relatable source of guidance, personal and professional development back-up, and a platform to share ideas and experience.

The BPIF peer mentoring scheme - the product of an Apprentice Council meeting last November - is a one-to-one approach that will be offered on an opt-in basis, meaning it is not a mandatory requirement of an apprenticeship. Existing apprentices may volunteer to become a peer mentor to new apprentices and, where mentoring is desired, the BPIF will match learners based on requirement and experience. Much like the apprenticeship programmes offered by the BPIF, this scheme will operate by distance mentoring using email and phone/video calls. The BPIF will be contacting employers and learners in the following months offering them the chance to opt-in to the scheme. Potential volunteer mentor should contact the BPIF directly as soon as possible. In a separate move the BPIF is celebrating the fact that the Government has approved Print Trailblazer – a new employer-defined standard for apprenticeship programmes. The Print Trailblazer proposal was first submitted to the Government in July 2014 but was unsuccessful. However, feedback confirmed that it was a strong proposal which was clearly employer-led. Continued lobbying for Government support of apprenticeships resulted in a resubmission in February 2015 where James Buffoni of Ryedale Group and the chair of the consortium lead a group of print employers and leading sector organisations, including the BPIF, in designing the new Print Apprenticeship Standards for Pre-Press Operator, Press Operator and Post-Press Operator. By November 2016, Trailblazer standards for Level 3 and level 5 were approved and were launched by the BPIF in early 2017. However, challenges were again thrown in the direction of the Print Trailblazer Consortium and in February 2017 a call for support was made to the industry in order to help ensure single standard apprenticeships did not reduce levels of expertise in the industry. Throughout 2017, the Trailblazer Consortium, whose members include the BPIF, Unite the Union, Ryedale Group, Oxuniprint, BCQ Group, CDi, Multi Packaging Solutions, Westferry Printers, Page Bros, De La Rue and The Printing Charity, continued to press its case for an appropriate approach to the new Print Apprenticeship Standards, which would replace the existing frameworks. A further call to the industry for views resulted in a strong response, all supporting the employer-led consortium’s approach. The Institute for Apprenticeship (IFA) had by now given initial feedback that it had listened after meeting with the Consortium’s Chair, James Buffoni and Vice Chair, Ian Wilton of Oxuniprint, and would support the ‘core plus options’ approach. A final call for feedback and support was issued in September 2017. The Print Trailblazer has now been approved by Government. The scheme has helped to clarify three main points: firstly a confident message about why contemporary print is attractive - showing young people that contemporary print is alive and kicking. Secondly, it clarifies the journey that fresh, young talent and employers can make to work together successfully in three specific print roles. Thirdly, the Trailblazer standard plugs that gap by identifying - in plain English – what skills, knowledge and behaviours that a young person would need to succeed in that role. Buffoni said: “This has been a rigorous process that has required perseverance from everyone involved. We can now move towards the creation of durable and practical delivery and assessment criteria which will help future apprentices and employers forge a meaningful career path.”