It was in November 2022 that universities minister Robert Halfon famously told a House of Lords committee that “degree” and “apprenticeships” are his “two favourite words in the English language”. He has also said that he would like to see half of all university students registered on apprenticeship programmes.
That may have sounded like positive news for the many higher education providers that have been investing in this provision, and also drawn the attention of others who may wish to enter this market. Last academic year saw more than 45,000 new students enrol on higher education apprenticeship programmes. But the growth of this provision since its roll-out in 2015 has not come without its challenges.
The most obvious of these is that, while the demand for these apprenticeships is high, their supply is dependent upon conditions outside providers’ control – the creation of apprenticeship opportunities by external employers.
There are other factors affecting the success – and underpinning the quality – of degree apprenticeships, factors which fall more clearly within the purview of the sector and the sphere of influence of those policymakers who are so publicly keen to promote their growth.
