CILIP Pathways has been officially approved by Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) to join the Register of End Point Assessment Organisations (EPAOs) to assess the Level 3 Library, Information and Archive Service Assistant apprenticeship standard.

CILIP Pathways now enters an ESFA designated development window to finalise all the resources, processes and guidance required for the first apprentice assessments in February 2021.

Nick Poole, CILIP CEO said, “We are delighted to announce that CILIP Pathways has won approval to offer independent assessment of the Level 3 Library, Information and Archive Services Assistant apprenticeships.

The single clearest message from our recent Library, Information and Knowledge Management (LIKM) Professionalism Review was a strong desire for the sector to diversify quality routes into the profession, and with the appointment of CILIP Pathways as the EPAO for the standard we now have all the tools necessary to make this vision a reality. ”

Jo Cornish, CILIP Pathways Director adds, “This is fantastic news for the sector as whole and particularly for those looking to build their careers. I’m incredibly proud to be working to open up the profession by providing alternative routes in as this is absolutely key to tapping into a wider pool of talent for the library, information and knowledge community.

By removing barriers and allowing people to earn whilst they learn, apprenticeships offer the opportunity for the LIKM profession to attract and retain the diverse talent we need to deliver excellent services now and for the future.”

The Level 3 standard covers a wide range of professional skills, including digital skills and information literacy. It defines the activities of LIAS Level 3 apprentices as:

“LIAS Assistants help users find the information and resources they need in order to resolve their specific query. They work with people from all parts of society and the workforce, providing essential digital and analogue information services – issuing and returning materials, organising collections, answering research and information queries, improving customers’ literacy skills, – quite often at the forefront of innovation.”

Over the next two years, CILIP will be working with employers across the sector to encourage engagement with and adoption of this standard as well as working in partnership with the sector to explore the development of a higher level Apprenticeship standard.

Employers of information, knowledge or library workers in England can support the work on the higher level apprenticeship by completing this short survey by the 14th August.

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/T6Q39JP

About CILIP Pathways

CILIP Pathways provides quality assessment services for apprenticeships. CILIP Pathways is (company number 12497166), a subsidiary trading arm of CILIP (Registered charity number 313014). CILIP Pathways is governed by a majority independent board of directors, staffed by experts in the library, information and knowledge sector and has a team of qualified independent assessors. EPAO number EPAO568.

The Level 3 Standard can be viewed in full on the Institute for Apprenticeships’ website here: https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/library-information-archive-services-assistant/