Subcontracting Clinical Placement Activity
When the University began the Level 6 Clinical Trials Specialist Apprenticeship, we did so alongside the subcontractor CPL Life Sciences (Clinical Professional LTD).
The use of CPL Life Sciences as a subcontractor was used to deliver clinical training activity within the Clinical Trials Specialist Apprenticeship course and complimented the delivery offered by the University, and by providing expert provision to enhance the opportunities available to Apprentices.
As required by the ESFA, the University is required to reduce the value of our subcontracting provision and have acquired additional staffing to enable us to create our own materials for the Clinical Trials Apprenticeship programme. This will mean that new content for the Clinical Trials Apprenticeship will be created and delivered by the University of Kent from August 2022.
The University of Kent will continue their subcontracting relationship with CPL Life Sciences to deliver eligible clinical training to existing apprentices, and those who started between 2019 and July 2022, will continue to use the delivery materials designed by CPL Life Sciences. Any apprentice starting after July 2022 will use materials designed and produced by the University of Kent.
As a subcontractor, CPL Life Sciences have contributed learning materials to the following modules:
- Introductory session with Learning mapped to K1 and K6
- LABS5150- Critical Thinking in Clinical Research
- LABS5160- Data Management and Statistics
- LABS5170- Document Management, Quality Management and Biological Sample Management
- LABS5190- Project Management and Decision Making
- LABS6130- Finance and Corporate Governance
CPL Life Sciences have also contributed both materials and delivery on the following module:
- LABS4151 - Good Clinical Practice, Regulations and Ethics Committees
Up to £4,950 of the total negotiated price may be spent on eligible training costs for the Clinical Trials’ apprentices who are undertaking the CPL Life Science modules.
The use of subcontractors in the instances described above have been agreed by the University and the Employer at the start of an apprenticeship where applicable.
The University only enters into a subcontracting relationship with a subcontractor for apprenticeship provision when they are eligible to receive apprenticeship funding, as outlined in the ESFA Apprenticeship Funding Rules. All subcontractors have a contractual relationship with the University and are required to undergo rigorous quality assurance processes and remain compliant with the ESFA Apprenticeship Funding Rules. A designated member of staff in Global and Lifelong Learning (the department which delivers the Clinical Trial Specialist apprenticeship) acts as a subcontractor liaison officer to support these quality assurance and monitoring processes.
Subcontracting Management Fees
The University of Kent charges a £400 subcontracting management fee which includes the monitoring and management of the Clinical Trials Programme, this includes administrative functions.
Further Guidance
Please contact Global and Lifelong Learning if you have any queries on apprenticeship subcontracting.