New Apprenticeship Units Being Delivered by Heart of Yorkshire Education Group

Earlier this year, the Government announced the introduction of Apprenticeship Units, flexible, modular training programmes designed for adults aged 19 and over who are currently in employment.

The Heart of Yorkshire Education Group is now approved to deliver the following Apprenticeship Units:

• AI Leadership – AI Strategy and Opportunity
• AI Leadership – AI Adoption, Procurement and Governance
• AI Leadership – AI Delivery and Organisational Transformation
• Electrical Fitting and Assembly
• Mechanical Fitting and Assembly

The Electrical Fitting and Assembly Unit will be the first to run, beginning in October 2026. The 3 AI Units will commence delivery shortly after, with more available Units to follow.

These Apprenticeship Units are designed to focus on specific skillsets that might be part of bigger apprenticeship standards, where skills gaps or regional priorities have been identified, or where certain skills shortages are expected in the future.

They are used as upskilling programmes for adults who are already employed in an organisation; you cannot be recruited as an apprentice onto an apprenticeship unit.

Their shorter, modular nature will allow organisations to respond faster to skills gaps, be more targeted with training and skills development, and be more flexible in the professional development of staff.

The Units can also be funded through the Growth & Skills Levy (previously called the Apprenticeship Levy), a change made by the government in response to employers calling for more flexibility in how the Levy can be spent. This means that the Levy can now be used for upskilling current employees rather than being limited to traditional full apprenticeship programmes.

The Government has also recently reduced the time frame in which unused Levy funds expire, from 24 months down to 12 months - making these shorter units a good option for employers who want to make the most of their Levy before it expires.

For non-Levy-paying organisations, the Units are fully funded.

Apprenticeship Units vary in length, but typically last up to 16 weeks, with each Unit having a minimum required number of delivery hours ranging from 30 to140 guided hours. As the training provider, Heart of Yorkshire Education Group will recommend how long it takes to deliver a particular unit and work with the employer to design the programme based on the specific needs of the business.

The Units don't require an End Point Assessment, but we create a skills test to check the competency of the learner, with the employer signing the learner off when they agree that the skill has been delivered.

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The Heart of Yorkshire Education Group is an anchor institution in West and North Yorkshire, bringing together Castleford College, Selby College and Wakefield College.

It works collaboratively with more than 1300 employers across the region, delivering a range of training solutions.

Get in touch with our Apprenticeships team to find out more.

Tel: 01924 789469

Email: apprenticeships@heartofyorkshire.ac.uk.

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