Employers

The Diploma is made up of three components:

• Principal learning – the main compulsory component of the Diploma, which develops hands-on knowledge, understanding and skills in the context of the environmental and land-based sector. Click here for further detail.

• Additional or specialist learning – an opportunity to study further environmental and land-based topics in more depth, or to broaden the range of study.

• Generic learning – compulsory learning, including functional skills in English, maths, and ICT, plus the development of personal, learning and thinking skills, and the opportunity for learners to develop through work-related learning and work experience.

How will you, as an employer, benefit from the new Diploma?

Because it has been developed in close consultation with employers, a Diploma will be a guarantee that learners holding it have the hands-on skills and knowledge that you require. Diplomas will provide you with a real material benefit by reducing your recruitment and training costs and staff turnover, as young people come in to the workforce with higher levels of skills, and having made better informed choices.

Work-related learning and work experience will be key features of all Diplomas, so employers will be assured that the young person can apply their skills in the workplace and has the right attitude to progress. The Diploma will promote learning and skills that are informed by and recognisable to environmental and land-based industries. Employers, schools and colleges will work together to deliver a range of learning techniques that will allow young people to fully understand the importance and structure of the sector today.

How can employers get involved?

You can support the work of the Diploma in several ways. Some options require greater commitment than others. At one end of the range is the provision of one or two weeks’ work experience. Or you may simply provide existing information and research material about your company to students.

Start now and contact us to register your interest, or find your local consortia (network of schools and colleges) by contacting your local education authority and/or education business link organisation.

For more detailed information about the structure and content of the Diploma in Environmental and Land-based Studies, please go to the downloads page to access the Line of Learning Statement and the Line of Learning Executive Summary.

Click here for news of consultations and other events taking place.

Click here to find out about the partnership of six Sector Skills Councils which has been formed to develop the Diploma.