Perspectives of an apprenticeship journey

Higher and Degree Apprenticeships at Sheffield Hallam University are the responsibility of a relatively new, central, Directorate of Education and Employer Partnerships with a wider remit to support student employability, establish a clear role for SHU in the region, and lead the university’s business readiness strategy. This involves working with employers on their workforce development plans, activity which usually features Degree Apprenticeships. How SHU works with employers is not new; the university has a long and successful history of developing leadership skills in a range of sectors through an applied curriculum and through part-time sponsored degrees. What is different and new however is that the impact on provision of fees, and the removal of flexible and part-time provision, has meant an opportunity to reengage through Higher and Degree Apprenticeships. This opportunity comes with its own complexities and challenges.