Degree apprenticeships are now the future as the research in this blog explains. Degree apprenticeships fill the gap between an advanced apprenticeship and university and create something that allows a student to work their way up an organisation all while studying for a degree in a number of different industries. This option is made more attractive now due to university tuition fees being on the rise and employers looking at ways to retain their talent. Degree apprenticeships meet this need.
At GetMyFirstJob we have heard amazing things about people doing degree apprenticeships. On ApprenticeshipStories you can read about Laura who has undertaken a Legal degree apprenticeship at a law firm. As Laura says, she isn’t a ‘tea-maker’ she has her own cases all of which can be worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. Read more about Laura’s story here.
Where do universities stand?
Universities themselves are starting to realise that degree apprenticeships are a very attractive proposition and they are only going to get more and more popular. There are at least 60 universities and other higher education institutions across England currently implementing or planning to implement degree apprenticeships for the next academic year (2017-2018). Universities are engaging with employers and local organisations, such as Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and local authorities, to help them implement degree apprenticeships. In particular, institutions work closely with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and national employers, employer groups and other delivery providers, especially further education colleges.
What sectors can people do degree apprenticeships in?
The sectors and jobs that you can do degree apprenticeships in are also increasing and changing. Universities will be providing degree apprenticeships across almost all of the available standards. Current growth is being driven by chartered manager, digital and technology, and engineer-related degree apprenticeships. As well as delivering existing standards universities are interested in developing new standards in 43 industry areas. Growth will diversify as more standards are approved, especially those for the public sector. Degree apprentices are mostly based locally, and institutions envisage that over the next three years there will be significant growth locally and regionally, and some growth nationally. That then means degree apprenticeships will be more accessible for people wanting to undertake one. Click here to read about ‘Making apprenticeships work’ by City and Guilds.
What are the benefits?
There is a huge amount of benefits when it comes to degree apprenticeships. They are already highly regarded by universities as more start to implement them. Degree apprenticeships could attract students that wouldn’t have gone into traditional university programmes, helping institutions reach widening participation and social mobility goals. This will mean that people who are just going to university but don’t have a clear idea of what they want to do but are capable of undertaking a degree are presented with another option.
What can people do to ensure the success of degree apprenticeships?
To ensure the success of degree apprenticeships, universities, government and higher education sector bodies should work closely together. All should continue to promote the benefit of degree apprenticeships both to candidates and also to employers. It is a win-win in terms of the employer getting good talent and retaining it for a reasonable length of time and the candidate getting a paid for degree and real-world work experience.
In short, the benefits to your business are:
- Degree apprenticeships could attract students that wouldn’t have gone into traditional university programmes, helping institutions reach widening participation and social mobility goals
- Businesses can retain talent through having a degree apprenticeship programme
- The industries that degree apprenticeships are being offered in are increasing, allowing more businesses to offer these degree apprenticeships.
