Students Rapidly Securing Degree Apprenticeships
Notre Dame's students are making strides in their careers with an increasing number of them progressing to higher and degree level apprenticeships. This trend is evident as more students are offered positions in various sectors, including engineering, law, marketing, and public service.
One such student, Elijah Gatewood-Skeete, was chosen from thousands of applicants and offered a competitive degree apprenticeship with Rolls Royce. However, his journey was not without challenges. Elijah had to resit his Maths exams in Bristol and achieve the required grade on Results Day last Thursday to secure his place. Despite the delay, Elijah's determination paid off, and he will start his apprenticeship on the 9th of September.
Elijah's apprenticeship journey included a Zoom interview where he presented his A-level Product Design portfolio. His hard work and dedication were evident, and it is no surprise that he was offered the opportunity to work with a renowned company like Rolls Royce.
Other students are also embarking on apprenticeships, with some starting on a level 3 apprenticeship (equivalent to A-levels) with companies like Plexus Law, Connect Housing, Hallam Solicitors, and the NHS. These students are supported by their companies to work their way up to degree level.
Apprenticeships offer a debt-free alternative to university for students certain of their career sector. They combine 80% employment with 20% study, providing practical experience alongside academic learning. Furthermore, apprenticeships at higher levels must provide significant new skills not covered in prior education, making them suitable for career changers or upskilling.
Since February 2025 reforms, there is more employer flexibility to focus training on role-specific competencies without mandatory functional skills training unless needed, speeding up completion and broadening access. Government funding is also available to cover training costs, even for candidates who already have degrees, encouraging employers to recruit graduates into apprenticeship roles.
Levels 4 and 5 correspond to foundation degrees, while levels 6 and 7 to bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and level 8 to PhDs, providing established academic equivalences alongside workplace skills. Apprentices must be employed in the role and have contracts long enough to complete apprenticeship training and end-point assessments. They must also follow approved standards ensuring the quality and relevance of training.
English and maths requirements apply to apprentices aged 16-18 (and older apprentices without prior qualifications), although this has become optional depending on employer needs as of 2025 reforms. Apprentices must not repeat previously studied subjects at a similar level; the apprenticeship must provide materially different and new skills. Apprentices typically spend at least 20% of their time in off-the-job training, including academic learning and skills development, capped by an end-point assessment.
Degree and higher apprenticeships span over 30 sectors, with many large employers actively recruiting apprentices. These include engineering and manufacturing companies like Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, and Jaguar Land Rover, construction and civil engineering companies like Kier Group, Mace, and Skanska, digital and IT firms such as IBM, Microsoft, and BT, financial services banks like Barclays and Lloyds, and healthcare providers like the NHS and pharmaceutical companies. Public sector organisations like local councils and government departments also offer degree apprenticeships.
In conclusion, higher and degree-level apprenticeships in the UK offer structured, funded learning combined with real employment, designed to develop new, advanced skills across diverse industries and employers, with requirements focusing on genuine new learning, approved standards, and appropriate English/maths competencies.
- Elijah Gatewood-Skeete, a Notre Dame student, found a competitive opportunity in finance and business through a degree apprenticeship with Rolls Royce, demonstrating the effectiveness of education-and-self-development and career-development in securing lucrative job-search opportunities.
- With apprenticeships, students like Elijah can gain practical skills-training in various sectors such as engineering, law, marketing, and public service, providing a debt-free alternative to university for those certain of their career paths.
- Employers across 30 sectors, including financial services banks like Barclays and Lloyds, are increasingly offering degree and higher apprenticeships, recognizing their potential for career development and the acquisition of advanced skills.
