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Introduction Diplomas - Why? Diploma Levels Delivery Gateway Work Experience Whats in it for you Timescales Useful Links Glossary FAQ

Diplomas - For Employers

Introduction

Consortia of schools and colleges have been identified which will first teach the Diploma.  You may already be engaged with one of these consortia.  Either way employer support will be key to the success of the Diplomas.

Diplomas provide an opportunity for employers to recruit young people who have demonstrated a commitment to, and developed an understanding of, their industry.  The Engineering Diploma gives employers the chance to recruit young people who have gained an insight into engineering and learnt some basic engineering principles prior to entering the workforce.  By recruiting people who have a real understanding of what their sector is about, the Diploma should help employers to reduce staff turnover and thereby reduce recruitment, induction and training costs. The future of our engineering industry and your business could depend upon the success of the Diploma in attracting and providing a strong educational foundation for the engineers of the future. 

The Diploma introduces learners to engineering and gives them opportunities to develop generic work skills without giving them a specific job focus.  Recruits with Diplomas will be better prepared to work for you than those with only GCSEs and/or A’ levels. Diploma graduates, not being trained for a specific job, should be flexible enough to be trained for the role you want them to fulfil, and in future use their broad understanding of engineering to help them adapt when their role needs to change. 

An employer guide to the Engineering Diploma outlines the engineering content in the new qualification.  A work related learning toolkit provides guidance to employers on supporting Diploma delivery.

Diploma levels

14-19 Diplomas are available at three levels:

• The Foundation Diploma is an introductory GCSE level qualification and designed for those students who want to learn about engineering but do not feel confident progressing straight to a Higher Diploma.  The possibility of enabling younger students to complete ‘taster’ elements of the Foundation Diploma to stimulate interest is being considered.  The Foundation Diploma is broadly equivalent to 5 GCSEs at grade D-G.
• The Higher Diploma is a GCSE level qualification for those wanting to learn more about engineering whether or not they have completed a Foundation Diploma.  The Higher Diploma is broadly equivalent to seven GCSEs at grades A*-C. 
• The Advanced Diploma is designed for sixth formers and college students who would like an industry related alternative to A’ levels which can help them secure employment or a university place.  The Advanced Diploma is seen in terms of UCAS tariff points for university entry as equivalent to 3.5 GCE A' levels.  Students completing an Advanced Diploma in Engineering will be able to dedicate similar time to study of maths and science to those who complete a maths A’ level and a science A’ level, with the advantage that they learn how to apply maths and science to engineering.  The brightest students may be able to complete one or two A or A/S levels alongside the Advanced Diploma.

Additionally there will be a Progression Diploma.  The Progression Diploma is designed for the minority of students who aspire to a Level 3 qualification but are unable to complete a full Advanced Diploma, perhaps because of restrictions on the time they have available for studying.   The Progression Diploma will be given to learners who complete all the Principle Learning and Generic Learning within the Advanced Diploma and is broadly equivalent in size to 2 A’ levels.  The Progression Diploma will not give students the opportunity to complete Specialised units or Additional units.

Why and how should I be involved?

Actively supporting the Diploma is the best way to make sure the qualification gives learners the skills and knowledge you as an employer want.   You can play your part in one or more ways for example:

• providing a learner with ten days of quality work experience
• visiting a school or college to tell students (and teachers) about the work you do
• proposing a project for students to complete which could provide solutions to a real problem facing your business
• pooling resources with a local school or college to jointly buy equipment that you (or they) might not otherwise afford
• providing student visits to your workplace
• taking students to see local examples of engineering innovations
• completing the endorsement document to show your in principle support for the Engineering Diploma

Many employers already provide work experience opportunities for young people and realise the benefits of doing so.  Employers who do not currently provide work experience opportunities may wish to consider the benefits of doing so:

• an opportunity to raise awareness of your business with young people (and via word of mouth their teachers, peers and parents), who could be your future customers or employees
• a recruitment tool which enables you to find out about a young person and enables them to find out about you as employer
• an opportunity for staff in your organisation to practice and develop mentoring skills
• access to the ideas of a young person who may be able to suggest original solutions to challenges whether design problems or ways to increase business efficiency
• doing your bit to contribute towards the development of young people who may be the engineers of the future

Key dates and further information

The Diplomas are being introduced in September 2008, and all young people should have access to them from September 2013.

Other information available on this website includes guidance on work related learning, project timescales, and the qualification content specification. 

We have produced a student friendly presentation for teachers and others to present to inform students about the Diploma in Engineering. If you would like a Powerpoint version of this presentation to use please contact Karen Neal.

We know that employers have questions to which answers are not yet available.  These include issues relating to funding, work experience and the impact of Diplomas on other qualifications.  We are working with government to ensure a timely answer these and other questions and will make information available when key decisions have been made.    

If you want to find out more register for updates or contact Karen Neal. Alternatively visit the links page for more contacts (including details of Sector Skills Councils involved in development of the Diploma) and sources of information.