Offering an excellent and exciting career path, higher and degree apprenticeships are one of the biggest rising trends to watch out for.
According to the latest apprenticeships and traineeships report, published in early May, higher apprenticeship starts increased by 7.1% to 64,890 in 2022/2023, compared to 60,570 in the same period last year.
For apprentices, this training scheme offers plenty of benefits, allowing them to develop in-demand skills through real-world practice.
But what are the benefits of providing higher apprenticeship opportunities for employers?
Here’s all you need to know about how these apprenticeships work and what they can do for your business!
What are higher and degree apprenticeships?
Higher apprenticeships allow talent to train for highly skilled jobs, splitting their time between hands-on work experience and studying, gaining a top qualification at the end of the process.
This training scheme is available for hundreds of different job roles and industries.
Higher apprenticeships range from level 4 to level 7, equivalent to a foundation degree and above.
Degree apprenticeships are available at level 6 and level 7, equivalent to a full Bachelor’s and Master’s degree.
The entry requirements are quite straightforward. Prospective apprentices need to be at least 16 years of age, not in full-time education, and have at least five GCSEs at grade 4 (or equivalent Functional Skills) to be able to apply.
Other entry requirements for a higher apprenticeship scheme can be added by the employer, such as relevant knowledge and experience in the industry applicants are looking to work in.
What are the benefits for employers?
Starting a higher apprenticeship scheme gives employers all the benefits of hiring apprentices, plus an important extra perk: you’ll get to reap the benefits of knowledgeable talent that will grow alongside your business, likely for years to come.
In addition to diversifying your workforce, taking on apprentices who are working towards a qualification will guarantee that your higher-level skills gap is filled.
Providing higher apprenticeships will also boost your CPD offer.
From an employee perspective, professional development is fundamental for succeeding in all roles, but especially in the most competitive industries. Taking care of these development needs will help you boost job satisfaction and morale, as well as keep your talent pool fresh for better results and productivity!
How can you start a higher apprenticeship scheme in your workplace?
If you’re looking to get started, your first step should be to decide what criteria the apprenticeship should require, whether you’re providing the opportunity as part of your CPD offer or looking for external applicants.
This will attract the most motivated and ambitious talent, as well as ensure that your employees have what they need to succeed in the training to come.
Advertising, delivering and developing your apprenticeship offer will need a little extra work on your part, though you have the option of working with an expert training provider to support your business on its journey.
