EAL's Battery Manufacturing Trailblazer role

Battery manufacturing is one of the most important industries for the net-zero transition, so it’s crucial to ensure the workforce is primed to tackle future challenges.

Apprenticeships form a foundational part of this preparation. EAL – as a specialist awarding and end-point assessment organisation for the engineering and manufacturing sector – plays a vital role in developing these programmes for related industries. In this blog, we explain how.

But first, let’s get into some background about battery manufacturing in the UK.

The battery manufacturing landscape

Batteries power a wide range of applications, from portable electronics to electric vehicles (EVs), and are a central component in grid-scale energy storage.

As the demand for energy storage solutions continues to rise, the battery manufacturing industry is expected to play a central role in shaping the future of sustainable energy. It is and will continue to be influenced by innovations in materials, manufacturing processes, and the ongoing global shift towards cleaner solutions.

Unsurprisingly, it’s an area set for huge growth. The automotive and EV battery sector could, according to the Faraday Institution, grow by 100,000 jobs – from 170,000 to 270,000 employees – by 2040.

The need for apprenticeships

Alongside upskilling and reskilling, apprenticeships are key to building an appropriately-skilled workforce – one that is prepared for current challenges and those of the future.

The programmes allow people to gain quality hands-on workplace experience while simultaneously working towards a nationally recognised qualification. Mixing on-the-job and off-the-job learning ensures apprentices gain the combination of skills and knowledge they need in employment.

Developing an apprenticeship that delivers the necessary knowledge, skills and behaviours takes time and commitment.

The new Battery Manufacturing Technician Apprenticeship

EAL has been actively involved in the Battery Manufacturing Trailblazer Group responsible for developing a new Battery Manufacturing Technician Apprenticeship Standard since 2022.

We’ve contributed our industry and assessment expertise towards the production of the occupational standard and end-point assessment plan and helped to collate funding evidence to inform the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education’s funding band recommendation.

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) recently approved the three-year standard following input from businesses and organisations such as Jaguar Land Rover, the Faraday Institute and the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre. It has been awarded the maximum funding band (£24,000), which will cover apprenticeship programme costs.

Throughout this process, we have made our commitment to supporting the new standard clear to the stakeholders involved.

If you are interested in finding out more about how we intend to support the new Battery Manufacturing Technician Apprenticeship Standard, please contact [email protected].

How apprenticeships are developed

In England, apprenticeships are assessed against apprenticeship standards, which are developed by trailblazer groups. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, apprenticeships are assessed against apprenticeship frameworks, which are developed by sector bodies.

Trailblazer groups are made up of employers and supported by organisations such as EAL; the employers must be recognised by IfATE and should be representative of employers for the relevant occupation, including SMEs.

The role of a trailblazer group is to develop a new apprenticeship for an occupation. This involves writing the apprenticeship standard, developing an end-point assessment plan and collating funding evidence.

The group is also expected to promote the apprenticeship to potential users, monitor the performance of the apprenticeship, answer queries and help resolve any issues.

Working collaboratively  

We attend regular meetings with battery manufacturing employers and providers, represent these parties in policy discussions about technical education, and work collaboratively to create and review apprenticeship standards, qualifications, training programmes and courses.