Degree Apprenticeships an Institutional Perspective Prof Chris Prince Pro Vice Chancellor Business Engagement

Leeds Beckett University 26,000 students 2,400 staff 13 academic schools LBU has a strong regional focus - anchor institution Leeds City Region fast growing

Why deliver DA’s Diversifying income streams – growing new income and / or protecting existing student numbers? Supporting Regional Economy and SME’s – anchor institution Supporting Widening Participation agenda Building new and strengthening existing relationships with organisations – business development / research opportunities.

Degree Apprenticeship Market Some figures (DoE Dec 2017) DA’s < 0.2% of all apprenticeships DA new enrolments 14/15 100 15/16 750 16/17 1,700 Even growing exponentially likely to remain a small percentage of total apprenticeship numbers Likely to be concentrated in key sectors Nursing, Teaching, Social Work, Policing Digital,Construction,Engineering,Management

University Apprenticeship Strategy Delivering Degree Apprenticeships (Levels 6 and 7). Deliver DA’s to support Leeds City Region, Leeds City Council, NHS Trusts and LEP training and skills strategies – meeting local skills demand in areas of strength. Working with FE colleges to develop seamless career paths through apprenticeship levels (Leeds College of Building). Want to be known as the ‘University of Choice’ for DA’s in Yorkshire. Deliver DA’s to both levy and non levy paying businesses Envisage DA’s growing to be 10-20% of student body. Preference for closed company schemes not open programmes.

LBU Degree Apprenticeships …. Currently (Started summer 2017 - circa 120 students all levy paying) Leadership and Management (closed and consortium) Digital Technology Solutions (consortium x2) Quantity Surveying (consortium) 19 DA’s (UG and M level) under development for September 2018 launch – expecting 500+ students by January 2019.

Delivery Models and Support Need to be flexible – driven by subject matter and employer needs – co-creation Blended approaches to learning – day and block release. Requires strong partnership with employers – particularly need to understand their responsibilities: Dedicated relationship management – single contact Regular meetings / reviews / monitoring

Admin Structures to Support Degree Apprenticeship Delivery Currently – start up phase Institutional Lead – PVC Business Engagement Centralised Business Development with a dedicated lead – linked to School subject champions Centralised admissions etc… Devolved School model of delivery and admin support Likely new structure in place by September 2018 New role Director of Apprenticeships Dedicated staff to support DA’s in centre as well as admin support in Schools

Issues Internal Learning as we went along – alien processes and requirements Financial modelling New Fast track validation process developed- mapping Finance and student record systems not always compatible to SFA requirements and processes. Developing contracts for companies Managing / coordinating multiple developments – 40 staff in meetings Intelligence gathering via trailblazers .. Professional bodies Yet to understand dynamics of the non-levy paying DA market. New roles supporting new apprenticeship compliance

Issues - External Contracts with companies – getting them to understand their commitments – GETTING THEM TO SIGN THEM!!! Negotiating price Educating companies on apprenticeships and systems required to support them and their funding – very time consuming Helping companies find apprentices (surprisingly! brokerage role??) Non levy paying organisations are they going to take up offer?? Coordinating multiple developments in Schools – Trailblazers Developing external partnerships to create pathways Bureaucracy SFA systems procedures …… Building market awareness of DA’s

Promotion Raising DA Awareness Web Bespoke Events Working with Leeds City Council Apprenticeship Careers Fair – now annual event (6000 visitors) Sponsor of Leeds Digital Careers Fair – largest outside London. Host annual Leeds event for school pupils/ parents on apprenticeships (attendance 3 fold increase on previous year) Working with Yorkshire Universities / Go Higher West Yorkshire (successful HEFCE Bid) Don’t forget internal promotion and awareness building. Staff understanding what we can and cannot deliver….

Lessons.... Return to part-time work-based learning .. Back to roots! Timescales to launch and recruit cohorts Contracts with employers Supporting employers admin and recruitment Building networks with education partners New internal roles structures – understanding the apprenticeship world