Businesses will be able to apply to ‘grow their own graduate’ to fit their company’s needs thanks to a new suite of apprenticeships being offered at the University of Chester.
The University has been successful in its bid to attract Skills Funding Agency money to develop and deliver High Level Degree Apprenticeships. The University’s Business School will be the first part of the University to offer these unique degree programmes which will benefit both young people and regional businesses.
Higher and degree apprenticeships offer an apprentice the opportunity to combine working while studying for a work-based academic or vocational high level qualification.
Degree apprenticeships are the latest model to be developed as part of higher apprenticeship standards, with apprentices achieving a full bachelor’s or master’s degree as a core component of the apprenticeship. The programmes combine both higher and vocational education and fully test both the wider occupational competence and academic learning, either using a fully-integrated degree co-designed by employers and Higher Education Institutions, such as the University of Chester, or using a degree plus separate end test of professional competence.
This brand new government initiative allows any organisation to access funding to cover up to two thirds of the cost of a degree apprenticeship with the aim of recruiting new members of staff, or indeed to develop an existing workforce to "grow their own graduate”. In addition to that, there are bonus payments available for companies who ensure completion of the apprenticeships and also bonuses for SMEs which means that the overall cost of the apprenticeship becomes very competitive.
It also means that large companies can tap into the proposed government levy (a topic which is high on many corporate agendas) and reclaim what they have paid in, and more if needed, via digital vouchers to pay for the degree apprenticeships.
Clare Schofield, Associate Dean said: "We’re excited to be able to offer this fantastic opportunity to our regional businesses and have an excellent track record in working in these types of partnerships and particularly in delivering work based learning, for which we are world renowned. The University will clearly also benefit in developing these programmes through tighter engagement with external partners”.
The first degree apprenticeship to be launched will be for aspiring leaders and managers under the Chartered Manager Standard and this degree will incorporate embedded professional body qualifications from either the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) or the Chartered Managers Institute.
There will be a presentation and lunch hosted by the ILM from 11am on Wednesday, December 2 at the University’s Queen’s Park Campus to explain how the ILM supported programme would look.