Double boost for apprenticeships at Teesside University

Teesside University has received funding of almost £400,000 to further expand and diversify its Professional Apprenticeship offer.

The University is one of the first recipients of funding from wave one of the Office for Students (OfS) £40m degree apprenticeships fund, launched in September.

Successful bidders had to demonstrate they could deliver projects that could increase uptake in apprenticeships and improve the diversity of students.

Teesside University will use the OfS funding to deliver a string of new Professional Apprenticeships in Science Industry Process and Plant Engineering, Accounting Finance Management, Creative Digital Design, Social Research and Therapeutic Radiography.

In addition, the University has also been awarded a grant from NHS England to deliver a research project that will enable a wider understanding of the processes and procedures relating to the University’s Level 7 Arts Therapist Degree Apprenticeship (MSc Arts Psychotherapist), and support the development of a training resource for future employers. There will also be an open access publication of the findings.

Art Psychotherapy aims to reduce distress and improve social, emotional and mental health by promoting insight, self-compassion and a sense of self-worth. The collaboration between Teesside University and NHS England supports the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan to significantly expand education, training and recruitment, and it also aligns to the University’s expertise, with the Level 7 Arts Therapist Degree Apprenticeship (MSc Arts Psychotherapist) already proving successful.

Apprenticeships offer employers the opportunity to train talented staff to a pre-defined standard, ensuring that their skills are relevant to their role and the needs of the business, across all levels and industries.

Teesside University is a flagship provider of Professional Apprenticeships, supporting a wide range of organisations and businesses to maximise their potential.

Just last week, during National Apprenticeship Week, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan visited Teesside University’s National Horizons Centre (NHC) to discuss the important role of apprenticeships in the advanced therapies industry.

Reflecting on the success of the recent funding bids, Jo Burgess, Director of Professional Apprenticeships at Teesside University, said: “We are committed to working with employers to support both the training needs and learning and development of their workforce.

“These successful funding bids are fantastic news for Teesside University and further strengthen our position and reputation as an outstanding apprenticeship provider. They also allow us to diversify our offer and further ensure that people from all backgrounds can benefit from Professional Apprenticeships at Teesside University.

“Taking a strategic approach to workforce development is vital for any business. Professional apprenticeships offer the opportunity for organisations to develop the required skills within their business. At the same time, they provide a pathway for staff to progress within their career and also an alternative route to a university education, enabling them to learn while they earn. We would encourage any business looking at developing skills and talent to see professional apprentices as a key solution for growth.”

The remaining OfS funding will be awarded across two further waves.

Bids for wave two closed in December, and applications for wave three will open this spring and are expected to close in June.

John Blake, Director for Fair Access and Participation at the OfS, said: “We set universities and colleges a challenge to deliver an extensive range of degree apprenticeships that students from all backgrounds could access. They responded with a wide range of innovative and ambitious bids.”

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