Funds boost courses for apprentices

The University of Kent will receive £200,000 to develop new degree apprenticeships in construction and architecture.

The funding is part of a total of £4.8 million being awarded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England to universities and colleges to develop new degree apprenticeships for students starting in September 2018.

The university will help develop four new programmes: architect degree apprenticeship; architectural assistant degree apprenticeship; chartered town planner degree apprenticeship; and construction quantity surveyor degree apprenticeship.

Designed by employers, higher education providers, and professional bodies, degree apprenticeships enable the development of high-level skills, providing an alternative route to a degree and a career.

Bringing together higher education study with paid work, degree apprentices spend part of their time in study and part with their employer.

Dr Scott Wildman, director of Kent’s Centre for Higher and Degree Apprenticeships, welcomed the announcement and said it demonstrated the university’s commitment to expanding its portfolio of degree apprenticeships into new industry sectors.

Nationally, the successful projects will aim to develop 4,500 new apprenticeship places.