Director of Employer Partnerships Getting Started Sarah Tudor Director of Employer Partnerships

Why are apprenticeships important to us? The CONNECTED University

Apprenticeships and our Connected University Connecting Communities Attracting new students from our local and regional communities Supporting employers & employment Innovative & Applied Learning Delivering skills for work through real and virtual learning True employer partnerships will enhance all our curriculum offers Talented People Employer Building social capital, widening participation, enhancing progression, Developing employer links to enhance employability of wider student population Ambition 500 starts in 2017 [750 pa by 2020]

Lessons learned People Resource Strategy Employer Engagement Exec level input / drive vital to push change through Make sure colleagues are aware about the impact on them early People You need a team now – with sufficient resource to operate at speed Resource Understanding of regional skills needs & priorities Targeting - you can’t do everything Strategy Involve your employers in design Marketing must be about and directed to employer, apprenticeship and apprentice Employer Engagement

Lessons learned Policy Governance Operations Communications Monitoring, engagement, interpretation Get used to operating without answers Policy Steering group with involvement from all academics and services Make and take decisions - don’t let governance be a block Governance You can never do enough e.g. Workshops - get the discussion moving Getting people used to apprentice vs student Communications Apprenticeships need action across many functions – need participation from every area Get your end to end process clear ASAP Operations

Tips Read the funding rules – every time they are published Follow the SFA on Twitter! Use sector networks to share experiences Make use of support organisations and representative groups e.g. UVAC, UUK etc. Make use of support organisations and representative groups e.g. UVAC, UUK etc. Develop a strong relationships with your regional SFA Provider Manager and Employer Develop a strong relationships with your regional SFA Account Manager Ask questions… lots of them!

Good Luck