The trade body for the fleet industry is considering the merits of creating a fleet apprenticeship standard.
In response to demand from its members and the wider industry, the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP) is looking into the process involved in developing an apprenticeship standard. It is now inviting feedback from across the sector to gauge enthusiasm. Currently there are no official fleet apprenticeship programmes.
The AFP has emphasised the importance of cross-industry collaboration.
“The creation of a vehicle fleet apprenticeship standard could potentially be a huge boost to the industry and help further with formally professionalising roles within our sector,” said AFP chair Paul Hollick.
“It is an idea with significant appeal. However, the size of the task and degree of industry support required should not be underestimated. We at The AFP have the energy and commitment to support employers to drive this forward but the creation of a vehicle fleet apprenticeship programme would need widespread commitment to ensure its success.”
A ‘trailblazing’ group of 10-20 experienced fleet employers will be needed to develop the standard, create the jobs for apprentices and contribute the resources required to train them.
“While there are many highly qualified and capable fleet managers in our sector, supported by training and qualifications available through the AFP Fleet Academy, this is not a profession with a recognised entry route,” Hollick went to to say.
“Having apprenticeships would change that and provide much more of a structured career path into the fleet sector. In the future, especially as fleet managers continue to evolve into mobility specialists, an apprenticeship could eventually sit alongside career choices in other corporate specialisms such as human resources and procurement, providing a steady stream of talented individuals.”
