Presented by Stephen Isherwood, agr, at HEFCE's Degree Apprenticeships Conference on 4 May: https://goo.gl/H9gtzD

1. Stephen Isherwood
AGR Chief Executive@isherwood_agr
Degree apprenticeships

2. Apprenticeships are seen as a key challenge in 2017
1. Brexit
2. Competition
3. Apprenticeships (Levy)
4. Attracting candidates
5. Diversity
Source: AGR Annual Survey 2016. Top expected challenges of recruiters in the year ahead. Open-
ended question. Based on 171 employers with 20,424 graduate hires.

3. Our universe – student talent recruited in 2016
22,960
Graduates
-8%
10,110
Apprentices
+13%
9,390
Interns
+13%
3,269
Placeme
nt
students685 School
leavers

4. Use of apprenticeships is rising
Share of employers hiring these types of talent. Based on approx. 200 employers each year.
@AGRresearch
5.5%
12.4%
40.3%
8.6%
18.7%
47.0%
9.1%
21.7%
51.5%
10.6%
23.1%
47.1%
School leaver programmes
Apprenticeships (Higher)
Apprenticeships (Intermediate and Advanced)
2016 2015
2014 2013

5. Predicted impact of Levy in mid-2016
Source: AGR Annual Survey 2016. Based on 179 employers with 21,063 graduate hires.
@AGRresearch
Marginal/no impact on
graduate recruitment
36%
Repackage graduate roles as
degree apprenticeships
12%
Don’t know impact on graduate
recruitment yet
32%
Reduce graduate
recruitment targets
12%

6. Strategies for degree apprenticeships
30.6%
22.4%
22.4%
12.2%
12.2%
No change
Accelerated introduction of degree apprenticeships and
reducing graduate or higher apprenticeships intake
Accelerated introduction of DAs, in addition to current intake
Considering investigating/ developing a DA
Other (please specify)
Base = 49
How has your strategy for degree apprenticeships been
affected by the announcement of the levy?

7. What challenges do you, or do you expect to, experience in the offering of degree
apprenticeships?
63.3%
60.0%
41.7%
38.3%
35.0%
31.7%
21.7%
21.7%
16.7%
13.3%
11.7%
The reputation of apprenticeships
Lack of awareness of degree apprenticeships amongst students
Uncertainty of student demands for degree apprenticeships
Lack of degree apprenticeships in key occupational areas of interest
to your organisation
Skills Funding Agency Apprenticeship funding rules
Uncertainty of how the Levy will operate
Lack of support for degree apprenticeships from senior management
Uncertainty of how to deliver degree apprenticeships
Unclear how to develop a degree apprenticeship with an HEI/
alternative provider
Other (please specify below)
Degree apprenticeships do not fit with current priorities
Base = 60

8. Why are you not intending to offer any degree apprenticeships?
27.3%
18.2%
18.2%
18.2%
13.6%
9.1%
9.1%
9.1%
4.5%
0.0%
45.5%
Degree apprenticeships do not fit with current priorities
Uncertainty of how to deliver degree apprenticeships
Uncertainty of how the Levy will operate
Unclear how to develop a degree apprenticeship with an HEI/…
Uncertainty of student demands for degree apprenticeships
Lack of degree apprenticeships in key occupational areas of…
Lack of support for degree apprenticeships from senior…
Skills Funding Agency Apprenticeship funding rules
Lack of awareness of degree apprenticeships amongst students
The reputation of apprenticeships
Other (please specify below)
Base = 22

9. Demand for higher level skills
Source: cedefop

10. The future