Funding expands degree apprenticeship provision

The university has been awarded new funding of £292,000 from the Office for Students (OfS) to support the development and growth of Level 6 degree apprenticeships.

Supporting future generations and skills needs, new provision from September 2024 will include a Youth Worker degree apprenticeship.

Two digital programmes - creative digital design professional and digital user experience UX professional – are also planned, delivered from the university’s Carlisle campus.

The University of Cumbria has been delivering higher level and degree apprenticeships since 2017.

Currently, the university has more than 2,200 learners who are on degree apprenticeships, programmes that combine work with higher-level learning leading to a university award.

Learners are upskilling and working across a range of sectors including nursing, diagnostic radiography, paramedic, policing, project management and forestry.

The OfS funding will also enable the university to further its engagement with the forestry sector to continue to deliver the Professional Forester Apprenticeship.

A UK first, this innovative apprenticeship is delivered by the National School of Forestry, part of the university’s Institute of Science and Environment, in partnership with the Forestry Commission and Institute of Chartered Foresters.

Recognised for its education of allied health professionals, the university is working with the NHS and supply chain businesses to train more professionals through the Diagnostic Radiography degree apprenticeship.

These programmes meet national skills need and currently draw learners from across England.

The university also works with regional and national employers providing a Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship tailored to a range of sectors including nuclear, health, and the visitor economy.

Above: Professor Julie Mennell, Vice Chancellor, University of Cumbria

University of Cumbria Vice Chancellor Professor Julie Mennell DL said: “As Co-Chair of Cumbria’s People, Employment and Skills Strategy group I know first-hand how important apprenticeship provision and apprentices are for our current and future workforce.

“We are therefore very pleased to have secured additional funding to expand our provision further and as part of a raft of apprenticeship initiatives we are working on with employers, education partners and sector bodies.

“With c. 2,000 degree apprentices already studying at the University of Cumbria and as one of the largest university providers in the UK, our focus on the delivery of higher-level and industry relevant skills is a critical one – impacting both individuals and our economy.”

Find out more about the range of degree apprenticeships at the University of Cumbria at https://www.cumbria.ac.uk/business/apprenticeships/ or request a call back by emailing apprenticeships@cumbria.ac.uk

ENDS