Dr Polly Pick
Director of Business Engagement and Partnership, University of Gloucestershire
For companies willing to invest in the training and development of managers, there are huge benefits — not just for the organisation but for the individual and the wider economy.
Taking an interest in a person’s long-term career development can support staff retention and engagement. It is a clear way of saying: ‘We are going to employ you for the long term.’
Sending someone on a degree apprenticeship in leadership and management means they will be able to immediately apply the learning to their job.
New skill sets for managers in university courses
Employees get new qualifications and skills and benefit from new ways of tackling business challenges in the workplace. Moreover, they get the chance to demonstrate competencies as they go through the programme, and it allows them to develop their careers in the longer term. At the same time, the picture for the employer is one of improved efficiency and better productivity.
Dr Polly Pick, Director of Business Engagement and Partnerships at the University of Gloucestershire, says: “Apprenticeships can be transformative for both learners and employers alike. Learners gain the skills to excel in their profession, while businesses benefit from improved productivity.”
Learners gain the skills to excel in their profession, while businesses benefit from improved productivity.
The University of Gloucestershire offers four degree apprenticeships in leadership and management. Chartered Manager and Senior Facilities Manager are programmes where learners gain a degree upon successful completion. For more experienced professionals, Senior People Professional is a Master’s level programme for those working in HR, while the Senior Leader Apprenticeship gives learners the option to achieve a prestigious MBA.
Levy funds available to all employers
Over the course of each programme, learners typically attend university for two-day study blocks every six to eight weeks, and they explore topics via lectures, seminars and through group work with their peers. In the workplace, they are learning on the job with the support of a mentor. Employers are required to allow at least six hours a week for study.
Leveraging the Government apprenticeship levy provides funding not just for large employers but for many smaller firms as well — SMEs pay just 5% of the apprenticeship course fee. By having the option to upskill managers, employers of all sizes can retain and attract skilled talent, which will eventually contribute to economic growth.