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New degree apprenticeship launched

30/01/2018

Major employers have signed up to a new Degree Apprenticeship programme at the University.

More than 20 apprentices from organisations including Walsall Council, Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, the Beacon Centre, Liberty group and Phosters started the new Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship (CMDA) recently.

The University’s Apprenticeship Hub agreed a three year partnership deal with a large international company to provide one of the first CMDAs in the country last year. Now the successful programme is being widened out to other organisations for the first time.

The CMDA covers all aspects of business including management, marketing, human resources, finance and operations management, and leads to apprentices becoming Chartered Managers with the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).

Carl Edwards, Financial Systems Development Officer at Walsall Council, is one of the new apprentices. He said: “I decided to apply for the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship to get recognition for the management role I have and to progress my knowledge. I also feel it will give me better prospects for my career in the future.”

Helena Baxter, Project Officer – Apprenticeships at Walsall Council, added: “We have an Apprenticeship levy to spend and we want to give staff the opportunity to develop their skills in the workplace and gain a formal qualification. We decided to partner with the University of Wolverhampton after experiencing excellent employer engagement – everyone has been very responsive and approachable.”

Mark Price, Director of Apprenticeships (Business) at the University, said: “The CMDA provides a range of benefits for students and the employers. The students get a mixture of theory, knowledge, skills and training to ensure they can develop further as managers within their organisations. The employers get committed, able, confident staff who are looking to make changes within their organisation based on the most up-to-date theory and practice within business and the commercial environment.”

Michele Roberts, Head of the Apprenticeship Hub at the University, added: “It was great to welcome the new Chartered Manager Degree Apprentices and their line managers to the University for the introduction session to meet with skills coaches and understand the key benefits of the programme.”

Designed by employers, universities and professional bodies, Degree Apprenticeships deliver high-tech and high level skills and offer an alternative to a traditional degree course. Bringing together university study with paid work in a blended learning model, Degree Apprentices spend part of their time at university and part with their employer.

As well as CMDA, the University is offering Higher and Degree Apprenticeships in Construction Management with pathways for Civil Engineering & Built Environment, Manufacturing Engineering, Product Design & Engineer, Chartered Surveying, Chartered Legal Executive, Digital Technology Solutions Professional and Healthcare Science Practitioner.

Future Degree Apprenticeships will include Policing, Social Work, Nursing and Paramedic Degree Apprenticeships.

The University’s Apprenticeship Hub provides a bespoke and independent venue for potential apprentices, employers and learning providers, offering clear and integrated progression routes for vocational pathways.

There will be May and September intakes for the CMDA. Employers of all sizes can benefit from the programme – those paying the levy can use it for the programme whilst those who do not pay the levy benefit from a 90% contribution towards the training costs from Government.

For further information, visit: https://www.wlv.ac.uk/apprenticeships/ or email: apprenticeshiphub@wlv.ac.uk

Further information

Picture: The first open programme Chartered Manager Degree Apprentices at the University of Wolverhampton.

The Walsall Council apprentices (l-r): Elaine Betts, Ruksana Kavde, Carl Edwards and Debbie Roberts.

For more information please contact the Corporate Communications Team.

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