1. Higher and Degree Apprenticeship
Ensuring the Delivery of Apprenticeships that Meet the Needs of the Employer and Learner

2. Introduction UVAC – Our Role
Not for profit, HE organisation established to champion higher level vocational learning
75 HEI members – also work with Awarding Organisations on the technical education agenda
Advocacy, Research and Dissemination
UVAC Journal Higher Education, Skills and Work-based Learning
Published quarterly
Last year 19,000 downloads

3. UVAC – Our Role in Apprenticeships
Asked by BIS/DfE to support Trailblazers engage with HE providers
Worked with 10 Downing Street Policy Unit on the launch of Degree Apprenticeships
Commissioned by HEFCE/OfS to provide:
Information, advice and guidance to HE providers on Degree Apprenticeships
HEFCE/OfS with technical and operational advice on the development of the Apprenticeships system
Member of the DfE Degree Apprenticeship Policy Group, ESFA Apprenticeship Provider Reference Group and the IfA Stakeholders Reference Group
Working with QAA on Quality Assurance.

4. How UVAC Supports HE Providers – Degree Apprenticeship
Briefings for sector partners, regional Degree Apprenticeship networks and one-to-one briefings for HE Providers
‘Budding support’ – supporting HEIs new to the Apprenticeship system talk to HEIs with more experience
Case studies of HEI approaches to Degree Apprenticeship
Webinar Programme (36 per annum)– ‘Working with the Apprenticeship System’. Examples of recent webinars :
  Subcontracting and the UVAC subcontracting template
Introduction to the ILR and ESFA data
Successful month-end ILR returns
Apprenticeship templates; provider/employer contact, provider/EPAO, provider/subcontractor and commitment statement
Support for HEI reference groups working with Apprenticeship trailblazers

5. Apprenticeship – What is it?
‘An Apprenticeship is a job, in a skilled occupation, that requires substantial and sustained training, leading to the achievement of an Apprenticeship standard and the development of transferable skills to progress careers.’
Source:DfE

6. Apprenticeship – Examples of those in development/approved for delivery
Abattoir Worker (level2)
Academic Professional (level 7)
Accident Repair Technician (level 3)
Accountancy/Taxation Professional (level 7)
Air Traffic Controller (level 5)
Animator (degree) (level 7)
Arborist (level 2)
Archaeological specialist (level 7)
Architect (degree) (level 7)
Asbestos Removal Operative (level 2)
Over 50 occupations starting with A.

7. Apprenticeship, Technical Education and Higher Education – the Past
Apprenticeship some excellence provision but..
Apprenticeship provision – dominated in the past by level 2 and questionable occupational roles
Historically a confused policy agenda – a choice for those ‘not wanting to or able to stay on at school’ or focused on ‘delivering the skills needed by the economy’?
Apprenticeship ‘the good choice for other people’s children’

8. Apprenticeship – Where we Were in 2015/16 – Percentage Share of Total Starts by Level

9. Apprenticeship – The Policy Drivers
UK Productivity – 16% below G7 Average (ONS 2016)
The Failure by Employers to Invest Sufficiently in the Training and Development of their Workforce
'Employer spending on training is half per employee per year than the EU average for continued vocational education' (IPPR Skills 2030)
And under the May Administration:
Social Mobility – halted; becoming harder to climb the social ladder (Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission)
But unlike academic courses, youth apprenticeships typically do not represent a step up – Unwin and Fuller majority of under 25 Intermediate (level 2) Apprentices ‘treading water’
And the Manifesto Commitment:
3 Million Apprenticeship Starts by a risk of a chase for numbers?

10. Apprenticeship – Some Numbers
£2.45bn per annum – the amount the levy will raise in England
100% - amount Levy paying employers can claim (up to the funding band) of the Training and Assessment costs of an Apprenticeship
10% Non-levy paying employer co-investment. Non-levy paying employers can claim 90% (up to the funding band) of the Training and Assessment costs of an Apprenticeship
2.3% - Statutory target for the employment of apprentices for public bodies with 250 or more employees
£27,000 – the highest of 30 funding bands that are allocated to Apprenticeships – downwards pressure on funding bands
Over 100 HEIs on the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers but dominated by Independent Training Providers
But -
£4,167 – amount available per Apprenticeship if 600,000 starts per annum are achieved

11. Higher and Degree Apprenticeship – the Drivers
Individual Interest - Substantial interest from individuals ‘no fee, no debt, a salary from day one and the prospect of a graduate job on completion’
Social Mobility - A way to widen participation and enhance social mobility and to help tackle the low participation of women in STEM occupations
Employers pushing Apprenticeship upwards and approaches to Levy Recovery:
the ‘big’ levy paying public sector – Degree Apprenticeships developed/being developed for Registered Nursing (NHS) Social Worker(Local Authorities), Police Constables (Police Forces), Teachers
STEM areas; Degree Apprenticeships – e.g. manufacturing engineer, digital technology solutions and construction professions
Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship

12. The Apprenticeship System and Quality Assurance AND HEI Responsibilities
Trailblazers
Standards and Assessment Plans
The RoATP and Register of End-point Assessment Organisations
ESFA Funding Rules
HE and FE Process

13. Apprenticeship – Quality
The Employer is the Customer and Purchaser.
The Apprenticeship Standard and the Assessment Plan
The Quality of Training Provision
End Point Assessment and External Quality Assurance
Funding Rules.
Apprenticeship Service – Provider Ratings by Employers

14. Apprenticeship – Quality Assurance - Responsibilities
The Employer is the Customer and Purchaser.
The Apprenticeship Standard and the Assessment Plan – Institute for Apprenticeships
The Quality of Training Provision – Depending on level Ofsted and/or OfS and QAA
End Point Assessment and External Quality Assurance – Determined by the Trailblazer, Ofqual, Professional Body, Employers themselves or the Institute for Apprenticeships and OfS/QAA
Funding and Delivery – Compliance, employed status, off the job, sub-contracting, 10% co-investment, and following the money – ESFA
For HEIs existing quality assurance arrangements ALSO apply.

15. Apprenticeship – The Threats to Quality
A chase for numbers at the expense of quality
Confusion over the policy objectives of Apprenticeship
Confusion over the purpose of funding bands and a downwards push on funding bands
A push to remove degrees from level 6 and 7 Apprenticeships
An Apprenticeship system that doesn’t embrace or fully support HE engagement
But a once in a generation opportunity to get Apprenticeship right and HE to play a fundamental role.