London to showcase Degree Apprenticeships

An event aimed at helping businesses make the most of the new Apprenticeship Levy is to be held at GCU London next week.

The event, on Wednesday, October 25, aims to help employers understand more about the levy and how GCU can help with development opportunities for working people.

All UK employers with annual salary bills of more than £3 million are now paying the levy. It is aimed at funding apprenticeships across the UK and the rate will be 0.5% of the employer’s pay bill. The UK Government estimates that 2% of employers will be eligible.

The afternoon event will also showcase the huge potential of GCU London and the British School of Fashion, its talented team and the facilities and space. Through a schedule of activities, there will be an opportunity for networking and sharing of ideas with GCU staff, industry leaders and Common Good partners.

There will be a work-based education presentation, illustrating what is important in delivering useful learning to employees in the context of Degree Apprenticeships.

GCU London Dean, Professor Antony Morgan, said: “We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to gain a higher education qualification. The introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy in April this year enables even more people to achieve this goal.

“GCU is on the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers, which means we can help you make the most of this opportunity to develop your people through the delivery of Degree Apprenticeships, helping you to get real value for the money you are paying.”

GCU was the first university in Scotland to roll out two of three Skills Development Scotland-funded Graduate Level Apprenticeship (GLA) programmes, the Scottish equivalent of Degree Apprenticeship programmes in England.

These are BSc (Hons) Software Development for Business; and BSc (Hons) IT Management for Business. A third programme, BSc (Hons) Engineering Design and Manufacturing, got under way in September. These programmes are delivered in partnership with SDS and leading sector-related companies.

Students are recruited and employed by participating companies and study part time over four years to complete with honours. GLAs are delivered flexibly and a large element of learning is accomplished through work-based activities.