Employer apprenticeship information

In 2017 the Government introduced the Apprenticeship Levy for all business who pay a bill above £3m per year to make monthly contributions to a centralised ‘pot’ of money which can only be accessed by businesses for apprenticeship training. .  If you are paying into this levy, why not make the most of it?  

The funds expire after 24 months and therefore it’s important to make the most of it during that timeframe.  

Smaller employers who do not pay into the apprenticeship levy can still recruit or enrol their staff on an apprenticeship. As long as they agree to pay 5% of the training costs, the government will fund the remaining 95%.  

Non-levy employers can also benefit from levy transfers from larger employers who have surplus levy in their pot. Employers in receipt of a levy transfer are not required to pay the 5% co-investment fee so the training is effectively free. 

There are also incentives for employers who support apprentices between the ages of 16 – 25 years old, and those who have an education, health and care plan, or used to be in care.  

Apprenticeships are recognised as a cost-effective way to grow your own workforce and attract high calibre employees, who can develop the skills required within your organisation. Apprenticeships allow you to recruit new members to your team or develop and upskill your existing workforce. 

All apprenticeship programmes are based on Apprenticeship Standards designed by and for employers in a specific occupational sector. Each standard lays out the Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours (KSBs) and individual needs to master to be effective in the occupational role. 

These standards are regulated by the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education (IfATE), who regularly review the content of the training to ensure that they continue to meet employer needs. 

The opportunity for individuals to earn while pursuing a professional qualification through apprenticeships makes them appealing to a wider audience, enabling the recruitment of candidates from diverse backgrounds. Expanding the talent pool not only promotes inclusivity and social mobility in hiring and promotions but also injects fresh perspectives and innovative ideas into the organisation, catalysing positive transformation and cultivating an inclusive culture. 

Our registered nursing degree apprenticeships in Adult Nursing and Mental Health Nursing allow nursing students to be employed and receive a full wage while studying. The BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing and BSc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing apprenticeships are recognised by the new Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) Standards of Proficiency for Registered Nurses (May 2018). These standards set out the knowledge and skills that the next generation of nurses will learn, to enable them to deliver world class nursing care across a variety of health settings. On successful completion of this course students will be awarded a BSc (Hons) degree qualification and be able to apply for professional registration with the NMC.

Apprentices will be taught by a range of staff with relevant expertise and knowledge appropriate to the content of the units. This will include senior academic staff, qualified professional practitioners, demonstrators and technicians. Apprentices will also benefit from regular guest lectures from local healthcare services and workshops run by service users (patients and carers), who are part of the teaching team.

Apprentices will work in a range of placements which ensure a rounded experience of the patient journey and the different care settings in order to meet NMC requirements. This means all apprentices will experience placements in the community, care homes, GP practices, the private sector, as well as within NHS hospital wards and departments.

Advanced Clinical Practitioners are experienced clinicians who demonstrate expertise in their scope of practice. Advanced Clinical Practitioners manage defined episodes of clinical care independently, from beginning to end, providing care and treatment from the time an individual (includes patients, service users, clients and customers) first presents through to the end of the episode, which may include admission, referral or discharge, or care at home.

They carry out their full range of duties in relation to individuals’ physical and mental healthcare and in acute, primary, urgent and emergency settings (including hospitals, general practice, individuals’ homes, schools and prisons, and in the public, independent, private and charity sectors). They combine expert clinical skills with research, education and clinical leadership within their scope of practice.

Advanced Clinical Practitioners work innovatively on a one-to-one basis with individuals as well as part of a wider team. They work as part of the wider health and social care team and across traditional professional boundaries in health and social care.

This is a three-year part-time apprenticeship course to support registered non-medical healthcare professionals currently engaged in or developing practitioner-led, autonomous or semi-autonomous, patient-focused services, in an advanced clinical practice role, within a multi-professional team. The emphasis of this apprenticeship course is predominantly on practice-based learning and outcomes, and is suitable for healthcare professionals from all areas of clinical practice.

Enhanced clinical practitioners (ECPs) work as part of a multidisciplinary clinical team across a wide range of settings, including hospitals, community clinics, individuals’ homes and in dental and general practices. ECPs work at an enhanced level of practice, with specific knowledge and skills in a field of healthcare expertise, to manage an aspect of a patient’s care within their current level of practice. ECP is an extended role available to nurses and allied health professionals which will impact positively in a wide variety of clinical environments. 

This 18-month apprenticeship will support students to gain an enhanced level of practice with specific knowledge and skills in a field of healthcare expertise, with the option to work towards either a Graduate Certificate or a PG Certification qualification. 

The FdSc Nursing Associate Apprenticeship is a two-year apprenticeship offered by Bournemouth and Poole College, validated by Bournemouth University. 

On successful completion of this course, our apprentices will be awarded a BSc (Hons) degree qualification and be able to apply for professional registration with The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as an ODP.

As detailed by the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education: “Manufacturing Engineers primarily support the activities involved in bringing design programmes into manufacture. This role is pivotal to the launch planning and smooth delivery of exciting new products or product refresh programmes. The focus is on the advanced manufacturing techniques and project management skills required to launch products on time, on cost and to the right quality. Typically Manufacturing Engineers work closely with a range of other engineers, functions and managers both within their own company and supplier base.”

As detailed by the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education: “Product Design & Development Engineers work on all stages of product creation, product modification and product componentry. They support activities ranging on early concept feasibility, Computer-Aided Design and other modelling, activities and stages through to final preparation for launch and customers. This includes working in concept studios, rapid prototyping, assembly, testing, validating and analysing performance. Typically they work closely with suppliers and managers in bring new concepts to life or contributing to redesigns of existing products.”

As part of the two apprenticeship programmes the apprentice will complete an Engineering Council accredited BEng (Hons) Engineering degree which has been developed specifically for engineers in employment.  Before progressing to the Bachelors level at Bournemouth University, the apprentice will study an HNC and FdEng in Engineering at Bournemouth and Poole College.  Four pathways are offered to suit the needs of both the apprentice and the employer (Mechanical Design, Manufacturing Management, Electronic Design and Marine Technologies).  All programmes have been designed to be delivered in part-time day release and flexible learning modes.

A key feature of this programme is its industrial relevance and close ties with the requirements of local industry. As the apprentices are employed within engineering, projects can be ‘live’ and assignments related to and based on real experiences within industry. Seminars and group work give the apprentices the opportunity to elaborate on their experiences within industry to their peers and therefore expand knowledge beyond a purely academic sense.

The Bournemouth University Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship (SLA) aims to develop critically informed, agile, and resourceful leaders who can successfully deal with the challenges faced in the workplace, and is delivered by the BU Business School, which is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). This Apprenticeship is also accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).

This is the policy and procedure for employers to raise issues or concerns directly with the University about its apprenticeships. The University encourages informal resolution to all complaints where possible.