Trailblazer for Industrial Coatings Applicator Apprenticeship Continues to Move Forward Back

Date published: February 14, 2017

There has been exciting news on the Hankinson Group supported Trailblazer apprenticeship standard for the Industrial Coatings Applicator occupation with the Minister of State for Skills recently conditionally approving the Standard.

Hankinson Group Chief Executive Stephen Hankinson was lead employer on the application to the Government’s Department for Education and is Chair for the development Group. Stephen is also Chair of Sector Scheme Advisory Committee for the Corrosion Protection of Transportation Infrastructure Assets.

Stephen said “This is a major step forward for the industrial painting industry. Industrial Coatings applicators play a key role in protecting the Nation’s infrastructure and there is a demand from infrastructure clients, including Highways England, for a competent and skilled workforce and this could not be satisfied without a formal apprenticeship in place.”

“We can now move the standard forward, developing the assessment plan and talking to potential training providers with the intention of having it ready for delivery in late 2017.”

“As a major employer we are totally committed to apprenticeships and that is why we are prepared to fully support the development of this standard.”

The Standard is also supported by 9 other leading industrial coatings companies, the Institute of Corrosion, the British Constructional Steelwork Association, the British Coatings Federation, Highways England and the Sector Scheme Advisory Committee for the Corrosion Protection of Transportation Infrastructure Assets, NHSS19A and CITB.