Why a degree apprenticeship?

Finding the right graduate can be an incredibly difficult process, with a lot of time spent (often unsuccessfully) looking for a candidate who’s the perfect fit for the company. Degree apprenticeships not only allow employers to nurture both new and existing talent at a graduate level, but also to train their employees while they work, in a way that best suits the needs of the organisation. Developing the skills of employees from within the organisation via apprenticeships saves money that can be otherwise invested elsewhere in the company.

Employers are also able to make use of the government's 'Recruit an Apprentice', should they wish to bring new talent into their business. You can find more information on how this works on the gov.uk site linked below.

The widely publicised skills gap is no more apparent than in STEM subjects, where research has highlighted that many of the UKs employers are finding it both difficult and costly to fill the void of qualified science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) candidates. Apprenticeships in these (and other) sectors are in constant development, thanks largely to the fact that they are designed by industry, for industry.

Loughborough’s Systems Engineer apprenticeship for example was developed by companies like BAE Systems, General Dynamics, the Ministry of Defence, and Rolls-Royce, to name but a few. The Senior Leader apprenticeship was also developed by leaders within their respective sectors, from the British Army to the BBC, reinforcing the reality that these qualifications have been designed with the needs of industry at the forefront, and should therefore go a considerable way to filling these skills gaps.

In an ever changing economy where it’s often difficult for employers to hold on to employees due to constantly changing circumstances, apprenticeships offer much needed stability when it comes to the retention of staff. In a survey conducted by the ESFA, it was noted that:

Employers experienced a wide range of benefits as a result of training apprentices. The most common was the development of skills relevant to their organisation (85%), while over three-quarters benefitted from increased productivity (78%). Amongst those who train existing employees as apprentices, improved staff retention was also commonly reported (76%).

Apprenticeships offer employers the ability to endow existing employees with the opportunity to develop themselves professionally – reaping rewards for both the company and the individual.