Higher and Degree Apprenticeships in England UVAC Who we are and What we Do Apprenticeship and Higher Education Apprenticeship Delivery A Basis for a Discussion on the Role of Technology England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – different terminology, policy, programmes and delivery systems

Introduction UVAC – Our Role Not for profit, HE organisation established to champion higher level vocational learning HE and Awarding Organisation membership Advocacy, Research and Dissemination UVAC Journal Higher Education, Skills and Work-based Learning Special Edition 2012 The Future of Higher Apprenticeships in the UK Special Issue 2016 Higher and Degree Apprenticeships: Creating the Future Workforce

UVAC – Our Role in Apprenticeships Asked by BIS/DfE to support employer groups engage with HE providers Worked with 10 Downing Street Policy Unit on the launch of Degree Apprenticeships Commissioned by HEFCE to provide: Information, advice and guidance to HE providers on Degree Apprenticeships HEFCE with technical and operational advice on the development of the Apprenticeships system Represent HE on the DfE Degree Apprenticeship Policy Group and ESFA Apprenticeship Provider Readiness Group Working with UUK and QAA on Quality Assurance Provide regular Apprenticeship policy and operational updates for HE Deliver a programme of practical support for HE providers who want to deliver degree apprenticeships

UVAC – Our Role

How UVAC Can Help Email/Telephone Support and Advice / FAQs Regular Opinion / News Articles / Case Studies Mapping and Signposting Promoting Relevant Apprenticeship Resources including contract templates for HE providers Helping to spot and avoid ‘pitfalls’ and to develop an Apprenticeship system that supports HE engagement

Apprenticeship – What is it? ‘An Apprenticeship is a job, in a skilled occupation, that requires substantial and sustained training, leading to the achievement of an Apprenticeship standard and the development of transferable skills to progress careers.’ Source:DfE

Higher and Degree Apprenticeship Higher Apprenticeship – encompasses Apprenticeships at level 4 to level 7 Degree Apprenticeships – encompass level 6 and 7 and involve an individual gaining a full bachelors degree or masters degree

Apprenticeship – Policy Drivers UK productivity lags behind other developed economies Employers are investing less in training Social mobility and progression 3 million starts by 2020 - Manifesto commitment

Apprenticeship – Historic Patterns of Provision The old ‘Intermediary’ and ‘Provider’ Led System; 2015/16 – 509,400 Apprenticeship starts Apprenticeship starts in 15/16 by level – level 2 (57%), level 3 (38%), level 4 (2%), level 5 (3%) and level 6 (0.2%) Top five starts by Apprenticeship framework in 15/16; Health and Social Care (85K), Business Administration (50K), ‘Management’ (46K), Hospitality and Catering (32K) and Customer Service (26K)

Apprenticeship – Some Key Points The employer is in the ‘driving seat’ The employer not the individual is the ‘customer’ and ‘purchaser’ The Apprentice MUST be employed A focus on those entering the workforce and existing employees The focus of the Apprenticeship is developing the knowledge, skills and behaviours as specified in the employer developed national Apprenticeship standard and assessed in accordance with the Assessment Plan Viability is based on the level of employer demand A system based on FE process – RoATP, ILR, ESFA Funding Rules etc. – slowly reflecting HE process

Apprenticeship – Some Key Figures Approximately £2.5bn raised annually in England through the Apprenticeship levy 3 million apprenticeship starts between 2015 and 2020 2.3% - Statutory target for the employment of apprentices for public bodies with 250 or more employees Levy paying employers can claim 100% (up to the funding band) of the Training and Assessment costs of an Apprenticeship Non-levy paying employers can claim 90% (up to the funding band) of the Training and Assessment costs of an Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship – Some Key Figures Approximately 40% of standards at HE level The ‘big’ levy paying public sector – Degree Apprenticeships developed/being developed for Registered Nursing (NHS) Social Worker (Local Authorities), Police Constables (Police Forces) STEM areas; Degree Apprenticeships – e.g. manufacturing engineer, digital technology solutions and construction professions Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship Higher level skills a priority for employers, LEPs and Government BUT a tension between numbers and affordability and an ESFA system focused on Further Education and lower level skills provision

Apprenticeship – The Future Where will levy paying employers spend their levy? What Apprenticeship provision will non-levy paying employers purchase in due course through the Apprenticeship service? Where will Government and the Institute for Apprenticeship ‘intentivise’ delivery? Will ESFA ‘systems’ and ‘focus’ block the delivery of the Degree Apprenticeships employers want?

Apprenticeship – The Future Recruitment - A ‘debt free’ higher education offer for individuals – learn while you earn and your employer pays your fees Impact on productivity and employability – link to national, regional and LEP skills priorities and focus on business performance Employer engagement - work with employers on the design and delivery of HE programmes Partnership delivery – work with further education colleges and independent training providers Competition – from other HEIs, further education colleges and independent training providers Widening access and social mobility – a work-based progression pathway from level 3 to level 7 Link to the research agenda – level 7 and 8 Degree Apprenticeships

Key Policy Elements Quality Funding Role of Government and Agencies Levy versus non-Levy Co-investment Incentivising employers to invest in higher level skills Role of Government and Agencies ESFA Procurement Institute for Apprenticeships Approval Sticking to the Reforms Employer Leadership Quality Role of all organisations set out in DfE Apprenticeship Accountabilities Statement including HEFCE Position Statement from QAA set out in Quality Assuring Higher Education in Apprenticeships QAA Quality Code being revised Post-16 Skills Plan and Technical Education Introduction of T-Levels Use of Traineeships

Higher and Degree Apprenticeship in England – Impacts on all Functions in an HEI Executive – Application to RoATP – how the HEI can deliver high quality apprenticeships Finance – Apprenticeship Service/ESFA, Contractual Relationships with ESFA, employers, sub-contractors (potentially) and EPAOs, tendering, costing and negotiation Legal - Apprenticeship Service/ESFA, Contractual Relationships with ESFA, employers, sub-contractors (potentially) and EPAOs Quality Assurance and Audit – Degree Apprenticeship – HEFCE/QAA, Higher Apprenticeship level 4 and 5 HEFCE/Ofsted approach. All provision is subject to ESFA audit. Marketing – Apprenticeship Service and work with employers Recruitment – Apprentices/students recruited with employers or employer purchases provision for employee(s), Apprenticeship Agreement and Commitment Statement Monitoring and Data Returns – Requirement to use the ILR AND Actual Delivery and Assessment of a programme in accordance with ESFA Funding Rules, the Apprenticeship Standard, Assessment Plan and existing institution and HE regulations

Higher and Degree Apprenticeship in England – Seven Key Points The employer NOT the learner is the purchaser and customer Apprenticeship is focused on developing the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to be occupationally competent The Apprenticeship ‘Trinity’ – ESFA Funding Rules, Apprenticeship Standard and Apprenticeship Assessment Plan Funding is provided to deliver a training programme to enable an individual to pass their Apprenticeship End Point Assessment and NOT specifically to deliver a Higher Education Qualification Separate End Point Assessment except for Integrated Degree Apprenticeship ESFA regulates the funding system for Apprenticeship not HEFCE but HEFCE is the regulator for HE qualifications The Apprenticeship system is based on FE process and has an FE ethos

Business Development / Employer Account Team Impact on Resourcing Finance Student Records Marketing Corporate Partnerships IS/IT Admissions Quality Partnerships Business Development / Employer Account Team FACULTY

Apprenticeship Operational Delivery Journey Preparation Evaluation MONTHLY : Data Entry Subcontractor Reviews TERMLY : Tri-partite reviews Evidence Pack Checks Collect Employer Payments 1st Incentive Payment KPI Reviews ANNUAL : Final Incentive Payment Employer & Apprentice Satisfaction Survey Programme Review Enquiry Handling Quality Eligibility Evidence Pack Documents Satisfaction

Resourcing & Delivery Considerations & Advice Resource the Implementation Team Brief the University anyone speaking to employers Key functions You will need partners End-point Assessment of non integrated degree apprenticeships Employer at the centre Streamline contacts Maintain the relationship Expect to amend existing rules Processes need to be responsive and quick e.g. Validation Processes will be different e.g. Admissions KPIs are Different Satisfaction ‘It is all absolutely possible if people are prepared to change’

Partnership Opportunities Principles Delivery Contracting out Services : e.g. Data Entry Business Development There must be a ‘main provider’ Cannot pass over: The employer relationship Funding conduit Accountability for over all quality and delivery Degree Awarding Powers Acting as the Awarding Organisation Only Subcontracting Out You must deliver ‘some element’ of every programme Managing Subcontracting Monitoring and declaring End-Point Assessment Employer Choice

Getting Started – First Steps: Visibility Agree your position & go-live date Add Apprenticeships message & contacts to your website Brief employer / potential apprentice enquiry teams Map provision & produce a module map for employers Join the RoATP Resource the Team

FIRST STEPS - Mystery Shopper Advice Messages for HEIs Have a clear process and accountabilities for handling inbound enquiries Make sure enquiries are answered Make apprenticeship contact numbers, people, emails very prominent on your website Make contact details visible Create and manage an enquiry log and record calls and actions arising - find the holes Create an enquiry Log Make sure people in the chain knows the process, your key messages and apprenticeship basics Brief everyone So that employer information is collected and can be used to accurately match to apprenticeships Collect and share contacts That all employers are given, and support this with web based detail. Create a set of basic apprenticeship information

Apprenticeship covers Intermediate Level (GSCE Level) to Masters Level (Level 7) – Don’t Reinvent the Wheel! Many FE Apprenticeship Technology Solutions will be Appropriate for Higher and Degree Apprenticeship Commercial solutions and packages exist Many Higher and Degree Apprenticeships will be delivered in partnership with Independent Training Providers and Further Education Colleges Approaches developed in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Technology – compliance with the Apprenticeship system, delivery and assessment