1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. UVAC – Our Role

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

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

9. 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)

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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?

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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’

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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, s 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

24. 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