Morning, Tuesday, 29th April 2025
Online
This conference will assess next steps for degree apprenticeships in England.
It will be an opportunity for key stakeholders and policymakers to discuss implications of the Government's introduction of the Growth and Skills Levy to replace the Apprenticeship Levy, alongside establishment of Skills England.
There will also be a focus on the way forward for developing degree apprenticeship courses in emerging fields such as engineering, biomedical sciences and media, as well as more widely, to adapt to the UK's evolving labour market and meet skills needs.
The agenda will bring out latest thinking on how developments in funding may affect degree apprenticeships and strategic options for adapting to the new funding landscape, particularly in light of the announcement that HEIs will have to fund more of their Level 7 apprenticeships outside of levy funds. Areas for discussion include priorities for advancing effective partnerships between businesses and providers, and what will be needed to underpin the continued growth and accessibility of degree apprenticeships.
Delegates will examine potential implications for providers, learners and employers, including the possibility of universities withdrawing from delivering degree apprenticeships. Potential impact on skills gaps across sectors and on social mobility will also be considered, particularly for students who lacked access to HE earlier in life.
Further sessions look at priorities for expanding access to degree apprenticeships, particularly for under-25s, those from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities, and individuals from disadvantaged communities.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- Growth and Skills Levy: assessing implications of the new levy and impact on degree apprenticeships - strategies for adaptation - potential opportunities
- Level 7 funding changes: effects on providers and employers - addressing factors for potential university withdrawal - skills gaps - impact on public sector training
- Skills England: priorities, role and responsibilities - influence on training availability - skills base monitoring - relationships with stakeholders
- employer training flexibility: spend on non-apprenticeship training - advancing employee development - balancing training needs - impact on public sector training
- social mobility: mitigating possible effects on employees lacking earlier HE access - providing opportunities for underrepresented groups - improving inclusivity in apprenticeships
- business-provider partnerships: learning from effective collaboration - strategies for successful courses - quality and standards - new subjects and emerging fields - course regulation - meeting skills needs
- widening access: priorities for increasing participation for under-25s and underrepresented groups - outreach initiatives
- future funding strategies: encouraging private investment - sustaining Level 7 courses - exploring alternative models - course viability
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates.
