Apprenticeships are evolving, and the digital and technology sector is leading that change.
YEUK Youth Ambassador Michael Tran, shared with us his thoughts on the changes to apprenticeships.
The current Government is in the final stages of introducing degree-level apprenticeships, whereby students are able to enroll on a vocational and practical course, allowing them to work toward and gain a qualification equivalent to an honors degree.
These new level six (level eight and ten for Ireland & Scotland respectively) qualifications were announced by Digital Economy Minister Ed Vaizey, and will fill the skills gap needed to help support the growth of the UK digital economy.
Minister Vaizey said: The new qualifications were created to
“ensure that education and training routes are providing the skills which employers need”, helping to fill the one million vacancies expected to be created in this sector alone in the next decade.
He went on to say that over £1 billion had been invested in the digital infrastructure, which has also led to the birth of the Tech Partnership. This collaboration is made up of several leading firms including Accenture, BT, Capegemini, Ford, Fujitsu, GlaxoSmithKline, HMRC, Hewlett Packard, IBM, John Lewis, Lloyds Banking Group and Network Rail.
Although advanced and specialised apprenticeship qualifications have been growing more popular within the digital sector in the past two years (National Rail, National Grid, and the Civil Service including MI6), this is the first instance where degree-level qualifications are accessible solely through apprenticeships.
The last Autumn Statement briefly mentioned that the Government will hand out incentives to take on apprentices, including scrapping National Insurance contributions, which will allow apprentices to benefit from a higher standard of living, or invest in further qualifications or savings whilst they study at the same time.
Several universities and business leaders have praised the new initiative. Capegemini UK chairman, Christine Hodgson said apprenticeships will:
“Enable young people to build the academic and practical skills needed… and will help create the talent needed to boost the digital economy”.
UCL Director, Richard Pettinger, also stated Degree apprenticeships will:
“help increase the flow of skills into the tech industry” and “open a new route for young people to build a career in technology”.
New industry-supported short courses are also being introduced alongside degree apprenticeships to enhance digital skills. It will provide intensive training to give the workforce the confidence to keep up to date with the latest technology and knowledge of how to utilise them. They are supported by other leading organisations including Cisco, Google, Telefonica (02), Oracle, Jaguar Land Rover and Royal Mail.
the short courses will be piloted in two separate locations across England starting April 2015, and a successful individual will gain a level 3 certification upon completion. This is will be useful for companies up-skilling their staff, or for those moving into digital or IT roles.
Seen as a revolutionary shake-up in the way higher education is delivered, these qualifications will set a new benchmark in the quality of learning and training that is tailored to meets employer’s needs. It offers a real alternative to university, as well as a cost-cutting method of studying a higher education qualification. You can find vacancies by searching “Gov.uk apprenticeships”, or alternatively, search the web for a company’s name, followed by “careers”, “apprentice program”, or “corporate” page.
Where would you like to go now?
- Read YEUK’s report on Careers Education
- Read the National Minimum Wage Commission
- Join as a Youth Member
- Go Home
