In this blog post, IOR Education Outreach Project Manager, Matt Harvey, discusses one of the key priorities for the IOR and the IOR Industry Skills Alliance: ensuring that the RACHP sector has a strong voice in the evolving skills landscape. As government, education providers and employers continue to reshape technical education and apprenticeships, he highlights the importance of not simply responding to change, but actively helping to influence it.

With that in mind, he shares an update on some of the work underway to strengthen our connections with Skills England, apprenticeship stakeholders and the wider technical education community, while creating new opportunities to raise the profile of both the IOR and the Industry Skills Alliance.

Joining the Apprenticeship Ambassador Network

We now have access to opportunities offered by the Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (AAN), a nationally recognised network that brings together employers, educators, training providers and apprenticeship champions from across the UK.

This creates an important platform for engagement, giving us direct access to a wealth of information, contacts and influential voices operating throughout the apprenticeship landscape. Through these new relationships, the IOR and the IOR Industry Skills Alliance will be able to explore opportunities to strengthen their engagement with Skills England and other key stakeholders, particularly in support of the ongoing Level 2 apprenticeship conversation and wider apprenticeship development priorities.

The network also provides access to a broad programme of regional and national events, alongside valuable intelligence, and engagement opportunities. One particularly exciting aspect is its extensive calendar of school and college careers events across the UK. With around 100 events currently listed, there is significant potential for our STEM Ambassadors and Industry Skills Alliance partners to engage directly with young people, showcase the exciting opportunities available within RACHP careers, and inspire the next generation of talent entering our sector.

Creating New Pathways Through T Levels

We now also have access to the T Level Ambassador Network, further expanding our reach into the technical education system.

T Levels are becoming an increasingly important route into engineering, building services and wider STEM careers. Participation in this network will help us better understand the opportunities and challenges within the T Level landscape while enabling us to promote these qualifications as a valuable pathway into RACHP professions.

Importantly, this work complements our apprenticeship activity. Together, these two networks provide an opportunity to create a more connected talent pipeline, linking schools, technical education, apprenticeships and ultimately professional careers within our sector.

Building a Joined-Up Skills Journey

This is about far more than simply joining networks.

Both the Apprenticeship Ambassador Network and the T Level Ambassador Network provide access to people, insights, events and platforms that can help the IOR and Industry Skills Alliance strengthen relationships with government, education providers and industry partners. They also offer opportunities to influence future skills development and ensure the needs of the RACHP sector are represented in key conversations.

The work also aligns closely with our existing STEM engagement activity. By connecting school and college outreach with apprenticeship opportunities and technical education pathways, we can begin to create a much stronger and more visible journey for young people.

From first discovering a career in RACHP, through technical education and apprenticeships, and ultimately into skilled employment and professional development, we have an opportunity to demonstrate a clear and attractive route into our industry.

Looking Ahead

Over the coming months, we will continue developing relationships across both networks and identifying opportunities for the IOR and Industry Skills Alliance to engage directly with relevant stakeholders.

Key areas of focus will include:

• Supporting discussions around Level 2 apprenticeships
• Exploring future apprenticeship development opportunities
• Expanding STEM engagement activity
• Strengthening links with Skills England and technical education partners
• Raising awareness of RACHP careers among young people and educators
• Positioning the Industry Skills Alliance as an influential voice in skills and workforce development

These developments represent an important step forward. By building stronger connections across apprenticeships, T Levels, schools, colleges and government stakeholders, we are helping to ensure that the Industry Skills Alliance is not only prepared for the future of skills but actively contributing to shaping it.

The result will be a stronger talent pipeline, greater visibility for our sector and more opportunities to attract, develop and retain the skilled workforce our industry needs for years to come.

 Keen to find out more about the work of the IOR Industry Skills Alliance? Make sure to become a member! Simply sign up here.