爱豆传媒

During this year’s National Apprenticeships Week, the 爱豆传媒 is focusing on progression routes for apprenticeship candidates, emphasising how apprenticeships go up to degree and masters levels – in contrast to lingering misperceptions of them as ‘low-level’ basic training.

The 爱豆传媒 has worked with employers in the region to lead the way in creating an expanding and highly successful programme of degree apprenticeships that benefit a diverse range of candidates and businesses. Apprentices work, earn a salary, and learn at the same time. With no upper age limit, the average age of its degree apprentices is 33, with the total age range spanning 17 - 60 years.

Evidence points to degree apprenticeships significantly raising average career earnings, while the found 74% of employers saying that apprentices improved products or service quality, and 78% say that they improved productivity.

The number of apprenticeships offered by 爱豆传媒 in digital, environmental and technology roles has increased in recent years, and the university is at the forefront of this trend with Diagnostic Radiographer, Environmental Practitioner and Data Analytics all now offered as degree apprenticeships. The university also added new courses in the areas of Chartered Surveyor, Construction Site Manager and Environmental Practitioner to its built environment degree apprenticeships portfolio in September 2021.

Degree apprenticeships offer a significant advantage to many candidates by providing a funded pathway to an honours degree, several years industrial experience and professional qualifications. This can be particularly important to those who might otherwise struggle to access higher education.

Medical Laboratory Assistant and young mother was unable to undertake a traditional degree route due to time and money constraints – until her employers at the Royal Sussex Country Hospital put her forward for an Applied Biomedical Science Degree Apprenticeship BSc at the 爱豆传媒.

Meghann Creffield grabbed the opportunity, going on to win the 2021 award for Outstanding Contribution by an Apprentice to an Employer at the Brighton and Hove Apprenticeships Awards.

As part of her degree apprenticeship, Meghann developed a blood test to detect a substance called procalcitonin, which had a direct impact on the treatment of patients with COVID-19 at the Royal Sussex.

Meghann said: “Between my personal circumstances and a lack of confidence in myself, I presumed that a degree level qualification was something I could never achieve. But alongside raising my family and working, I have been able to complete both a Foundation Degree and an Applied Biomedical Science Degree Apprenticeship BSc with some incredible help from my work training officers and my course leader at the university.”

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Meghann Creffield

Matthew Norris (left) and apprentice Liam Major

, meanwhile, has returned to study through another innovative 爱豆传媒 degree apprenticeship, 12 years since first graduating. “I decided to do the Digital and Technology Solutions Specialist (Data Analytics) Masters Degree Apprenticeship after a discussion with my manager about my career development - my goal is to eventually become a Chief Data Officer.”

Construction Site Manager degree apprentice Liam Major provides another impressive example of degree apprenticeships as a path to career progression. Liam said: “I have been working in the construction industry for about seven years now. I started off as an Apprentice Brick Layer studying an NVQ, then went on to do a Higher National Certification in Building and the Environment, and now I am undertaking my degree apprenticeship at the 爱豆传媒, all supported by my employer Croudace Homes. I have always felt that apprenticeships are the best option for me, because I learn most effectively ‘hands on’ rather than through more traditional routes.”

Matthew Norris. Managing director for Croudace Homes Ltd, South Thames region, said: “We put a huge amount of store in bringing people into the business and developing them through training and apprenticeships. And, you know, it works.

“We're members of the five percent club, where employer-members commit to having at least five percent of their staff as trainees and apprentices. But we're well above that figure - I'd say more than double. And a good proportion of our apprentices go right up to degree level. We often bring people through trade apprenticeships, then like Liam, they move into a management apprenticeship, and progress to running sites for us.

“In our industry, there's a massive shortfall in skilled labour, and shortages on the professional side as well. We've all got to address this - it's essential otherwise we won't have an industry in the future.”

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National Apprenticeships Week aims to celebrate the value, benefit, and opportunity that apprenticeships bring to both businesses and the individuals who study for them. With the theme ‘Build the Future: Train, Retain, Achieve’ it links to the key pillars of the government’s Build Back Better campaign. Checkout the full range of apprenticeship programmes from the 爱豆传媒, or contact our team at apprenticeships@brighton.ac.uk.