During your programme

These web pages aim to provide a handy access point for information that you will need during your apprenticeship programme.

On this page:

View Learner Handbook

Our team

The full team involved in teaching and coaching for the Policy Apprenticeship.

Drew Lindon
Tutor, Skills Coach & Programme Lead

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Andrew Wyatt

Andrew Wyatt
Tutor

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Catherine Baker

Catherine Baker
Tutor & Skills Coach

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Phil de Montmorency

Phil de Montmorency
Skills Coach

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Richard Norris

Richard Norris
Skills Coach

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Janet Court

Janet Court
Tutor, Skills Coach and Progress Advisor

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Alex Marshall
Skills Coach

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Jo Larkin

Jo Larkin
Progress Adviser

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Heena Kareer

Heena Kareer
Progress Adviser

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Explaining the roles

There are three key roles in the team which will support your apprenticeship. Some members of staff cover more than one of these.

Your tutor will lead you through your workshops or seminars and deliver a large proportion of the knowledge elements of your apprenticeship with you.

Your coach will meet with you each month to help develop and evidence your skills and behaviours within the workplace. Your line manager will attend part of this session. They will help you gather evidence to demonstrate your overall competency.

Your learner progress adviser will help provide additional support where needed and monitor your progress. You will meet with them, and your line manager, every three months.

Your e-portfolio: OneFile

We use OneFile as our e-portfolio system. This is where your assignments will be set, you will submit your work and you will log your off-the-job training.

Your regular reviews will be stored on here as will some resources for your course. You will complete a learning journal, be able to monitor your progress towards your Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours and refer to your workplace development plan.

Our training video covers all the key features of OneFile you need to know. Visit the Support and FAQs page if you have questions or issues.

Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours

During your Policy Officer apprenticeship, you will learn to demonstrate specific knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs).

K1: The history, priorities, aims, issues, and risks associated with their policy area

K2: The wider organisational environment the policy area sits in and how policymaking typically operates within it

K3: The political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental factors that impact on the policy area and the opportunities and challenges they each present.

K4: The principles of project management tools and techniques and the importance of reviewing and maintaining plans.

K5: The importance of achieving value for money.

K6: The core stakeholders within the specific policy areas and how to engage with them.

K7: Communication techniques and approaches to interact with a range of key internal and external stakeholders

K8: Technology and software used to present data in agreed formats for publication

K9: Regulatory and legislative requirements such as data protection and confidentiality, which affect practical processes such as the handling and processing of data and its application.

K10: Policy implementation tools and processes to ensure delivery meets desired policy aims.

K11: Evaluation methods through which policy interventions can be reviewed and improved, including cost benefit analysis and impact assessments, and their advantages and disadvantages.

K12: The importance of horizon scanning for future changes and developments in relation to policy interpretation

K13: The value of a diversity of skills and expertise within teams, as well as an inclusive environment

K14: The organisation’s structure, strategy, and priorities of organisational leaders / decision makers, and how their role supports these.

K15: The purpose of engagement and consultation

K16: Different levels of engagement (from passive informing through to active coproduction with those impacted by policy interventions) and methods used to achieve engagement.

K17: The importance of monitoring and reviewing processes, including identifying and managing risks (e.g. operational, budgetary, reputational, legal).

K18: How to measure the success of a policy, including the use of measures for progress, success, and impact.

S1: Undertake research and data collection from a range of primary and secondary sources, to determine quality, accuracy, reliability, cognitive bias and trustworthiness of data sources

S2: Use analytical techniques on research and data, making use of stakeholder expertise in the policy area

S3: Demonstrate problem solving ability and evidence-based decision-making.

S4: Prepare documents and present findings, making use of evidence to underpin arguments.

S5: Adapt communication style to different audiences

S6: Apply project and risk management tools and techniques across the policy lifecycle.

S7: Manage conflicting priorities to ensure work is completed within deadlines and budgets, setting own milestones to manage workload.

S8: Manage joint work with other organisations through tasks such as creating reference documents, and records of policy decisions.

S9: Demonstrate networking and stakeholder management skills.

S10: Facilitate events such as conferences, forums, or roundtable discussions to discuss policy issues.

S11: Keep accurate records of relevant information such as key data, identified trends, critiques, commentary, media attention and topical issues.

S12: Evaluate data related to current and previous policy interventions.

S13: Work with specialists from outside of the policy function, for example specialists in research, communications, commercial, legal, and science.

S14: Looking beyond immediate role to larger trends which may impact on the relevant policy area, utilising big picture thinking to support organisational strategy.

S15: Support the development and delivery of materials and activities to train their team

B1: Seeks learning opportunities and continuous professional development.

B2: Works collaboratively with others.

B3: Role models ethical behaviour and practices.

B4: Works flexibly and adapts to different circumstances.

B5: Has accountability and ownership of their tasks and workload.

B6: Remains motivated and resilient under pressure.

Institute of Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability

The Institute of Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability (ICRS) is the UK’s professional body for everyone working in or interested in corporate responsibility and sustainability.

What the ICRS offers apprentices: Free membership, networking opportunities, free webinars, latest industry insights, updates, and resources, newsletter signup to stay informed about upcoming events, training, and opportunities.

Find out more and register for your free membership now >

Off-the-job training

You will need to dedicate around 20% of your working hours to your learning and development, which equates to around one day a week.

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How can I evidence my learning?

Your coach and tutor will work with you to best gather evidence of your training. This can take various forms.

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Functional skills

Apprentices aged 16-18 at the start of the apprenticeship need a level 2 qualifications in both English and maths to complete the course. If you can provide evidence of GCSEs at A*-C or 4-9 (or equivalent eligible qualifications) you will be exempt. Otherwise, you will need to complete a functional skills qualification. Apprentices aged 19 and over without level 2 English and/or maths can choose to study functional skills level 2.

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Helpful tips, tricks & techniques

We’ve compiled resources to supercharge your apprenticeship journey. Delve into our “Helpful Tips, Tricks & Techniques” guide, covering everything from polished business documents to expert minute-taking. Level up your skills for ensure your success.

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Completing your apprenticeship

At the end of your programme, you will complete an apprenticeship assessment. This is when you demonstrate to a third party assessor that you have acquired the knowledge, skills and behaviours set out in the apprenticeship standard. This will only happen once yourself, your line manager and Skills Coach have agreed that you are ready.

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Safeguarding, Prevent, welfare and british values

Paula Wakelin
Paula WakelinSafeguarding & Prevent Officer

There is nothing more important than keeping you safe. If you feel you need to raise a concern about any Safeguarding matter, contact your organisation’s Safeguarding Team, or the JGA Safeguarding team at safeguarding@jga-group.co.uk.

We are committed to working together to create a fantastic learning and work experience and to ensure the highest levels of safety and wellbeing. Expand the toggles to learn more about key support topics.

We are strongly committed to practices that protect you from the risk of abuse, neglect or significant harm. Our staff recognise and accept their responsibility to develop an awareness of the risks and issues involved in safeguarding. All staff and learners should have zero tolerance for abuse, bullying, neglect and violence.

Prevent is about safeguarding people and communities from the threat of terrorism. At the heart of Prevent is safeguarding children and adults and providing early intervention to protect and divert people away from being drawn into terrorist activity.

We provide expert support to help you on your apprenticeship journey. This includes mental health and neurodiversity, careers guidance and academic and financial challenges.

We want to help you achieve your full potential. We offer careers consultancy to ensure you have impartial and constructive information and guidance to help you decide and then to action your career decisions.

We aim to create an equal, diverse, inclusive and respectful culture. All of us contribute towards this culture through our actions and words. JGA aims to address any barriers to equality in our systems, policies and decision making as well as in our behaviour and ways of working.

The Fundamental British Values underpin what it is to be a citizen in a modern and diverse United Kingdom, valuing our community and celebrating diversity.