Degree Apprenticeships – a success story

Anyone who has been following the progress of degree apprenticeships in the press would be forgiven for thinking that the system is in need of significant change.  However a closer look at what is happening on the ground starts to tell a different story.  The Universities UK Degree Apprenticeships Conference took place in London last week during National Apprenticeship Week (the annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships).  While there are clearly still some challenges, it appears that many institutions are now navigating the complexities of the system.  

There were many success stories, from the number of institutions now involved (UUK reports that “The vast majority of universities in England are now registered to provide apprenticeships”), to the value that employers are reporting (both in terms of adding quality to their workforce and return on investment in learning), to the personal stories of apprentices who have now been through the system and speak confidently of the opportunities and benefits.  Institutions were encouraged to gather data to demonstrate the success of degree apprenticeships.  We will need to see if further change is on the horizon.

We have been helping higher education and employer clients navigate the new system of degree apprenticeship standards since their introduction.  This has included drafting suites of template documentation, advising on contract negotiations and more complex apprenticeship collaborations and helping clients keep up to date with the many changes.  We have also advised on a number of related legal issues such as procurement, consumer protection and data protection.  Please do get in touch if you’d like to discuss or if we can be of any help.