UCB aims high with its apprenticeship programme

University College Birmingham’s apprenticeship programme is going from strength to strength – with 30 per cent of its current cohort on a higher level apprenticeship.

Higher level apprenticeships offer work-based learning programmes and lead to a nationally recognised qualification. 

An impressive 84 of UCBs 279 apprentices are training at this top level.

The news comes as a report, released by the House of Lords’ social mobility committee on Friday, revealed that higher level apprentices can go on to earn more than some university graduates. It added that high wages can be gained quickly, and without the debt that can be accumulated while studying for a degree.

UCB offers all levels of apprenticeships, in a wide range of areas including; health, business administration, marketing, catering, hospitality and travel and tourism.

It has extensive links with hundreds of local employers, including Birmingham City Football Club, Birmingham Hippodrome and Hilton Hotel Birmingham.

The Lords report also showed that nationally, just six per cent of 16-19 year-olds started an apprenticeship in 2014/15.

That’s not the case at UCB where most recent figures show that 28 per cent of its current apprentices are aged 16-18.

Paul Doherty, UCB’s Director of Student Employability, said: “The great thing about apprenticeships isn’t just that you earn and learn at the same time, but that they are for everyone.

“You might be just starting your working life as a 16-year-old straight from school, or you could be an experienced worker looking to improve your career by gaining new skills and higher level qualifications. The fantastic thing about UCB is that we are just as flexible; supporting young people on Intermediate Apprenticeships all the way up to Higher and Degree Apprenticeships.”