Project Manager Degree Apprenticeship

The programme has been designed with and for employers and apprentices within the East Midlands region. Project management is of vital importance to the UK economy with the Government Major Projects Portfolio alone consisting of 235 projects with a total whole-life cost of £678bn (APM, 2023). Nationally, the Association for Project Management’s (APM’s) Golden Thread report estimated approximately 2.13 million full-time equivalent workers employed in the UK project management sector, with the profession generating £156.5bn of annual Gross Value Added (GVA) (APM, 2023).  

The programme offers an opportunity to delve into a specific project management role by systematically examining the advanced skills and knowledge essential in real-world settings.

The programme is tailored to both professional and organisational needs, as all learning experiences revolve around a designated job role, company, and industry sector.

You will collaborate with like-minded professionals to debate key concepts and tackle real-world problems in Project Management. The programme is designed to give you more confidence in your ability to deal with complex situations, lead a team and communicate effectively via written reports and presentations. 

The programme also explores concepts in broader business and digital technology fields and places emphasis on professional ethics, responsibility, leadership, decision-making, and collaborative teamwork. By adopting a transdisciplinary and transformative approach, the programme offers pertinent and individualised learning experiences, progressively nurturing independent learners capable of navigating the evolving structures within communities and organisations.

The development of this apprenticeship programme has been informed by a wide array of employers including sectors such as advanced manufacturing, healthcare, construction and the finance sector.

The programme aims to:

• Provide an integrated degree apprenticeship that works collaboratively with employers to delivers the knowledge, skills, and behaviours of Project Management in the workplace and to facilitate apprentices achieving the required competency articulated within the Standard
• Support and enable the apprentice to effectively pass the End Point Assessment for the Project Manager Degree Apprenticeship, thereby attaining the capability to achieve professional proficiency and perform competently within a range of settings
• Provide a high-quality learning experience that is flexible and responsive in supporting the personal and professional development of apprentices and their organisations
• Ensure that the apprentice can successfully complete the requirements for on and off-the-job learning/training, providing the apprentice with a holistic work based learning experience
• Provide the apprentice with opportunities for real career development and further academic progression, embedding the concept of continuous professional development within a professional institution
• To progressively develop cognitive, intellectual and practical skills within a relevant project management and leadership context
• To produce graduates who can be creative, innovative and dynamic in their work and who can communicate their outputs effectively in a variety of forms
• To provide learners with long-term perspective about contemporary issues in project management, enabling learners to leave the programme with an excellent portfolio of practical and academic skills
• To support the development of highly professional behaviours and competencies that are aligned to organisational and responsible management standards
• Produce apprentices who can understand and apply ethical practices and codes of conduct in their professional life. To prepare learners for a career in project management in an evolving business and social environment.

The apprenticeship is designed to provide apprentices with the practical skills and knowledge to enhance their careers, focused on the knowledge, skills and competencies required within a wide variety of roles within industry.

By the end of the programme, apprentices will be able to analyse, synthesise and evaluate all aspects of project management that are required to gain:

• Professional knowledge of project management and the ability to apply for Chartered Project Manager status
• Application of appropriate theoretical and practical methods to appropriate applications for project management
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills using a variety of media
• Guidance on understanding and applying principles involved with Prevent, Safeguarding and British Values in the workplace
• Ability to reflect and evaluate learning and technical achievements throughout study to identify proposed professional intent
• The potential to progress to a level 7 apprenticeship or study.

 The following broad criteria will apply for entry to the academic programme are:

• You will be employed by a sponsoring organisation
• As employees your academic qualifications will have been assessed by your organisation. These would normally include three A-levels (or equivalent) at grade C or above
• UCAS points 96
• A Level - CCC
• BTEC - MMM. BTEC National Diploma/Extended Diploma
• GCSE GCSE Maths and English Grade 4/Grade C (or above) or equivalent qualification
• Access to HE - Pass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 with a minimum of Distinction: 15, Merit: 24, Pass: 6. Must include passes in compulsory Level 3 subjects

The cost will be paid for by the employer. The cost of the apprenticeship will normally be in line with the Levy Band of £22,000, but individual agreements will be considered depending on student numbers and the involvement of employers.

Apprentices will need to apply through their employer. 

Employers can find out more by contacting the Apprenticeships Hub. Please see the contact information below.

Contact us

Apprenticeship Hub

• Email: apprenticeships@derby.ac.uk
• Phone: +44 (0)1332 593092

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