Register Your Interest - Quality Practitioner Higher Apprenticeship

Occupational Summary

The Quality Practitioner deploys effective quality practices in their responsible area to ensure organisations fulfil the contractual and regulatory requirements of their stakeholders. This involves four main elements:

• Quality planning
• Quality management
• Quality assurance
• Quality control

The Quality Practitioner supports their organisation’s leaders to formulate quality strategy, contribute to the management of customer satisfaction and supplier performance, and deploy quality policies and governance.

Typical jobs include: Principal quality engineer, quality assurance officer, quality engineer, quality officer, supplier quality engineer.

Knowledge

A quality practitioner will develop a comprehensive understanding of their organisation’s internal and external environments, including markets, stakeholders, legislative and regulatory factors, and sustainability considerations. They will grasp how strategy, commercial requirements, and stakeholder expectations influence quality objectives, and apply tools to define, measure, and manage these requirements effectively. They will be adept in risk and opportunity management, product and service life cycles, process design, and quality planning, using methods like CTQ Trees, Kano models, FMEAs, and value stream mapping. Quality practitioners will support continuous improvement through auditing, data analysis, and business improvement techniques, while promoting a quality culture and behaviours that drive performance. They will also recognise the need for adaptability in the face of change and commit to ongoing professional development, grounded in the principles of quality and quality management systems.

Skills

• Interpret and apply relevant legal, governmental, and industry regulations
• Effectively communicate quality strategies
• Influence stakeholders through appropriate methods and questioning techniques
• Identify, collect, and analyse quality data using tools such as Pareto analysis and statistical methods to support decision-making and continuous improvement
• Apply quality tools and methodologies to enhance processes, products, and services
• Manage risks and opportunities
• Develop and implement improvement plans
• Conduct audits, assess measurement systems, and translate technical and commercial requirements into actionable process definitions
• Understand stakeholder dynamics and foster engagement to support quality initiatives

Behaviours

• Commitment to best practices and continuous improvement
• Act with diligence, professionalism, and integrity
• Maintain a clear focus on customer needs
• Consider the broader organisational context in actions
• Communicate openly and honestly
• Take ownership of ongoing professional development, self-reflection, planning, and staying informed about relevant industry and regulatory changes

Entry requirements

There are no set entry qualifications for this apprenticeship. Apprentices will need to be working in a suitable role that will allow them to meet the KSBs outlined in the apprenticeship standard. ATAC will discuss this with all candidates before progressing through to enrolment.

Progression routes

• Achievement of level 4 apprenticeship in ‘Quality Practitioner’
• Alignment with professional registration at Practitioner with the Chartered Quality Institute
• Further apprenticeships and academic learning in quality & management roles available for further professional development

Key information

• Level (At end of programme): Level 4
• Maximum Duration: 20 months
• Available Funding: £6,000 funding band maximum via Apprenticeship Levy. Employers that do not pay the Levy will fund 5% of the funding band maximum.

Who's it for?

Targeted toward individuals with a scientific background who are moving into a quality control or quality assurance role. This apprenticeship can also be used for early talent.

Recommended training provider(s)

• CSR Group

Start date

TBC

Register Your Interest

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