Back Back

New development manager joins Apprenticeship Hub

09/01/2017

The University of Wolverhampton has appointed a new Apprenticeship Development Manager in its drive towards providing higher and degree apprenticeships.

Sharon Thompson, from Fordhouses in Wolverhampton, has taken up the new post and is based in the University’s new £500,000 Apprenticeship Hub, the former Four Feathers Pub in Molineux Street.

With a career in the public sector of more than 30 years Sharon has a wealth of experience and has worked locally and nationally on skills and apprenticeships with Walsall Training & Enterprise Council, the Learning & Skills Council and more recently in the National Office of the Skills Funding Agency.

She was seconded to the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills to work on the Government’s reform of Apprenticeships, working on national apprenticeship policy and supporting employer groups to develop new apprenticeship standards which focus on providing them with the skills they require.

Talking about her new appointment, she said:  “The opportunity for universities to provide Degree Apprenticeships is both challenging and exciting.  We have a very good delivery model in place already and in some areas of the curriculum the Degree apprenticeship standards fit alongside our current offer.

“It’s very important that we take the mystery out of apprenticeships for employers and focus on supporting them to boost the skills of their existing workforce and also attract new staff.”

The £500,000 investment in a new Apprenticeship Hub, which includes a funding contribution of over £150,000 from the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), is part of the University’s ambitious Our Vision: Your Opportunity strategy which will see a £250 million investment over five years in support of economic growth.

The Apprenticeship Hub will provide a one-stop destination for employers, parents and apprentices, providing access to valuable resources and support, including details on available Apprenticeship programmes covering a wide variety of trades and professions.

ENDS

For more information please contact the Media Relations Office on 01902 322736 or 01902 518647.

Date Issued: 9th January 2017

For more information please contact the Corporate Communications Team.

Share this release

Related Stories