The University is committed to nurturing talent and developing expertise through providing relevant vocational and professional apprenticeships across all of its departments and institutions.
What is an apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship is a real job with training, which meets an approved national standard. It is a way for individuals to earn while they learn, gaining valuable skills and knowledge in a specific job role. Through their apprenticeship, apprentices gain the technical knowledge, practical experience and wider skills they need for their immediate job and future career. The apprentice gains this through a wide mix of learning in the workplace, formal off-the- job training and the opportunity to practise new skills in a real work environment.
Apprenticeships are for individuals over the age of 16, living in England and not in full time education.
An apprenticeship is a ‘genuine’ job by which we mean that:
- The apprentice must have a contract of employment with the University which is long enough for them to complete the apprenticeship successfully
- The cost of the apprentice’s wages must be met by the University as their employer
- The apprentice must have a job role (or roles) within the University that provides the opportunity for them to gain the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to achieve their apprenticeship
- The apprentice must have appropriate support from within the University to carry out their job role.
Apprenticeships can be offered to new or existing members of staff.
How would my department benefit from an apprentice?
Apprenticeships offer an opportunity for departments to think long-term about hard-to-fill posts. They also develop a pipeline of talent, provide tailored training ensuring specially-qualified employees, bring vitality and a fresh perspective to the work environment, develop mentoring skills in existing staff and give back to the community by allowing its members the opportunity to reach their potential and advance their career prospects.
What types of apprenticeship are available?
Recent changes in government policy have opened up vocational and professional funding and broadened what can now form an apprenticeship. Read more about the full list of apprenticeship standards available.
How are apprenticeships funded?
The University pays 0.5% of the pay bill in to an apprenticeship levy. This funding can be drawn down through a Digital Account Service to fund apprenticeships within departments.
