Bid success means half a million pounds apprenticeships investment

Apprentices at University of Northampton (UON) can look forward to enhanced opportunities and brighter futures thanks to national funds.

Following a successful bid to the Office for Students’ (OfS) Degree Apprenticeship Funding Competition, the University of Northampton has received £452,000.

Higher Education Degree Apprenticeships offer an ‘earn while you learn’ option. As apprentices gain knowledge in the classroom, they also get a salary after being matched with an approved, local employer that benefits by having them on staff.

The University runs seven apprenticeship programmes: Advanced Clinical Practitioner, Manufacturing Engineering, Occupational Therapy, Nursing Associate, Non-Destructive Testing and Management and Policing.

The OfS is the national regulator of higher education in England, and these funds are part of a national ‘pot’ of £40 million. The money will help to grow capacity and capability to deliver high-quality Level-6 degree apprenticeships that will continue meeting the skills needed now and in the future.

Simon Longhurst, University Apprenticeship Manager, says: “We are delighted to have been successful in our bid to the Office for Students, reflecting how seriously we take investing in our apprentices and the businesses we work with.

“This is the second piece of good news this year for UON apprenticeships. In January, Ofsted gave the us a ‘Good’ rating overall for our programmes. They praised our teams for their passion and dedication to providing excellent apprenticeships that employers describe as “inclusive and life-changing” for apprentices from many backgrounds.

“One other aspect to these OfS funds is that they are also used to enhance equality of opportunity for the Level 6-degree apprenticeships we offer, meaning we will further widen the pool of talented people to join our other apprentices.”

Find out more about Apprenticeships at University of Northampton.