Loughborough University invited to work with some of the world’s leading companies to deliver new Degree Apprenticeships

Loughborough is one of eight UK universities that has been invited to work with some of the world’s leading companies to deliver new Degree Apprenticeships, due to be announced today by the Digital Economy Minister, Ed Vaizey.

Leicestershire, UK, 27-11-2014 — /EuropaWire/ — Degree Apprenticeships will allow young people to complete a full honours degree alongside their employment. The first Degree Apprenticeships are to be launched in the digital sector, and are expected to suit people embarking on careers ranging from business analysis to software development and technology consultancy. The new programme is intended to be a fully-integrated degree, testing both academic learning and skills gained in the workplace.

The Government and industry-backed qualifications will provide the skills for a wide range of digital jobs, helping to fill the one million vacancies expected in the digital sector in the next decade.

A number of employers involved in the Tech Partnership – a group of firms working together to create the skills and jobs the digital industry needs – have already committed to offering Degree Apprenticeships. These include Accenture, BT, Capgemini, CGI, Ford, Fujitsu, GlaxoSmithKline, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), Hewlett Packard, IBM, John Lewis, Lloyds Banking Group, Network Rail and Tata Consulting Services.

Professor Morag Bell, Pro Vice Chancellor for Teaching at Loughborough University, said: “We are delighted to have been approached to contribute to shaping this new kind of degree programme.

“Loughborough has a long tradition of working in partnership with employers to develop degrees that enable our students to gain the knowledge, experience and qualities that are highly valued. The degree apprenticeships are likely to provide young people with another route through higher education.”

Speaking at the launch of the Tech Partnership at IBM, Digital Economy Minister Ed Vaizey said: “These new digital qualifications are the latest example of Government working in partnership with academia and industry to ensure that education and training routes are providing the skills which employers need now and in the future.

“We have already put coding into the school curriculum and our rollout of superfast broadband, backed by over £1 billion Government investment in our digital infrastructure, has now passed more than 1.5 million homes and businesses and is reaching 40,000 more each week.”

Tech Partnership board member and Capgemini UK Chairman, Christine Hodgson, said: “The Government’s support for this new route into employment will enable young people to build the academic and practical skills needed for success in the tech sector and will help create the talent needed to boost the digital economy.”

Notes for editors
The eight participating universities are Aston, Exeter, Greenwich, Loughborough, Manchester Metropolitan, University College London (UCL), University of the West of England and Winchester.

About The Tech Partnership
The Tech Partnership is a growing network of employers, collaborating to create the skills to accelerate the growth of the digital economy. Its leadership includes the CEOs of major companies in the tech industry, heads of technology from companies across the economy, and small company representation. The Tech Partnership is recognised by government as the Industrial Partnership for the Information Economy. It is supported by, and is taking forward, the work of e-skills UK. Visit www.thetechpartnership.com.

About Loughborough University
Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, putting it among the best universities in the world, and was named Sports University of the Year 2013-14 by The Times and Sunday Times. Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and has been voted England’s Best Student Experience for six years running in the Times Higher Education league. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen’s Anniversary Prizes.

In 2015 the University will open an additional academic campus in London’s new innovation quarter.Loughborough University in London, based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, will offer postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities.

Contact for all media enquiries

For media enquiries on the Tech Partnership contact:
Ed Sexton
T: 020 7963 8972
M: 07842 141089
E: ed.sexton@e-skills.com

To contact the BIS Press Office:
Christina Murphy
T: 020 7215 5245
E: christina.murphy@bis.gsi.gov.uk

Additional contact information

Hannah Baldwin
Head of PR
Loughborough University
T: 01509 222239
E: H.E.Baldwin@lboro.ac.uk