TPS supports Degree Apprenticeship for Transport Planners

Keith Buchan, TPS Director for Skills said:

“We already have 40 young transport planners on the Transport Planning Technician Apprenticeship who will be the first to complete later this year. We are now working with employers and professional bodies to initiate a Degree Level Apprenticeship which will add to the opportunities for those completing the technician apprenticeship to further develop their skills.  This includes engaging with academic institutions able to support this level of transport planning qualification.  I would encourage all employers to consider how they can best use the scheme and create sufficient demand to make the scheme viable.  Meanwhile the industry standard TPS Professional Development Scheme continues to offer a route for apprentices to continue their development and work towards the TPP.”

“TPS is proud to support this initiative and has written an open letter of endorsement to Government as follows.”

Text of the Letter of Support for the Transport Planning Degree Apprenticeship

I am pleased to confirm that the Transport Planning Society fully endorses and wholeheartedly supports the development of a new Degree Apprenticeship Standard in the Transport Planning sector.

We believe that the proposed ‘Transport Planning Degree Apprenticeship’ will provide a significant new route to the development of high level specialist knowledge and skills that are critical to the future of the industry and to the development and continued operation of the transport infrastructure of the UK.  This occupational role will also provide an ideal progression pathway from the successful Transport Planning Technician Apprenticeship Standard which we continue to strongly support.

Given the Government’s emphasis on improving the country’s transport infrastructure there is an urgent need to develop and recognise transport planning skills in both the public and private sector.

This Transport Planning Degree Apprenticeship occupation will require rigorous and substantial training lasting four to five years to achieve full competence and there is commitment across the profession to ensuring that the standards we are defining provide sufficiently transferable skills to enable a successful apprentice to perform this role in an employer of any size or sector.

By being an active member of the Trailblazer/Employer Group, and very actively involved in professional development in transport planning, we will work with employers and universities to ensure that we are able to guide and advise on the knowledge, skills and professional behaviours required for membership and professional recognition.

By doing so, the quality of the apprenticeship will be formally recognised, and allow the development of a pro-active route to professional membership for apprentices, and ultimately the professional recognition of these graduating apprentices against the professional standards we have in place.