This document discusses the strategic considerations, structures and resources, processes and systems, employer engagement, and reflections on preparing a university for higher and degree apprenticeships. It outlines establishing a strategic apprenticeships group and operational team to govern apprenticeships. It also discusses reviewing systems to meet funding agency requirements, engaging existing employer contacts, and the potential opportunities apprenticeships provide to link skills, innovation and research.

1. leedstrinity.ac.uk
Preparing for Higher and Degree
Apprenticeships
Ian Rowe
Director of Knowledge Exchange and Business
Development

2. leedstrinity.ac.uk
Areas to Cover
• Strategic considerations
• Structures and resources
• Process and Systems
• Employer engagement
• Thoughts and reflections

3. leedstrinity.ac.uk
Strategic Considerations
• A new area of business
• Challenge to some established provision
• Choice of apprenticeships?

4. leedstrinity.ac.uk
Structures and resources
• Governance – Strategic Apprenticeships
Group (sub group of Planning
Committee)
• Operations Group (service departments,
academic programme leads)
• Apprenticeships Team (x1 Contract
Manager, x2 Business Engagement
Officers)

5. leedstrinity.ac.uk
Process and systems
• External review of the university’s
readiness to meet SFA requirements
• Impact across the university (Planning,
Quality, Marketing, Admissions, Data
Returns, Finance, Student Services,
Student Union, IT/library, Academic
Programme Leads)
• Institutional Delivery Readiness Plan,
Service ‘Action Plans’ in production

6. leedstrinity.ac.uk
Process and systems
• Core documentation in place – eligibility,
commitment statement, apprenticeship
agreement and employer agreement
• Selection, admissions, induction
• Data returns – ILR via HESA (substantial
overlap, 30 new fields, functionality august)
• Complaints procedure – reviewing,
developing a process for employer
complaints

7. leedstrinity.ac.uk
Employer Engagement
• Start with existing contacts
• Locality is important
• Evidence employer benefits
• Listen, good communications, feedback
opportunities, co-develop delivery
models
• Partnerships with other training
providers

8. leedstrinity.ac.uk
Thoughts and reflections
• Planning phase – 9 months is possible
• Agility and flexibility will secure business
• Potential impact – local skills agenda, an
opportunity to link skills , innovation
and R&D
• A creative opportunity – new provision,
new clients, new business