Employers of the Tech Partnership create 300 new jobs with degree apprenticeships
Degree apprenticeships open up debt-free learning opportunities for students and allow employers to
create tailored new employees
Employers have seized the opportunity of collaborating through the Tech Partnership to create a new
route into tech careers with degree apprenticeships. Having spent eleven months working together to
create the programme, over 40 companies have taken on 300 new recruits through degree
apprenticeships this month, supported by nine universities across England.
This completely new type of apprenticeship fully integrates academic and on the job learning. The
apprentice is employed in a tech career and at the same time undertakes a full honours degree.
Apprentices get a head start on their careers, while graduating without any student fees. The employer
gets a highly motivated young person who quickly develops the skills to be productive. In common with
all new Trailblazer apprenticeships, government contributes two thirds of the costs of training.
Employers have worked collectively not only to define what the new degree apprenticeship should
cover, but also to ensure that the programmes are of the highest quality, working in partnership with the
universities involved. Employers can be confident in choosing programmes accredited as Tech Industry
Gold because of their quality, their focus on fast productivity and the level of support provided to
employer and apprentice.
Jenny Taylor, UK Graduate, Apprenticeship and Student Programme Manager at IBM said at the launch
“We have a great track record with our graduate scheme, so it was a natural step for IBM to support the
Tech Partnership’s degree apprenticeship scheme. It provides another route for young people to gain
an education while also developing their early career at IBM. The “on the job” experience that
apprentices gain will serve to complement their studies, and vice versa, resulting in apprentices on the
scheme having a strong, thorough and entrenched skill set.”
The universities running degree apprenticeship programmes from this month are Aston, Greenwich,
Manchester Metropolitan, Northumbria, Queen Mary London, Ravensbourne, Roehampton,
Sunderland and Winchester. The Tech Partnership is already in detailed discussions with a number of
other universities about offering degree apprenticeships from 2016.
Bob Clift, Head of Higher Education on behalf of the Tech Partnership said “This programme was
conceived at a meeting between 10 employers and the government at Number 10 last October. Thanks
to their enthusiasm, the number of new jobs achieved is already double the original target. Employers
of all sizes from right across the economy are collaborating on this, and we are seeing interest
continuing to grow with even larger intakes next year”.
Minister of State for Skills, Nick Boles MP said “Businesses are better placed than anyone to train the
next generation of workers and will help us deliver 3 million high-quality apprenticeships by 2020. By
designing degree apprenticeships, employers of the Tech Partnership are ensuring that young talented
people develop the skills needed to progress up the career ladder and help drive businesses forward.”
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Christine Hodgson, Chairman, Capgemini
‘We believe the concept of degree apprenticeships is excellent and one we have wholeheartedly
embraced. We also believe that quality and value for money are very important too. We have chosen
to work with Aston as its programme has been accredited by the Tech Partnership and this gives us the
confidence we are looking for. We know that our 65 Digital & Technology Solutions degree apprentices
will be getting the highest quality education and experience possible.
Michael Keegan, Chairman UK & Ireland, Fujitsu
‘Recruiting talented individuals at all levels is key to the future of Fujitsu and the prosperity of its clients
and staff. The Digital & Technology Solutions degree apprenticeship is a great solution for us and will
be for our degree apprentices. We will benefit by recruiting highly talented and motivated young people
into key roles across the country and they will benefit from a salary, an excellent university education
without incurring student fees, and the opportunity to become one of our future leaders. To maximise
our investment we want our degree apprentices to benefit from the best programmes available and as
a result have chosen to work with the University of Winchester which has had its programme accredited
by the Tech Partnership, giving us confidence of their content and quality.’
Jean-Noël Ezingeard, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Manchester Metropolitan University
“Curriculum innovation is at the heart of Manchester Metropolitan University and we are delighted to be
one of a few selected universities able to offer the Digital & Technology Solutions degree
apprenticeship. Knowing that our programme has been accredited by the Tech Partnership for its
content and quality is very important to us. It means that the employers we are working with can be
confident that their degree apprentices will be developing the very best skills and knowledge that
industry needs for its future development.”
Ian Nabney, Deputy Dean for Research, Enterprise and International, School of Engineering and
Applied Science, Aston University
‘The Digital & Technology Solutions degree apprenticeship offers talented young people a route to both
employment and a university education. Aston University has always worked very closely with industry
and degree apprenticeships takes this working relationship to a new level. We are delighted to be one
of the first universities to offer the Tech Partnership accredited programme in 2015 and look forward to
working with employers and their degree apprentices for years to come’.
Gayna Hart – Managing Director, Quicksilva
‘To a small company like Quicksilva, developing the best skills within the business is essential to our
success. The degree apprenticeship programme at our partner university is accredited by the Tech
Partnership so I know it will have the content, quality and rigour we need. Our degree apprentice will
be an important member of the company and will be developing the very best knowledge and skills. I
would certainly recommend degree apprenticeship programmes to other small companies providing
they are accredited by the Tech Partnership.’
Gordon Kent - Head of Emerging Talent, Group IT, Lloyds Banking Group
‘I represent Lloyds Banking Group and was delighted to chair the steering group, comprised of
representatives from other Tech Partnership companies, which developed the published Digital &
Technology Solutions degree apprenticeship standard. Working with these employers we went several
steps further and defined the accreditation criteria which would identify only the very best degree
apprenticeship programmes in terms of academic rigour, content, delivery and overall quality. This is
very important to employers and we are pleased the universities meeting these stringent criteria can be
identified by the Tech Partnership accreditation.’
Amy Magistris – Degree Apprentice, IBM
‘I’m excited to be one of the first students to take a degree apprenticeship. Not only will I be working for
a prestigious company but I will be studying for a degree at a top university. I was keen to start work as
soon as I could but wanted a degree to underpin my on the job experience. Being a degree apprentice
gives me everything I want in a single package. It’s unbelievable!’