Apprenticeships for employers
Explore the benefits of bringing an apprentice on board. Find out how to integrate apprentices into your workforce and the support on offer.
Degree Apprenticeship
Our Degree Apprenticeships are tailored to meet industry needs. Courses are taught by experts and informed by the latest knowledge. We focus on building real-world skills, which apprentices can apply to your business.
Apprentices will spend four days a week at your business and one day a week on-campus. You can hire an apprentice or upskill an existing employee.
Hire an apprentice
Our Apprenticeship Matching Service will help you find an apprentice. We provide support throughout the full recruitment process. You can also attend our Spark event to meet and interview potential candidates. We have a huge bank of talent available.
Apprenticeship Matching ServiceTraining 2000
Training 2000 are an educational charity who provide Level 2 - 5 apprenticeships. These are practical, hands-on courses, which provide a solid foundation of knowledge. There are a wide range of courses available in business, building, dentistry and more.
Our partnership with Training 2000 makes it easy for apprentices to progress onto Higher Education.
Benefits of hiring an apprentice
Higher and Degree Apprenticeships allow you to generate new talent within your business. Our courses are taught by academic experts and tailored to meet industry needs. Apprentices can take what they learn in the classroom and apply it to your business.
Our courses are taught by academic experts and industry leaders, equipping apprentices with the latest knowledge. They can use this to bring new ideas and perspectives to your business.
Turn your weakness into a strength. You can find an apprentice to fill a specific skill gap, such as marketing, design, engineering and more.
The option to complete a Higher or Degree Apprenticeship can improve employee satisfaction and retention. It shows that you are willing to invest in your workforce and give them the opportunity to advance.
Apprenticeships can be part of your plan of succession for your business, by ensuring important skills are retained within your workforce.
Your business could receive up to 95% government funding to support apprenticeship training. Find out more information about funding.
Why choose us
We are one of the largest providers of Higher and Degree Apprenticeships. We have worked with thousands of employers from a range of industries. This includes BAE, Network Rail, Royal Mail and the NHS.
We provide extensive support to employers. Our team will be on hand throughout, from helping you hire an apprentice, to the onboarding process.
Apprenticeship stories
Hiring an apprentice has made a huge difference to the dynamic and attitude. It is fantastic to have another person, with a completely different way of thinking, to challenge the traditional way of doing things.
Because we’re on a journey to achieve manufacturing excellence, it's great to have people who have exposure to new technologies and new processes.
Niamh has worked very hard on her degree. We have seen huge benefits and for me, this is the future of degrees.
Subcontracting partners
We use subcontractors in certain subject areas. This allows us to provide the best service possible, by partnering with specialist providers.
The University will also subcontract the delivery of English and Maths functional skills where an individual does not already hold or cannot demonstrate that they hold the qualifications in these subjects required by the ESFA funding rules.
Selection and procurement of subcontractors will be carried out in accordance with the University's Procurement Code. Where any element of the programme, including English and Maths, is subcontracted to the employer or another provider, they must be either a Main or Supporting Provider on ESFA’s register of Apprentice Training Providers or a registered Employer Provider.
The use of delivery subcontractors is agreed with employers prior to the commencement of the apprenticeship programme.
As the main provider of an apprenticeship, the University will provide governance and quality assurance for all delivery under the apprenticeship, including delivery by subcontractors. The approval and oversight of any apprenticeship subcontractors is managed via the University's existing quality management processes. All subcontractors have a contractual relationship with the University and are required to undergo rigorous quality assurance processes and remain compliant with the ESFA Apprenticeship Funding Rules. The contract between the University and the subcontractor provides transparency as to the costs of the subcontracted delivery and is available for review by the ESFA as required.
The University does not charge a management fee when subcontracting apprenticeship training provision.
The University declares subcontractor arrangements to the ESFA as required and where subcontracting activity exceeds £100,000 annually, the University will obtain an independent auditors’ report.
The University’s current subcontracting partners are:
- Training 2000 Limited - for delivery of functional skills
- The Police and Crime Commissioner for Cumbria - for delivery of the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship
- The Chief Constable of Lancashire Constabulary - for delivery of the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship
Funding and the Apprenticeship Levy
Find out more about the funding available and Apprenticeship Levy.
Frequently asked questions
There are many types of apprenticeship. Degree apprenticeships, on completion, result in the awarding of an undergraduate or postgraduate degree.
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Name | Level | Educational equivalent |
Intermediate | 2 | 5 GCSE passes |
Advanced | 3 | 2 A-level passes |
Higher | 4, 5, 6 and 7 | Higher National Certificate (HNC) and above. These include a number of apprenticeships at levels 6 and 7 that do not result in the awarding of a degree. |
Degree | 6 and 7 | Bachelor's or master's degree |
A Higher Apprenticeship is a qualification at Level 4 or 5, while a Degree Apprenticeship is a full bachelor’s degree at Level 6. Our Degree Apprenticeships take between three and six years to complete (depending on the level of study). We align each course with nationally recognised Apprenticeship Standards. These outline the skills and proficiencies learners will gain. As well as the career path they'll be qualified to follow after completion.
Our portfolio of Higher and Degree Apprenticeships is growing all the time. Together with Training 2000 we now offer a comprehensive range of apprenticeships. From Level 2 right through to Level 7, with clear pathways between qualifications.
Whatever level your employees are at, and whatever your business needs are, we’re the place to go for high-quality training. Our programmes will help your employees and your organisation to grow and develop.
Our standard start dates for Degree Apprenticeship programmes are January, March, May, September and November. Our standard lead time required from initial discussions with your organisation to your employees starting an apprenticeship with us is usually three months before the course start date.
A Degree Apprenticeship allows your employee to gain a degree, while still working. They will spend four days a week at work and one day a week studying (on-campus or online). They will complete the lessons and assessments they need for a degree during this time.
A Degree Apprenticeship combines work with higher-level learning. The apprentice works for an employer, but spends at least 20 per cent of their time studying. Degree Apprentices are aged 18 or over, they can be new or current employees.
We can subcontract the delivery of English and Maths functional skills where an individual does not already hold the qualifications in these subjects required by the ESFA funding rules. We do not charge a management fee when subcontracting apprenticeship training provision.