Tag: Apprenticeships

Higher and degree apprenticeship spotlight – April

Author Anna Jones | Posted on

April explains how her higher and degree apprenticeship at UWE Bristol has given her the skills and confidence to explore new opportunities.

Here’s what April has to say about her Chartered Town Planner higher and degree apprenticeship.

Find out more about our higher and degree apprenticeships and explore the many higher and degree apprenticeship courses on offer with us. 

April shares her experiences of higher and degree apprenticeships

I chose to do a higher degree apprenticeship because I graduated in 2013 and for a long time, I really wanted to do a masters. I didn’t know what I wanted to do it in, there were issues with funding and trying to find the balance of going part time at work and going back to university. So, for me, the higher and degree apprenticeship gave me the opportunity to do the degree alongside a relevant job and gave me opportunity to get back to university.

Prior to the apprenticeship, I had absolutely no planning knowledge. So, I’m doing the Chartered Town Planner apprenticeship and yeah, I didn’t know anything about planning. I had very minimal knowledge. By doing the degree alongside the work experience it sort of opened my eyes up to different areas within the sector that I could work in and helped me to understand what it is that I enjoy about planning and where I want to go in the future. I’ve met a lot of people within the field, whether that’s people I work with, people I’ve studied with, or people I’ve met at training events. And it’s just set me up to do something completely new.

For me, the reason to do the apprenticeship was to get that balance between work and studying. And I think that having to make the decision to do one or the other means that you miss out on a lot of things. The apprenticeship has been challenging, it’s taken a lot of commitment and motivation, but it’s meant that I’ve been able to sort of pursue both of those routes at the same time, and I think that’s what’s worked for me.

I think that doing an apprenticeship means that you have to be really strict with your time management. You’re trying to juggle, effectively, a full-time job with one day a week that you get to study alongside a qualification. So, it’s really being strict with yourself, but also giving yourself space to really focus on both of those things.

In terms of transferable skills by undertaking the qualification at the same time as working. It means that you get to obtain that knowledge at university, but then also apply it to real life practice. So, you’re doing that sort of on your day-to-day job. And I think that supplementing the work experience with the qualification, at the same time, means that you can progress a lot quicker, and you can become a lot more confident in both those areas.

Want to find out more?

Find out more about our higher and degree apprenticeships and explore the many higher and degree apprenticeship courses on offer with us. 

Higher and degree apprenticeship spotlight – Emma-Jean

Author Anna Jones | Posted on

Find out how a higher and degree apprenticeship has supported Emma-Jean in her day-to-day role as a Physiotherapist. Emma-Jean is currently studying a higher and degree apprenticeship in Applied Physiotherapy at UWE Bristol. Here’s what she had to say.

Find out more about our higher and degree apprenticeships and explore the many higher degree apprenticeship courses on offer with us.

Question 1: What motivated you to become a higher or degree apprentice?

I’ve been working in therapy services in the NHS for 10 years as a support worker, initially as a band 3 in the community for four years and as a Band 4 in the acute sector for the last six years. My colleagues have encouraged me to develop my career and challenge myself. I strive to deliver the best care and feel I owe it to myself, my team, and my patients to be the best possible version of myself – hopefully as a practising physiotherapist.

Question 2: What skills have you gained during your apprenticeship which will benefit your career development?

I’ve gained significant fundamental knowledge in anatomy, assessment, and treatment skills, which I’ve been able to demonstrate and evidence in my day-to-day role. I’ve also covered the basics of physiology, allowing a better understanding of general health when reading patient notes. The end of year 1 has introduced us to different concepts and models of care within physiotherapy and has encouraged us to question the model that we follow in our day-to-day roles. We’re encouraged to consider whether there are opportunities for us in service development and in patient-centred care, which is in line with NHS guidelines and physiotherapy standards. We’ll build on this knowledge as we progress through the remaining years of the course.

Question 3: What are the top three things you would recommend to someone thinking about becoming a higher or degree apprentice?

1. Get organised – coming from someone who is very organised, it’s chaotic and overwhelming at times when working full-time as well. Familiarise yourself with the university and work-related learning resources as soon as possible, talk to student reps/other apprentices and ask anything – no question is stupid. Make sure you know how to find help if it’s needed.

2. Start planning your spare time from the start of the course. And establish a regular routine that works for you. ‘Spare’ time is a rarity when you’re also working full-time and trying to live a normal life.

3. Surround yourself with people that support your journey – it gets tough at times, and you need that work/life balance and a pick me up every now and then. Make sure you dedicate down time to maintain wellbeing and a good mental health. Forge connections with your peers as soon as possible, a shared experience and understanding can really help make sense of a situation. Also consider becoming a student rep so your voice is heard, and you can help implement change.

Question 4: What are your future goals on completion of your apprenticeship?

I aspire to gain clinical experience by rotating through services, which I believe will be the case within the acute sector at the end of my apprenticeship. I hope to progress to a leadership role, whether as a clinical lead and part of a team (for which there would be much competition in our trust) or supporting the development and training needs of the workforce. I love the specialty I work within (neurosurgery and neurology) but I’m open to exploring other areas. I hope to find somewhere that makes me feel I’m making a positive impact on patients, as much as I feel I am now. I only wish to feel valued in the role I hold – if that’s the case then every day at work is a good one.

Question 5: Tell us a bit about your experience whilst doing your apprenticeship at UWE Bristol? (E.g. have you overcome any challenges?)

My first year has been a journey of highs and lows. I’m extremely pleased with my module and placement results but acknowledge it was a challenging journey to achieve them. I’ve learned resilience and have needed to know when to be kind to myself and not to create too much pressure. The most challenging aspect so far has been time management: the placement team, my peers, family, and friends have been more supportive than I could have imagined and I’m so grateful. I feel ready to tackle the start of year 2 in January but first it is time for a well-deserved break.

Want to find out more?

Find out more about our higher and degree apprenticeships and explore the many higher degree apprenticeship courses on offer with us.

Higher and degree apprenticeship spotlight – Jennifer

Author Anna Jones | Posted on

UWE Bristol apprentice, Jennifer, explains how her higher and degree apprenticeship is helping her progress in her career by giving her the skills and confidence to apply academic learning to real life situations.

Jennifer is currently studying a higher and degree apprenticeship in Occupational Therapy at UWE Bristol. Here’s what she had to say about her experience.

Find out more about our higher and degree apprenticeships and explore the many higher and degree apprenticeship courses on offer with us.

Question 1: What motivated you to become a higher or degree apprentice?

My apprenticeship opened the door to my career development, helping me to develop as a person and learn the skills required to progress in my journey towards becoming a qualified occupational therapist.

Question 2: What skills have you gained during your apprenticeship which will benefit your career development?

I’m constantly learning new skills both within the workplace and at university, and by working alongside studying I can apply my university learning to real life practice. Being a part of the workforce in my chosen profession has meant that I can learn from other professionals and understand how the workplace operates. This will hopefully allow for a smooth transition from apprentice to professional, once qualified.

Question 3: What are the top three things you would recommend to someone thinking about becoming a higher or degree apprentice?

  1. The ability to gain the skills needed for your profession and be able to apply them to real life experiences at work.
  2. It opens the door to career progression, which may not have been available to you before through ‘traditional’ study.
  3. It helps to improve your employability as prospective employers will be able to see that you can apply yourself to the demands of both work and study.

Question 4: What are your future goals after completing your apprenticeship?

My goals are to start my career as an Occupational Therapist and continuing to learn for the development of occupational therapy profession and enhancing patient care. 

Question 5: Tell us a bit about your experience while doing your apprenticeship at UWE Bristol? (E.g. have you overcome any challenges?)

I started my apprenticeship at UWE Bristol and Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership alongside moving to a different part of the country. I had to adjust to my new roles as apprentice/employee and new surroundings. However, support from UWE Bristol and my workplace made the transition as smooth as possible.

Want to find out more?

Find out more about our higher and degree apprenticeships and explore the many higher and degree apprenticeship courses on offer with us.

The importance of higher and degree apprenticeships

Author Anna Jones | Posted on

Steve West, Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive Officer at UWE Bristol, explains how higher and degree apprenticeships provide a platform to learn, develop skills and gain confidence.

Find out more about our higher and degree apprenticeships and explore the many higher and degree apprenticeship courses on offer with us. 

“As we are thinking about developing our apprentices for the future, what we must be able to provide for them is a platform, a platform to continue to develop beyond the time that they graduate. And that requires us to give them basic skills, of course, but also to give them the confidence to continue to learn, the confidence to continue to develop and invent for themselves.
 
They need to be curious; they need to be entrepreneurial. They need to be innovative. That’s what employers are going to require. That’s what we require as a country so that we can continue to develop new possibilities in the employment markets. I have no idea what the world is going to look like in 10, 15, 20 years’ time. And yet we’re creating graduates who are going to be leading in that space.

We need to make sure that we provide them with the platform and the confidence to continue to develop, to reinvent themselves, to accept new knowledge, and then apply it in very innovative ways in the workplace. That’s the beauty of what we can do through the apprenticeship pathways.”

Want to find out more:

Find out more about our higher and degree apprenticeships and explore the many higher and degree apprenticeship courses on offer with us. 

How employer partnerships help deliver successful higher and degree apprenticeships

Author Anna Jones | Posted on

Steve West, Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive Officer at UWE Bristol, explains how higher and degree apprenticeships are tailored to meet employer’s needs, working together to ensure graduates acquire the skills and attributes employers are looking for.

Find out more about our higher and degree apprenticeships and explore the many higher and degree apprenticeship courses on offer with us. 

“So, the portfolio around apprenticeships is all about trying to broaden access and bring in people to university through a variety of different routes. And the apprenticeship pathway and route is one of those, it’s not the only one, of course, but it is the one that brings us very close to working with employers, and making sure that what we do for our apprentices, in partnership with their employers, delivers them outcomes that are not just about a degree, but about the ability to go into a workplace with the skills, attributes and knowledge that they’ll need to succeed.

So, it’s a great partnership and it’s a great way of bringing people into higher education that might not have thought about coming to higher education, unless there was an apprenticeship route.
 
It’s very clear, to us at the moment, that the development of the future has to be in partnership with employers, and that’s about really understanding where the new technologies are going to be taking us, where the new employers will be looking for different skills and attributes.
 
And so, the way in which we design our apprenticeships, and degree apprenticeships in particular, follow this pattern, by working with employers, understanding what their needs are, and then translating that into programs that are both academic and skill based to ensure that the people who graduate from them have the skills and knowledge that employers are looking for. It’s a great way of building that knowledge base and contributing to the future in terms of new ways of doing things, new ways of working.”

Want to find out more:

Find out more about our higher and degree apprenticeships and explore the many higher and degree apprenticeship courses on offer with us. 

National Apprenticeship Week 2023: An Employer’s Perspective

Author Anna Jones | Posted on

Julia from Royal Devon Northern Services talks about some of our health profession higher and degree apprenticeships from an employer’s perspective.  Here’s what she had to say.

Find out more about our higher and degree apprenticeships.

“The main benefits are the progression routes for support staff to achieve registration in their preferred profession, which helps us to recruit and retain members of our allied health professions staff.

The Advanced Clinical Practitioner role also provides career progression but supports our patient safety agenda and high standards of patient care. It also supports with the medical workforce challenges. It offers master’s level qualifications for staff and again they can earn while they learn and develop.

The distance staff have to travel is a challenge, as this can be difficult while trying to work as well. We’re currently using UWE Bristol as it is our local University and offers the apprenticeships that we need.

Apprenticeships will offer opportunities to staff that they would not otherwise have been able to undertake, which will enable them to reach their full potential. This will result in being a great place to work and maintain high standards of care for our patients.”

Want to find out more?

Find out more about our higher and degree apprenticeships and explore the many higher and degree apprenticeship courses on offer with us.

National Apprenticeship Week 2023: Higher and degree apprenticeships at UWE Bristol – Lauren

Author Anna Jones | Posted on

Lauren is currently studying a higher and degree apprenticeship in Clinical Engineering at UWE Bristol.  Here’s what she had to say about higher and degree apprenticeships.

Find out more about our higher and degree apprenticeships.

Question 1: What motivated you to become a higher or degree apprentice?

I really wanted to study at a higher level and achieve a degree, but my circumstances made it difficult for me to afford full-time university study.             

Question 2: What skills have you gained during your apprenticeship which will benefit your career development?

From a workplace perspective, I’ve gained technical and professional skills that will support me as my engineering career progresses.

The University has supported me with scientific writing, presenting, networking, academic knowledge, reflective practice, and lab skills.        

Question 3: What are the top three things you would recommend to someone thinking about becoming a higher or degree apprentice?

A degree apprenticeship offers you a high standard of education and practical skills but it can be challenging to balance work/life/study so I would recommend you:

  • Consider whether your employer and the university are both a good fit for your needs.
  • Brush up on your time management skills and get to know how you learn best before you start your course so that you’re better prepared to manage the workload.

A degree apprenticeship will offer you a competitive edge against other candidates when competing for future vacancies.  You’ll be able to take advantage of the many opportunities presented by the University and professional bodies, and these will help you to decide what you want from your career, to network with others and make yourself more employable.

Question 4: What are your future goals after completing your apprenticeship?

Following my apprenticeship, I would like to further my career and study a master’s degree.

The University has exposed me to lots of potential career paths and I’m now considering pursuing a master’s in scientific communication, although, I’ve always had a deep-rooted interest in completing an MRES in cancer technologies. Which way I go is yet to be decided, but I know I would like to contribute to healthcare research in the future.

Question 5: Tell us a bit about your experience while doing your apprenticeship at UWE Bristol? (E.g. have you overcome any challenges?)

The University has always been very supportive, and I’ve really enjoyed the teaching and content.  I’ve faced some difficulties in my work environment, and I’ve really struggled to find a good balance between my work, study, and personal life, but my course leader and head of department at the university have been really helpful and offered me guidance whenever I’ve needed it.

Want to find out more?

Find out more about our higher and degree apprenticeships and explore the many higher and degree apprenticeship courses on offer with

National Apprenticeship Week 2023: Higher and degree apprenticeships at UWE Bristol

Author Anna Jones | Posted on

Ryan from CMS Project Managers and Surveyors talks about the Chartered Surveyor (Quantity Surveyor) higher and degree apprenticeship from an employer’s perspective.  Here’s what he had to say.

Find out more about our higher and degree apprenticeships.

Question 1: What are the main benefits of the apprenticeship programme for your business and the learners?

The candidates get both a degree and chartered status at the end of the apprenticeship, which is important for them. Plus, the company gains a skilled workforce with the chartered status that’s recognised throughout the industry. It also enables the company to keep up to date with what’s taught about the subject academically. This then ensures that we implement this in the work we carry out for clients.”

Question 2: Do you have any advice to other employers considering this?

The five-year duration allows for a cycle to be created. We have one apprentice, who will be sitting his APC in spring next year, and another in the middle of their course. We’ll also be looking for another school leaver soon to enrol on the course to ensure the cycle is maintained. Given the difficulties in attracting and retaining quantity surveying talent, this apprenticeship scheme offers us a fantastic opportunity to generate high-quality, homegrown talent.

Question 3: What led you to sign up for the apprenticeship programme with UWE Bristol and were there any barriers for you as an employer in doing this?

Several of our staff studied at UWE Bristol and the apprenticeship programme offers a fantastic way for students to not only get a degree but also chartered status.   

Question 4: How will apprenticeships shape the future of your business?

They are already shaping the future of our business by progressing into senior roles within the company. This is allowing us to grow as they’re familiar with our systems and processes and have the qualifications to reassure our clients of the high standards we work to.

Want to find out more?

Find out more about our higher and degree apprenticeships and explore the many higher and degree apprenticeship courses on offer with us.

UWE Bristol Apprenticeship: Meet the academic – Karina Stewart

Author Anna Jones | Posted on

In this Meet the Academic, we caught up with Karina Stewart, Associate Head of Department (Subject Lead for Healthcare Science) to talk about her experiences of apprenticeships.

Karina teaches on the following apprenticeships:

  • Healthcare Science (Physiological Sciences) Practitioner Training Programme
  • Healthcare Science (Clinical Engineering) Practitioner Training Programme
  • Healthcare Science (Medical Physics Technology) Practitioner Training Programme

Thinking about your engagement with apprentices, what are the main benefits you can see for someone thinking about becoming a Higher or Degree apprentice?

This is an excellent way of gaining a recognised, vocational qualification whilst earning a salary. The programme of apprenticeships in Healthcare Science (from Level 2 to 7) provides a structured training and career progression pathway. The range of apprenticeships are accessible to anyone, at any age. At UWE we offer Level 6 (degree-level) apprenticeships in a range of Healthcare Science specialisms.

As with all apprenticeships, what you learn in your modules at UWE is directly applicable to the job you do in the workplace. As you progress with your academic and workplace training you become more proficient in your role and more able to contribute to your department and service in general. At the end you have a recognised, formal Batchelor of Science (BSc) qualification that offers great career prospects.

What role do you think Higher and Degree apprenticeships have towards widening access and participation within Higher Education, and the benefits for the local economy?

Higher and degree apprenticeships give people the opportunity to access and participate in education that might otherwise have been unavailable or inaccessible to them. So they really help to create a more ‘level playing field’ in this respect. These schemes can be used by anyone at any age to upskill or retrain at any point in their career, as well as being accessible to school/college leavers.

There is evidence that higher and degree apprenticeships promote local economic growth in a number of ways. For trainees, they offer greater employment and career prospects, and hence higher life-time salary levels. For employers, they enable growth and upskilling of the workforce, which leads to higher levels of productivity.

What do you see as the role of apprenticeships in UWE Bristol and beyond in the future?

Apprenticeships are relatively new at UWE, but I am sure are here to stay! We have increased our range of Healthcare Science programmes over the years, and the number of apprentices joining us each year continues to grow as more employers become aware of this training option.

UWE has always been at the forefront in terms of vocational education, and apprenticeships continue to align to the university’s strategy. Indeed, the focus of Strategy 2030 at UWE is ‘Transforming Futures’, through innovative and inclusive practice-led education that is accessible to all. With more employers accessing levy funding and more people becoming aware of apprenticeship training routes, demand for this form of education is ever increasing.

We are here to educate and train the workforce of the future. That has to be done in a sustainable way, in partnership with employers and other education providers. Exciting times!

Find out more about Apprenticeships at UWE Bristol.

UWE Bristol Apprenticeships: Meet the Academic

Author Anna Jones | Posted on

In this Meet the Academic, we caught up with Nick Smith, Associate Head of Department, Geography and Environmental Management to talk about his experiences of apprenticeships.

Nick teaches on our Town Planning Degree Apprenticeship:

Thinking about your engagement with apprentices, what are the main benefits you can see for someone thinking about becoming a Higher or Degree apprentice?

Pursuing an apprenticeship provides a great opportunity for combining work and study together. Apprentices follow a programme of study that responds to the expectations for becoming professional planners, with the individual components of the programme collectively delivering the knowledge, skills and behaviours that employers are looking for.

Our town planning apprenticeship has been structured to offer flexibility to our learners, with two specific entry points providing an opportunity for past experience and qualifications to be properly recognised

What role do you think Higher and Degree apprenticeships have towards widening access and participation within Higher Education, and the benefits for the local economy?

There is a national shortage of planners at the moment and the need for planners has never been greater with planning being expected to respond, and deliver, against wide ranging contemporary challenges. The biggest of these is obviously the climate emergency.

The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) is keen to increase the supply of planners but also to increase the appeal of the profession to the widest population possible.

The RTPI has a clear strategy for diversifying its membership and the apprenticeship scheme offers a real opportunity for delivering this. Already we have seen apprentices step forward and join the programme who might not have been able to do so if they were having to pay themselves.

What do you see as the role of apprenticeships in UWE Bristol and beyond in the future?

I hope that apprenticeship provision can continue to grow as it provides multiple benefits to both apprentices and our existing body of students. Having apprentices in-class alongside other learners provides a real opportunity for delivering the university’s ambitions for practice based learning.

It also provides some effective avenues for staff to become better engaged with practice and to hear about experiences from the front line.

Find out more about Apprenticeships at UWE Bristol.

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