GTA MEMBERSHIP

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Group Training Associations (GTAs) provide a very successful model for collaboration between employers and providers. This has become a model of industry/provider partnership resilient to policy changes and has responded very effectively to the training demands of industry.

Ofsted 2015 report on apprenticeships.

WHAT IS A GTA?

Group Training Associations (GTAs) are training providers that deliver a unique experience to learners and employers alike: developing and delivering outstanding training for industry by industry.


The resulting sense of employer 'ownership' is the engine of a vocational training service offered to a far-wiser range of companies and to the communities in which they sit. For our employer members, training arrangements or academies are defined as "cost centre" as opposed to profit centres. They are sometimes also involved with providing training for supply chain companies.


Typically, a GTA is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity whose objects require that surpluses be reinvested. There is usually a group of subscribing member employer companies from which senior executives are drawn to form a GTA board.

The resulting sense of employer ‘ownership’ is the engine of a vocational training service offered to a far-wiser range of companies and to the communities in which they sit.


For our employer members, training arrangements or academies are defined as “cost centres” as opposed to profit centres. They are sometimes also involved with providing training for supply chain companies.


For over forty years, GTAs have represented the first truly public-private learning partnerships where employers subscribe to off-the-job training centres in order to provide efficient, expertly delivered skills.

GTA England was established in 2009 to benefit member GTAs. Our objectives are to raise the profile of GTAs, present a compelling case to funding organisations, to work successfully with government as a natural partner and to improve and standardise quality across the GTA network.

BENEFITS

GTA England is shaping the future of GTAs, and understands the benefits of GTAs formally working together. Established in 2009, key areas of benefit are:

BENEFITS

GTA England is shaping the future of GTAs, and understands the benefits of GTAs formally working together. Established in 2009, key areas of benefit are:

  • to raise the profile of GTAs
  • to present a compelling case to funding organisations
  • to work successfully with government as a natural partner
  • to improve and standardise quality across the GTA network

GTA England actively pursues the following aims for the benefit of our members:

  • POLITICAL LOBBYING TO KEEP GTAS AT THE FOREFRONT OF POLICY SOLUTIONS

    A collective voice with national impact and high-level representation, GTA England also carries the views of employers.


    Developing Trailblazer Apprenticeship Standards with employers in the Automotive, Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering sector.

  • LEVERAGING THE JOINT CAPABILITY OF THE MEMBERSHIP TO OBTAIN UK FUNDING STREAMS

    GTAs have a low-risk profile with most owning their own equipment and premises, and carrying no debt. With not-for-profit status, well-proven business success and a national collaborative network represented by GTA England, there is a strong business case to make to government funding organisations contracting agencies. 

  • SELF-REGULATION THROUGH QUALITY IMPROVEMENT

    GTAs seek self-regulation through participating in the GTA England peer review and support programme, one of the benefits of GTA England membership. The vision is to make all GTAs outstanding through sharing skills and development expertise within the network. As well as committing to offer our members a peer review/peer support at least once every three years, members benefit from training and support. Recent examples include:

    • training on the new Education Inspection Framework delivered for the network by Ofsted HMIs, and 

    • the introduction of CEO Master Classes for sharing best practice, delivered by CEOs for CEOs. 

    • Members can also explore and join in the creation of our exclusive on-line learning resources which support the delivery of STEM Apprenticeship Standards 

    • Access to the members section of our website for videos and documentation of members days; sharing of best practice in delivery and quality improvement topics

    • and partake in online discussion forums bringing the network together online and face to face


  • FACILITATING SUPPORT, DEVELOPMENT AND COOPERATION BETWEEN MEMBER COMPANIES

    GTA England identifies opportunities and encourages sharing between members to their mutual benefit. We believe in offering support where needed, either by identifying for GTAs to help each other, or by sharing experience in their areas of expertise, or offering support via our peer review programme.


    We hold regular Members days, Annual Conference with high level speakers and informative webinars.

  • MAKING SAVINGS THROUGH JOINT PROCUREMENT ARRANGEMENTS, INCLUDING EPA

    We are committed to identifying opportunities for members to lower their costs by sharing services such as procurement, career development and other areas of business expertise. There is also the opportunity to collectively develop new services which were previously beyond the budget of smaller GTAs.


    This now includes a special relationship with both City & Guilds for Metal Fabrication L3; ENgineering operative L2; Engineering Fitter L3; and MOET L3. Lso, with the IET for the ENgineering Technician Standard L3.

JOINING CRITERIA

The characteristics of a Group Training Organisation in contemporary society have been addressed in The Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Role of Group Training Associations. Click here to view.

JOINING CRITERIA

These characteristics form the basis of a framework of criteria against which any organisation wishing to be recognised as a GTA will be assessed.
Applications are also welcome from Employer Academies and Higher Education Institutions.

The characteristics of a Group Training Organisation in contemporary society have been addressed in The Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Role of Group Training Associations. Click here to view.


These characteristics form the basis of a framework of criteria against which any organisation wishing to be recognised as a GTA will be assessed.
Applications are also welcome from Employer Academies and Higher Education Institutions.

GTA ENGLAND CHARTER

Our vision is to work collaboratively as Group Training Associations to provide employers with outstanding, world-class, training and apprentices. We are committed to the long term sustainable development and growth of the GTA network and believe that the synergies that membership co-operation brings makes us stronger together. To that end, every member of GTA England commits to this Charter:

GTA ENGLAND CHARTER

MEMBERSHIP FEES

The annual GTA England membership fee is based on latest turnover in annual accounts.

If you would like to be considered for membership, please click the 'apply now' button below to view our current criteria and application form. Alternatively, if you have any questions and would like to talk to someone further about GTA England membership, we would be delighted to hear from you.

APPLY NOW →

GTA FRAMEWORK

  •  Not for profit
  • Employer-led Board of Trustees/Directors, including SME representation drawn from local employers who have a sense of “ownership’ of the GTA
  • Members/employers provide strategic direction for training quality and content
  • Ethical code of conduct
  • Provides and holistic workforce development service
  • Expertise and capacity in meeting advanced/technician and higher level of skills needs of a specific sector (or sectors)
  • Mediates between and balances the needs of employers and learners
  • Has physical premises including Training Centre (small GTAs should be affiliated to a larger GTA to share a Training Centre, or have facilities co-located with an employer
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