Warwick announces 100 new degree apprenticeship positions

(Credit: Richard Vince via CC)

Around £250k will come from the government, with Education Secretary Justine Greening recently announcing an expansion of the Degree Apprenticeships Development Fund, administered by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). The latest funding is part of a total of £4.8m being awarded by HEFCE to universities and colleges across England this autumn to develop new degree apprenticeships for students starting in September 2018.

According to Warwick University, it will receive its first cohort of 80 degree apprentices (studying civil engineering and social work) in 2018, with a further 100 new degree apprenticeships starting in 2019 and 120 in 2020. This will be in addition to around 400 apprentices in manufacturing engineering degree programmes that are already studying and working with WMG at Warwick University.

“The UK has the second lowest productivity of all the G7 countries and skills gaps are seen as one of the major contributors to this issue,” said Warwick University's Vice-Chancellor Professor Stuart Croft.

“Universities such as Warwick have a long history of direct engagement in both their local and national economies. We are delighted once again to be at the forefront of a programme that delivers new opportunities for our young people which will also target local skills gaps, and will help drive economic growth in our region and the country as a whole.”

Warwick says it is also exploring the potential for creating even more degree apprenticeship programmes, and it currently has four technology-based areas under active consideration. Designed by employers, higher education providers and professional bodies, degree apprenticeships bring together third level study with paid work.