University launches apprenticeship campaign as incentive deadline looms

York St John University has unveiled a new campaign to encourage more businesses into adopting apprenticeship schemes.

The new campaign from the University follows the Government’s announcement of the new Education Bill that aims to upskill the nation's workforce, which was unveiled during the Queen’s Speech last week.

With September’s closure of the apprenticeship incentive looming, where employers can claim cash for hiring apprentices in 2021, York St John University is highlighting the benefits of upskilling employees and the advantages this can have for businesses.

Whilst apprentices can earn as they learn, it also means immediate boosts to the business as employees develop their skills and apply their learning back in the workplace.

The new campaign comes off the back of York St John’s successful Senior Leaders’ Degree Apprenticeship Degree, which achieved a 100% pass rate, and national growth in its Data Science programme last year despite the pandemic when campus-based learning schedules were moved fully online.

Dr Brendan Paddison, Associate Dean at York St John University, said: “The challenges facing employers during last year’s lockdown were all too apparent and training and upskilling are now seen as a priority. Announcements in the Queen’s Speech around upskilling the nation’s workforce show the priority the Government is giving this area as a means to get UK economy back on track.

“Adult skills have never been more important. We are extremely proud of the successes achieved last year by our degree apprentices, despite the disruption brought by the pandemic, so we would urge more businesses in the region to come forward as we can help devise the perfect apprenticeship programme for them.”

York St John University delivers a range of apprenticeship programmes from both its York and London Campus to a broad and diverse range of industry sectors. This includes a Level 7 Senior Leaders Apprenticeship for upskilling team leaders and managers.

Businesses already partnering York St John include the likes of AkzoNobel, Benenden Health, Covance and United Utilities.

Bethany Greenbank, Internal and External Communications Officer at Warrington-based United Utilities, said: “Working with York St John on the apprenticeship schemes over the past year has been enormously beneficial to us as a business, but more importantly it has also given our team the right skillsets. Our dedicated apprentice has come in leaps and bounds since starting their degree and we hope to enrol further colleagues down the line.”

Apprenticeship courses are suitable for A Level students and above and allow apprentices to ‘earn while they learn’ and gain a degree or level 7 qualification. Businesses interested in enrolling members of their workforce in the apprenticeship programme can contact the team at apprenticeships@yorksj.ac.uk.