Some 21 colleges are to benefit from a new multi-million-pound fund to support the development of new degree apprenticeships, the government has announced.

The fund, worth £4.5 million and awarded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce), will help finance over 5,000 new degree apprenticeships for learners starting their studies next year.

Of the 18 successful bids, five include FE colleges, which will work in partnership with universities to deliver training. Over 70 bids in total were submitted.

Robert Halfon, minister for apprenticeships and skills, said: “Apprenticeships work, that’s why we’ve launched degree apprenticeships that give people a real chance to earn while you learn, putting you on the fast-track to a top career.

“This multi-million-pound fund will allow universities and colleges to work with top employers to design high-quality degree apprenticeships that give people a ladder of opportunity, more choice and help shape Britain to become an apprentice nation.”

Madeleine Atkins, Hefce chief executive, said: “The development of degree apprenticeships will provide more people with the chance to study in higher education and work at the same time, and in doing so to fulfil their educational and career ambitions. Employers will be able to use their apprenticeship levy funds to access degree apprenticeships from a range of higher education providers, and the fund will support institutions in preparing for the increased demand that will follow the levy’s introduction from April 2017.”

The degree apprenticeships fund: who will benefit?

In partnership with the University of Greenwich:

• Mid Kent College

In partnership with Buckinghamshire New University:

• Aylesbury College

In partnership with London South Bank University:

• College of Haringey, Enfield and North-East London

• Lambeth College

• Lewisham Southwark College

• Barnet and Southgate College

• Barking and Dagenham College

In partnership with Sheffield Hallam University:

• Barnsley College

• Sheffield College

• Chesterfield College

• Rotherham and North Notts Colleges

• Dearne Valley College

• Doncaster College

• Northern College

In partnership with the University of the West of England:

• Weston College

• City of Bristol College

• Gloucestershire College

• Bridgwater College
   

In partnership with the University of Wolverhampton

• Walsall College

• City of Wolverhampton College

• Birmingham Metropolitan College

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