Member Article

Find out how to access funding to 'grow-your-own' digital degree apprentices

Employers of all sizes are invited to the launch of the digital degree apprenticeship programme at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) Business School on Wednesday 21 January at 4pm.

Starting September 2015, this is an opportunity for organisations to access funded training to ‘grow their own’ high-level tech and digital staff of the future. The programme is also open to current employees seeking to sharpen their ICT skills and gain a full honours degree alongside their employment, while paying no student fees and earning a wage throughout.

MMU is one of eight universities selected nationally to deliver the new Degree Apprenticeship in Technology Solutions, announced last month by the government. The government is providing two thirds of the funding for training the degree apprentices. Digital Economy Minister Ed Vaizey said: This is the latest example of government working in partnership with academia and industry to ensure that education and training routes are providing the skills which employers need now and in the future.“ Liz Gorb, Enterprise Fellow at MMU Centre for Enterprise, said: “The aim is to integrate academic learning at degree level with work-based training. Students earn while they learn and come away with skills that are directly relevant to employers, who have an opportunity to instil their own business culture and working style from an early stage.

“The core content of the degree includes technological support, software development, database management, security and business organisation, but the integrated learning approach of workplace training and assessment makes the course highly flexible to employer demands - whatever the size or sector of the organisation.” Leading UK companies have already committed to take on digital apprentices, including: Accenture, BT, Capgemini, Ford, Fujitsu, GlaxoSmithKline, HM Revenue and Customs, Hewlett Packard, IBM, John Lewis, Lloyds Banking Group, Network Rail and Tata Consulting Services. To find out more about the Degree Apprenticeship in Technology Solutions, register for the employer launch event at MMU Business School on 21 January from 4pm to 6pm.

Further details from: Liz Gorb, 0161 247 3728, e.gorb@mmu.ac.uk, www.mmucfe.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Manchester Metropolitan University Centre for Enterprise .