Apprenticeship fund launched

Universities plan major expansion of vocational provision when apprenticeship levy begins.

Some 26 universities have secured £4.5 million worth of government funding to develop new degree apprenticeships programmes starting in September 2017.

The 18 successful projects were chosen out of 70 bids for the first round of a two-year £8 million apprenticeships development fund aimed at creating a higher education market that will offer high quality vocational training. They were all designed collaboratively between employers, universities, colleges and professional bodies, and will enable 5,200 students to combine their university studies with 30 hours per week of paid work, often through flexible modes such as distance study or blended learning.