Apprenticeship Information for Employers

Higher Level and Degree Apprenticeships offer learners the ability to earn a salary while training for a professional role, without paying tuition fees. 

Apprenticeship programmes with the University of Cumbria allow individuals to work as an employee whilst studying a degree-level programme. Our apprenticeship courses combine academic study with practical on-the-job experience, with learners building knowledge and applying this in the workplace, developing professional skills and behaviours.

Organisations use apprenticeships in many different ways to support their businesses. As an example, some Ambulance trusts are using apprenticeships as a development opportunity for existing emergency medical technicians to enable them to become qualified Paramedics. As a result of this, the highly respected profession will be open to staff to continue to work on the front line whilst gaining a full BSc (Hons) in Paramedic Practice.

It is also possible to join an apprenticeship with prior learning enabling the apprentice to undertake a shortened programme. For example, apprentices who have completed the Nursing Associate apprenticeship may progress on to the Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship to top-up their knowledge and qualification to become a fully qualified nurse, or apprentices who have achieved the Level 4 Associate Project Manager apprenticeship could join the Project Manager Degree apprenticeship at Level 5 to become fully qualified Project Managers.

Additionally, the University of Cumbria offers some apprenticeship standards with specialism options such radiography specific learning within the Assistant Practitioner (Health) apprenticeship, or visitor economy specific learning in the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship.

We offer degree apprenticeships from L5 to L7, each linked to either a foundation degree, a bachelor's degree, or a postgraduate award. They will take between one and five years to complete, with study being anything from one day a week through to blocks of learning. Our programmes are delivered in a range of ways, from online, on-campus or at the employer's premises, and often a blend of methods. All courses expect a minimum of 20% away from an apprentice's normal working environment (although each programme is unique and may need more than the minimum), actively engaged in learning. This will be a mixture of University-led sessions, and time in work shadowing, in placement, and developing skills with supervision and mentoring. 

All apprenticeship applications are via a sponsoring employer, linked to a suitable job role, backed by a contract for the duration of the learning. For more information see our section under how to apply.

All our apprenticeships are delivered with a University of Cumbria validated award, under the regulation of the Office for Students. We are also inspected by Ofsted and many of our courses are subject to approval from professional regulators such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and The Health and Care Professions Council. 

Higher Level and Degree Apprenticeships can develop staff skills as they work, whether that is an existing member of staff supported to upskill, or a new member of the team recruited into a role directly linked to a professional career. We support employers who do both: some recruit periodically to roles needed to support their skills need in a planned way, others will sponsor existing individuals to grow their skills, either to enhance existing roles or help them progress to the next level of their career.

Higher-level skills are vital to business performance and UK economic growth – through higher apprenticeships businesses can fill higher-level skills gaps. 

Apprentices develop these higher-level skills, and in so doing keep up-to-date with the latest techniques and technology increasing productivity.

Higher and degree apprenticeships enable businesses to attract and retain new talent, and through learning at work apprentices are able to develop specific knowledge and competencies that meet the unique needs of the business. We have a track record of working with major regional and national employers who use degree apprenticeships as part of their talent development programme. 

Employees can be funded to undertake an apprenticeship at the same or lower level than a qualification they already hold, if the apprenticeship will allow the individual to acquire substantive new skills and the content of the training is materially different from any prior training or a previous apprenticeship. 

Higher level and degree apprenticeships allow individuals to study towards a higher level qualification without paying tuition fees, while remaining in employment and earning a salary. Benefits for apprentices include:

• Opportunity to achieve graduate and postgraduate-level qualifications whilst learning and earning in a business.
  
  
• Recent reports estimate that completing a Level 4 higher apprenticeship could result in increased lifetime earnings.
  
  
• Chance to gain professional accreditation and/or membership of the appropriate professional body.
  
  
• Opportunity to move their career forward, gain professional skills, and in many cases achieve the standard needed for their chosen profession, such as Police Officer, Nurse, Paramedic, Midwife or Diagnostic Radiographer. 
  
  
• Achieve a higher level qualification equivalent to a degree with no debt via student loans.
  
  
• Enter the programme with recognition of prior learning, accelerating the individual starting point and reducing the net learning needed where previous study, CPD or work-based experience might exempt the need for further training. 
  
  
• Build on existing career and learning to progress to the next stage, for example moving from Nurse Associate to a Registered Nurse or Associate Project Manager to Chartered Project Manager. 

If you are an employer and don't already have a contract or established relationship with the University, here are four simple steps we would encourage you to follow:

STEP 1 - Register 

All employers manage their apprenticeships through the National Apprenticeship Service. Whether you are a levy-paying organisation or a non-levy-paying SME, you need to have an account with the Apprenticeship Service set up, allowing you to access the funding needed to sponsor a learner. Find out how by visiting our Finance pages.

STEP 2 - Start Planning

Think about ways that you could use apprenticeships to bring new skills into your organisation, either by recruiting someone new or developing existing employees. Use our course pages to review the apprenticeship courses that support your training needs, and discuss your thinking with your workforce. This might be a discussion with one individual, or a competitive process within larger organisations for one or more apprenticeship training roles.

Consider your offer, the role, requirements, contract, associated salary etc. If you want help with sample job description and recruitment tools, email apprenticeships@cumbria.ac.uk and we will be happy to provide some templates.

STEP 3 - Contact us

Many employers will work with established contacts at the university. If you have not worked with us before please contact us at apprenticeships@cumbria.ac.uk to register your interest, discuss any questions you might have and confirm the suitability of our programme for your training needs.

STEP 4 - Select and apply

Progress to selecting the prospective learners you would like to sponsor through a degree apprenticeship, and invite them to apply internally where needed.  When you are ready, provide us with a list of prospective applicants: we will then formally invite them to apply for the course with your endorsement. 

Please note we are happy to provide advice on typical eligibility criteria, but we consider all applicants as individual learners, and their prior learning or personal status may affect their agreed starting point, and occasionally can limit our ability to fund them through the apprenticeship route based on the current funding rules issued by the ESFA. 

The University of Cumbria works with employers in two main ways: via commercially tendered contracts; and accepting learners from employers on a walk-up basis. We deliver our apprenticeships through a mix of closed cohorts, often at the learners' own training base, or open cohorts run from our campus locations or online. 

Apart from Paramedics and Policing which are delivered as closed cohorts to individual Ambulance Trusts and Police Forces, most of our programmes have at least one intake a year where we can, through planning and discussion welcome learners onto programmes from a range of employers. 

We are proud to work with SMEs and major employers regionally and nationally to deliver specialist professional apprenticeships to meet sector skills needs. We are always open to discussions with employers about offering bespoke cohorts, delivered with specific contextualisation for their organisation.  All learners on degree apprenticeship programmes, however, will be expected to use and apply their learning in their specific workplace, so our open cohorts with a mix of learners from different sectors will provide a rich experience and still ensure learning is relevant to your organisation.

• A new recruit into a role where they have no prior experience or training.
• An existing member of staff who is taking on significant new responsibilities and needs development, lasting at least 12 months, to be able to become effective in the role. 
• An existing member of staff who has successfully applied for a new role.
• New or existing staff who are developing into roles where there is a lack of people in the labour market with the required skills or qualifications.

As an employer of an apprentice, you must:

• Sign a legal agreement with ESFA to access funding for the apprenticeship.
• Non-levy paying organisations must reserve funds on the ESFA Apprenticeship Service to pay for the apprenticeship.
• Sign a legal agreement with the University of Cumbria for the delivery of the apprenticeship. This must be dated prior to the start date.
• Sign an Apprenticeship Agreement with the Apprentice and the Training Plan. Both must be signed in the APTEM system prior to the start of the programme.
• Employ the apprentice in a suitable role that allows them to develop the skills set out in the relevant apprenticeship standard.
• Pay the apprentice a legal wage, and pay them both when in the workplace and when attending formal teaching session.
• Allow the apprentice to complete their training in paid working time, and pay them during their involvement in training.
• Allow the apprentice to spend at least an average of 6 hours per week for the duration of the apprenticeship in active off-the-job learning. This does not mean 6 hours each week as some training may be delivered in blocks. (NB: in most cases, significantly more than the average of 6 hours per week will be needed to complete all aspects of their apprenticeship training. Time can only count towards the off the job training requirement if it contains learning directly linked to the KSBs in the Apprenticeship Standard and is in paid work time.)
• Provide suitable supervision and mentoring in the workplace to support the apprentice’s development.
• Engage in regular tripartite reviews (approximately every 8-12 weeks) of the apprentice’s progress with the apprentice and a University representative.
• Where necessary, pay the employer’s 5% contribution towards the cost of the apprenticeship to the university (for example if you are a non-levy payer or you have overspent your levy pot).
• Not ask the apprentice to contribute to the cost of their apprenticeship. This includes not reclaiming funds for any apprentices who leave early or move to another employer.