What Are Higher Apprenticeships and What Is The Value of Them Pathway promoting and delivering Higher Apprenticeships (Level 4+) to business owners, educators and aspiring apprentices Higher Apprenticeships (Level 4+ usally at Level 5) are of particular interest to employed people who are looking for work based training at degree level. Higher apprenticeships offer a work-based learning programme: a level 4 and 5 - equivalent to a higher education certificate, higher education diploma or a foundation degree a level 6 - equivalent to a bachelor degree Pathway deliver Higher Apprenticeships in Care, Higher Apprenticeships in leadership and management.

2. What are Higher Apprenticeships?
Higher Apprenticeships:
• Are the next level of apprenticeships after the initial stage
• Teach a higher level of skill and make sure that the
apprentice is confident and competent in more in a more
demanding role
• Designed to enable a learner in employment develop the
technical knowledge and occupational competence to
perform a defined job role at a specified level
• Employer led focused on developing the higher level skills
particular sectors need

3. What are Higher Apprenticeships?
“Higher Apprenticeships are national work-based programmes
based on employer need that enable individuals in employment
to develop the technical knowledge and competence to perform
a defined job role. As such, a Higher Apprenticeship is not just a
learning programme, but an approach to workforce development
and enhancing business performance”.
Professor Joy Carter, Chair of UVAC and HE Champion for Higher Apprenticeships and Ian Ferguson, CBE, Chairman of Trustees, Metaswitch
Networks and Employer Champion for Higher Apprenticeships IN Developing Quality Higher Apprenticeship Frameworks for England, April
2013

4. Incentives
• Higher Apprenticeships have cross party and high level,
Ministerial support
• Delivering the higher level skills critical to the economy
• Supporting social mobility through a family of Apprenticeships
allowing progression from craft through technician to
professional and managerial job roles
• Developing Advanced and Higher Apprenticeships as a
progression route to professional membership and recognition
• Key driver in Apprenticeship Reform with a number of
Apprenticeship Standards at higher levels

5. How have they developed so
far?
• Higher Apprenticeship Fund: £25 Million Programme of
Targeted Support
• New Collaborations: 30 Ambitious Sector Led
Partnerships
• 10,000 additional Higher Apprenticeships
• New Products: 45+ Frameworks Approved
• Employer and Learner Engagement
• Increased Capacity to Deliver
• A New Family of Apprenticeships

6. Levels
A Higher Apprenticeship is a recognised learning framework
at:
• Level 4 = Certificate of Higher Education
• Level 5 = Foundation Degree
• Level 6 = Bachelor’s Degree
• Level 7 = Master’s Degree

7. Why Higher Apprenticeships are
Great
• Creating work-based vocational education route for professions
- Building a bridge to the professions
- Providing missing link in the skills system
• Engaging a new cohort of learners in higher level skills
• Establishing a respected, credible vocational learning offer
• Achieving parity of esteem with more academic education
• Building upon experience; bringing together existing practice
• Changing perceptions of who delivers

8. How are they growing?

9. Benefits for Employers
“High levels of motivation, loyalty and a can – do attitude”
John Bevan - Head of Corporate Programmes at British Airways
• To fill skill gaps
• Better retention of Higher Apprentices
• Opportunity to secure a return on investment in 2 years
• Vocational pathways can add value to stand alone qualifications
• Developing Apprentices to meet the needs of the business
• Attracting high level applicants to new jobs
• Ability to progress Higher Apprentices through your business
into specialist roles as well as supervisory and management

10. Apprenticeship Verses University
• A better work/study balance
• An opportunity to get real world experiences
• A secure future ahead
• A chance to build working relationships to
support you through your study
• A competitive salary enabling a good quality of
life outside of studying and work

11. How do I find out more?
To find out more:
Call: 0121 707 0550
E-mail: info@apprenticeshiprecruitment.co.uk