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Specialist applied-skills programmes (SAP)

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Overview

In 2021 CITB reopened the Enabling Specialist Provision (ESP) Commission which commissioned providers to develop and deliver a structured new-entrant programme of specialist applied-skills not currently offered or in development for Apprentice Standards. ​The newly contracted provision commenced on 1st April 2022.  

Over the next 3 years CITB is expecting to fund this programme with up to £4.5m. 

The specialist applied-skills programmes (SAP) are 18-month long new entrant training programmes. The programmes lead to a vocational qualification (NVQ/SVQ) and are considered by trade associations and employers as 'sector apprenticeships'. All SAP training providers have been awarded delivery contracts by CITB to cover new entrant registrations until at least 31 March 2023. 

These contracts may be replaced by relevant (trailblazer) apprenticeships/Apprenticeship Standards if and when they become available. Elements of the SAP programmes are eligible for short course grants. More information on which training standards make up a SAP can be provided by the commissioned provider. 

New entrants must have a full-time contract of direct employment (PAYE) with a Levy registered employer. There is no upper age limit, but employers tend to prefer to take on new entrants who are 18 years old and above. Where a trainee is under 18, a young person risk assessment will be required. 

SAP employers and trainees are now eligible to access CITB Travel to Train when registered on a SAP programme.  

Read Guidance for registering onto a SAP for further details on getting specialist applied-skills training. 

Current programmes available 

Specialist training providers have been contracted for the following specialist occupations: 

Asbestos
Demolition
Drilling and sawing
Facade preservation

Heritage craft trades
In situ flooring
Insulation and building treatments
Joint sealant

Land drilling
Plant hire and sales
Road safety marking
Roofing

Stone fixing
Structural timber frames
Surface preparation

Asbestos

  • Asbestos removal operative

Outcome: Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Removal of Hazardous Waste - Licensed Asbestos (Construction) 

Geographical Coverage: England & Wales

ACAD/TICA - Darlington 

Website: https://tica-acad.co.uk/sap-acad/  

Phone: 01325 466704

Geographical Coverage: Scotland and Wales

National Demolition Training Group Scotland - Glasgow

Website: https://www.facebook.com/ndtg.scotland

Phone: 0141 556 7599

Demolition

  • Demolition site operative for Scotland and Wales (SAP is no longer available in England)

Outcome: Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Demolition (Construction) - Demolition and Refurbishment

Geographical Coverage: Scotland and Wales

National Demolition Training Group Scotland - Glasgow

Website: https://www.facebook.com/ndtg.scotland

Phone: 0141 556 7599

Drilling and sawing

  • Diamond drilling and sawing operative

Outcome: Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Specialist Concrete Operations (Construction) - Concrete Drilling and Sawing

Geographical Coverage: England, Scotland & Wales

The Drilling & Sawing Association - Nottingham

Phones: 0115 986 7029

Facade preservation

  • Facade preservation operative

Outcome: Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Associated Industrial Services Occupations (Construction) - Facade Preservation 

Geographical Coverage: England, Scotland & Wales

Priestman's Associates LLP - Nottingham

Website: https://www.priestmanweb.com/ 

Phone: 0115 975 1880

Heritage craft trades

  • Heritage hard metal roofing specialist
  • Heritage hard and soft metals roofing operative
  • Heritage lead roofing specialist

Outcome: Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Heritage Skills (Construction) - Fully Supported Lead and Hard Metal Roofing and Cladding

Geographical Coverage: England, Scotland & Wales

Lead Sheet Training Academy - Kent

Website: https://leadsheet.co.uk/service/the-lsta-specialist-applied-skills-courses/  

Phone: 01622 872432 or 07961 659802

Geographical Coverage: England, Scotland & Wales

National Construction Training Services - Hoddesdon

Website: https://www.ncts.org.uk/ 

Phone: 01992 801914

Heritage craft trades

  • Heritage roof slating and tiling

Outcome: Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Heritage Skills (Construction) - Roof Slating and Tiling Occupations

Geographical Coverage: England, Scotland & Wales

CoRE Hereford - Herford

Website: https://corehereford.co.uk/  

Phone: 01432 345098

Heritage craft trades

  • Heritage solid plastering

Outcome: Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Heritage Skills (Construction) - Plastering Occupations - Solid Plastering

Geographical Coverage: England, Scotland & Wales

Canolfan Tywi - Carmarthenshire

Website: https://www.tywicentre.org.uk/

Phone: 01558 824271

Heritage craft trades

  • Heritage mason

Outcome: Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Heritage Skills (Construction) - Mason

Geographical Coverage: England, Scotland & Wales

Canolfan Tywi - Carmarthenshire

Website: https://www.tywicentre.org.uk/ 

Phone: 01558 824271

Geographical Coverage: England, Scotland & Wales

Priestman's Associates LLP - Nottingham

Website: https://www.priestmanweb.com/  

Phone: 0115 986 7029

Heritage craft trades

  • Heritage wood occupations

Outcome: Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Heritage Skills (Construction) - Wood Occupations

Geographical Coverage: Scotland & Wales

Canolfan Tywi - Carmarthenshire

Website: https://www.tywicentre.org.uk/  

Phone: 01558 824271

Geographical Coverage: England & Scotland

Oak Frame Training Forum - Bristol

Website: https://theoftf.wordpress.com/specialist-applied-skills-programme-course-content/

Phone: 01275 462242

In situ flooring

  • In situ resin flooring operative

Outcome: Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Specialist Concrete Occupations (Construction) - In Situ Flooring - Resin

Geographical Coverage: England, Scotland & Wales

FeRFA – The Resin Flooring Association - Staffordshire

Website: https://www.ferfa.org.uk/specialist-applied-skills-programme-sap-schemes/ 

Phone: 07484 075254

Insulation and building treatments

  • In situ treatment of timber and damp operative

Outcome: Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Insulation and Building Treatments (Construction) - Wood Preserving and Damp-proofing

  • Structural waterproofing (below ground)

Outcome: Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Sub-structure Work Occupations (Construction) - Structural Waterproofing

Geographical Coverage: England, Scotland & Wales

Property Care Association - Huntingdon

Website: https://www.property-care.org/training-qualifications/apprenticeships-nvq 

Phone: 01480 400000

Joint sealant

  • Joint sealant operative

Outcome: Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Specialist Installation Occupations (Construction) - Joint Sealant Application

Geographical Coverage: England, Scotland & Wales

All Mastic Ltd - Bristol

Website: https://www.allmastic.co.uk/training-and-nvq-assessment

Phone: 01275 817599

Land drilling

  • Land drilling operative

Outcome: Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Drilling Operations - Land Drilling - Lead Driller

Geographical Coverage: England, Scotland & Wales

British Drilling Association - Brentwood

Website: https://www.britishdrillingassociation.co.uk/competence/landdrillingapprenticeship/  

Phone: 0800 246 5086

Plant hire and sales

  • Hire and rental desk operative

Outcome: Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Hire and Rental Operations

Geographical Coverage: England, Scotland & Wales

Hire Association Europe - Birmingham

Website: https://www.hae.org.uk/hire-desk-training/ 

Phone: 0121 380 4600

Road safety marking

  • Road safety marking operative

Outcome: Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Roadbuilding and Maintenance (Construction) - Pavement Marking (Manual)

Geographical Coverage: England, Scotland & Wales

Road Safety Markings Association - Gainsborough

Website: https://www.rsma.co.uk/courses/specialist-applied-skilled-programme/

Phone: 01427 610101

Roofing

  • Hard metal roofing operative
  • Hard and soft metals roofing operative
  • Lead roofing operative

Outcome: Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Roofing Occupations (Construction) - Fully Supported Lead and Hard Metal Roofer and Cladder

Geographical Coverage: England, Scotland & Wales

Lead Sheet Training Academy - Kent

Website: https://leadsheet.co.uk/service/the-lsta-specialist-applied-skills-courses/ 

Phone: 01622 872432 or 07961 659802

Geographical Coverage: England, Scotland & Wales

National Construction Training Services - Hoddesdon

Website: https://www.ncts.org.uk/

Phone: 01992 801914

Roofing

  • Liquid roofing operative

Outcome: Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Waterproof Membrane Roofing Systems (Construction) - Liquid Applied Membrane Roofing Systems

Geographical Coverage: England, Scotland & Wales

Liquid Roofing & Waterproofing Association - London

Website: https://www.lrwa.org.uk/training/training-and-upskilling-programmes-for-liquid-applicator/specialist-applied-skills-programme-sap/  

Phone: 0333 987 4581

Roofing

  • Pitched roofing installation operative (Wales only)

Outcome: Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Roofing Occupations (Construction) - Roof Slater and Tiler

Geographical Coverage: Wales

Wales National Roofing Training Group - Caerphilly

Website: http://www.wnrtg.co.uk/ 

Phone: 07817 641984

Roofing

  • Single ply roofing installation operative

Outcome: Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Waterproof Membrane Roofing Systems (Construction) - Single Ply Membrane Roofing 

Geographical Coverage: England, Scotland & Wales

Single Ply Roofing Association - Clay Cross

Website: https://spra.co.uk/ 

Phone: 0845 154 7188

Stone fixing

  • Stone fixer operative

Outcome: Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Stonemasonry (Construction) - External Stone Fixing or Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Stonemasonry (Construction) – Internal Stone Fixing

Geographical Coverage: England, Scotland & Wales

Priestman's Associates LLP - Nottingham

Website: https://www.priestmanweb.com/ 

Phone: 0115 986 7029

Structural timber frames

  • Oak frame post and beam installation operative

Outcome: Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Wood Occupations (Construction) - Structural Post and Beam Carpentry

Geographical Coverage: England & Scotland

Oak Frame Training Forum - Bristol

Website: https://theoftf.wordpress.com/specialist-applied-skills-programme-course-content/ 

Phone: 01275 462242

Surface preparation

  • Surface preparation operative

Outcome: Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Specialist Concrete Occupations (Construction) - Substrate Preparation and Profiling

Geographic Coverage: England, Scotland & Wales

FeRFA – The Resin Flooring Association - Staffordshire

Website: https://www.ferfa.org.uk/specialist-applied-skills-programme-sap-schemes/  

Phone: 07484 075254

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