Five degree apprenticeships to be created in Derby through multi-million pound development fund

The University of Derby is set to benefit from £250,000 funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to develop new degree apprenticeships for students starting in September 2017.

Eighteen universities and colleges across England have been awarded a total of £4.5 million to develop new degree apprenticeships for thousands of students.

Working in partnership with local employers including Rolls Royce, Derbyshire Community Health Services and the NHS the University of Derby will offer 110 apprenticeships in preparation for the introduction of the apprenticeship levy in April 2017.

In line with the regional priorities, the University will be launching five degree apprenticeships including: Nursing, Civil Engineering Site Manager, Digital and Technological Solutions: Cyber Security Analyst, Aerospace Engineer and Chartered Manager.

Degree apprenticeships combine full-time paid work with part-time university study.

Professor Margaret Bruce, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Derby, said: “Being selected by HEFCE to participate in the first phase of their Degree Apprenticeships Development Programme is fantastic news for the University.

“It rewards our hard work to establish ourselves as a leader in work based learning in the higher education sector. This development funding builds on our track record of delivering higher apprenticeships for local employers in the health and mineral products sectors.

“Since 2012 our Centre for Mineral Products has delivered more than 75 higher apprenticeships in partnership with the Institute of Asphalt Technology. Going forward this investment in degree apprenticeships will allow us to increase the range of support we can offer to employers wanting to develop a more highly skilled workforce. It will also enable us to provide more diverse pathways into higher education for learners. The apprenticeships to be developed in this first phase reflect key local employment sectors (aerospace engineering) and also areas of national skill shortage (cybersecurity and nursing). This is an important first step in making degree apprenticeships available to more employment sectors in future and we encourage employers to work with us”.

Skills and Apprenticeships Minister Robert Halfon said:“Apprenticeships work, that’s why we’ve launched degree apprenticeships that give people a real chance to earn while you learn putting you on the fast-track to a top career.

“This multi-million pound fund will allow universities and colleges to work with top employers to design high quality degree apprenticeships that give people a ladder of opportunity, more choice and help shape Britain to become an apprentice nation.”

Madeleine Atkins, HEFCE Chief Executive, said:“The development of degree apprenticeships will provide more people with the chance to study in higher education and work at the same time, and in doing so to fulfil their educational and career ambitions.

“Employers will be able to use their apprenticeship levy funds to access degree apprenticeships from a range of higher education providers, and the fund will support institutions in preparing for the increased demand that will follow the levy’s introduction from April 2017.”

The Government funding has been awarded by HEFCE to projects focused on boosting the number of degree apprenticeships available. It forms a key part of the drive to strengthen the reputation of on-the-job training by raising standards and creating more high-quality opportunities for young people and adults from all backgrounds.