University of Hertfordshire to launch eight new degree apprenticeships after securing £1.25m in funding
Following two successful funding bids, the University of Hertfordshire has secured £1.25m from the Office for Students (OfS) to rapidly expand its degree apprenticeship provision over the next 12 months.
The news comes after OfS announced today (Thursday, 21 March) the successful applicants for their second wave of investment – totally £14m - to increase the number of Level 6 degree apprenticeships in England. They confirmed that Herts had been awarded an additional £660k to the £585k they secured in the OfS’s first wave earlier this year.
This latest funding will enable Herts to launch two new degree level apprenticeships in speech and language therapy and accounting finance, in addition to the six new degree level apprenticeships announced in January: therapeutic radiography, diagnostic radiography, social work, dietetics, data science and civil engineering.
As well as increasing capacity for people skilling up in these key subject areas, the aim of the apprenticeships is to boost equality of opportunity for Level 6 degree apprenticeships, especially for those living in or around Hertfordshire, where current provision is limited. Currently working with over 250 employer partners, supporting nearly 900 apprentices to upskill across 17 different subject areas, the funding will also enable Herts to continue scaling up its internal apprenticeship operation with 500 new apprentices.
Celeste Jones, Associate Director – Apprenticeships & Professional Programmes at the University of Hertfordshire, said:
“These are exciting times for the expansion of our degree apprenticeships at the University of Hertfordshire. The ongoing, valuable support from OfS charts a pathway to a professional career and a collaborative relationship with employers.
"It also means employers looking to develop people in any of these career areas know they can turn to us for the quality of support they need. The University offers a variety of apprenticeships to employers, and we work closely with them to create bespoke, relevant education programmes and provide award-winning teaching. Together, we can help address the local and regional skills gaps and meet the workforce’s development needs.”
Speaking about the second wave of bids announced today, John Blake, Director for Fair Access and Participation at the OfS, said:
“With this second round of bids, we were looking for universities and colleges to not only describe how OfS funding would expand their degree apprenticeships student numbers and course provision, but also to further demonstrate how they would prioritise recruiting and supporting students from all backgrounds to succeed. I’m pleased to say that all the successful bids have risen to this challenge.
“We know that degree apprenticeships are so important as a route for students looking to engage in higher education in less traditional ways, and the benefits they bring to local and regional economies, which is why are investing up to £40 million over the next two academic years to increase the range and availability of these programmes. We have been inspired by the ambitious and forward-looking plans we have received, and I look forward to seeing how this funding can make a real difference to students and our future workforce over the next year and beyond.”
The University – one the UK’s fastest growing – has over 250 employer partners for its higher and degree apprenticeships programme. Rated the best university for social mobility in the East of England, 79.9% of its students pass their apprenticeship, 94% of whom achieve a 1st or 2:1 award on programmes that include an undergraduate degree.
For more information on the University of Hertfordshire’s higher and degree apprenticeship provision for either businesses or learners, contact one of the team on apprenticeships@herts.ac.uk.