Apprenticeships Overview
Being an employer over a certain size, KBR pays into the UK Government's Apprenticeship Levy. With the UK Gov topping up our levy contribution, we're able to use these levy funds to access apprenticeship training for our people.
Read on to find out why apprenticeships are a unique and worthwhile training option for us to explore:
What are apprenticeships?
An apprenticeship is a brilliant opportunity to do some professional development, during working time and alongside your role. Apprenticeships can help you take your existing abilities to the next level or teach you brand new skills and knowledge. Some apprenticeships even include industry accredited qualifications.
Apprenticeships are carried out alongside your main role and take up about 20% of your total working hours (so about 8 hours a week). The time you spend on your apprenticeship in work is called Off-the-Job Learning time. Your Line Manager will release you to work on your apprenticeship and you don't need to make up the time you missed from your role.
Apprenticeships can range in length; from 15 months to several years long – depending on the apprenticeship level and subject.
Apprenticeships are a blended programme of learning delivered by KBR-approved Training Providers. Throughout the apprenticeship you'll use your Off-the-Job Learning to gather evidence for the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours you're developing. To underpin your learning, your Training Provider gives you assignments and modules, run workshops with other apprentices in your cohort and you'll receive regular check-ins with your own assigned Skills Coach.
Did you know that many apprenticeships are now delivered by Training Providers 100% virtually? This makes apprenticeships really accessible no matter where you are in the country. Depending on the apprenticeship, some programmes are delivered by Colleges or Universities and may have the opportunity for in-person classroom learning.
The final few months of your apprenticeship are your End Point Assessment. During EPA, your learning portfolio is examined and you’re assessed on the knowledge, skills and behaviours you’ve learned through your apprenticeship. The ways you’ll be assessed at EPA depends on your apprenticeship. A key part of assessment is a professional discussion with the accrediting organization for your apprenticeship. You'll also be asked to complete one or two other assessments such as a consultative business project, multiple choice exams or devising a solution to a scenario in real time.
After your apprenticeship, you could harness your achievements to progress in your KBR career, potentially exploring further training along the way.
Who are apprenticeships for?
Apprenticeships are not just for school leavers and early careers! You can start an Apprenticeship at any stage in your career.
You can do an Apprenticeship even if you already have a degree or other qualifications.
Apprenticeships go up in level from Level 2 to Level 7. Each apprenticeship level is equivalent to a different standard qualification, ranging from A Levels, Higher National qualifications through to Bachelors Degree and Masters Degree level.
Entry requirements differ between apprenticeship levels, with the higher apprenticeship levels often needing you to have existing qualifications and/or professional experience.
What apprenticeships have KBR employees completed?
There's a huge range of apprenticeship subjects available.
Just a few apprenticeships we’ve used in KBR include:
- Leadership & Management
- Project Management
- Data Analysis
- Business Administration
- HR
- Project Controls
- Quantity Surveying
...and more!
What are the benefits of doing an apprenticeship?
- Explore a wide range of Apprenticeship subjects and levels
- Gain new skills, experience and formal qualifications – could be used for career progression
- Get exposure to activities and learning experience outside of your day to day role
- KBR Line Managers are given training on how to support apprentices in their teams
- Your progress is tracked by KBR HR who are always on hand if you need support
- Your 1-2-1 Skills Coach from the Training Provider guides you from start to finish
- There's no direct cost to you or KBR! Apprenticeships are funded from contributions made by the UK Gov and employers like KBR, with a levy pot that we can access anytime
How have Apprenticeships changed through the years?
For National Apprenticeship Week 2023, we heard from KBR's own John Griffin, who is the Head of Sellafield PPP's Replacement Analytical Project.
John shares his experience of starting his career as an apprentice and the key skills for life he learnt along the way.
KBR supported Matt Bateman, Asset and Functional Maintenance Register Team Leader in the KBR National Service Hub, to complete his Level 3 Team Leader Apprenticeship in 2021.
We asked Matt:
"What skills for life has your Apprenticeship helped you to learn?"
Matt said:
"Leadership skills. The knowledge and ability to handle a variety of personalities appropriately so that everyone is afforded the same opportunities, skills are recognised and staff are motivated. The workplace can be run with a good balance of hard work, teamwork and the things that make us all individual."
Matt Bateman | Asset and FMR Team Leader
Is an Apprenticeship right for me?
Apprenticeships can be incredibly beneficial but you need to be at the right place professionally and personally, to be able to make the level commitment needed and set yourself up to succeed.
Your local HR Team can guide you on checking if an apprenticeship is the best training route for you. Your Line Manager will also be guided in what they need to do to support you while you’re on the apprenticeship, including careful management of your workload and time.
Here are a few things to consider:
- Committing your time – at least 8hrs a week is needed for apprenticeship learning. At the end of your programme you'll complete an End Point Assessment which will also require time away from your KBR role to prepare for. Also bear in mind depending on Apprenticeship level, programmes can range between 15 months to ~5 years
- Finding the appropriate level of Apprenticeship for you - think about your experience including existing qualifications
- Will you be able to balance the needs of a full-time role, an apprenticeship and your personal commitments?
- Do you have the self-discipline and motivation to undertake an apprenticeship?
- Can KBR give you the right kind of experiences to allow you to gather competency evidence? Fully explore modules and competencies while you're researching apprenticeships
- Seeking learning opportunities outside your function - you will be able to cover some competencies in your day-to-day role but will often need to arrange time with other colleagues/areas in KBR to get the necessary experience
If this is not the right time for you to undertake an Apprenticeship, don’t worry - you can come back to it at any time in the future! We can also support you to explore alternative training types if you don't feel an apprenticeship is quite right for you.
If you are interested in pursuing an Apprenticeship, reach out to your Line Manager for a development conversation. If you'd like a general chat about apprenticeships, check out the Find out more section in this brochure to find your local HR representative.
© 2023 Kellogg Brown & Root LLC. All rights reserved. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Accessibility | Cookies Disclosure Statement