The National Degree Apprenticeships Conference 2024

The demand for degree apprenticeship courses being offered continues to rise, with the number of programmes started in 2022/23 standing at 8.2% higher than the previous year. At the same time, challenges remain in improving student interest, engaging diverse employers and boosting completion rates. Now, it is more imperative than ever for providers to address these challenges in order to ensure programmes meet their goals of championing social mobility, closing skill gaps, and rewarding employers. To achieve this, employers and providers must come together to collaborate on designing high-quality, marketable and well-supported programmes that are attractive to a wide range of potential students.

• 46,800 new starts in degree apprenticeships occurred in 2022/23, according to the Apprenticeships and Traineeships November 2023 statistics release
• 9% of all apprenticeship starts were degree apprenticeships in 2022/23, compared to 12.4% in 2021/22 according to the same release
• According to a 2022 study by Prospects, only 12% of school and college students are interested in pursuing an apprenticeship of any kind, as opposed to 60% hoping to attend University

Join us at The Degree Apprenticeships Conference 2024 to hear the latest updates from key national bodies and experts on improving the design and delivery of degree apprenticeships. Engage with a series of best practice case studies covering effective and reflexive course design, improving partnership working and collaboration with employers as well as monitoring and supporting apprentices to bolster completion rates. There will also be the opportunity to network with senior colleagues from across the sector to discuss widening access to degree apprenticeships and engaging schools, colleges and employers to improve your outreach.

Why Attend:
✓ Hear high-level keynotes on the latest national initiatives and overall landscapes within the degree apprenticeships sector
✓ Learn from case studies covering a variety of topics including staff training, co-designing courses with employers as well as effective marketing of existing apprenticeship programmes
✓ Network with senior colleagues from across the sector to discuss strategies to widen access to degree apprenticeships and engage underrepresented demographics
✓ CPD (gain 8 hours of CPD points towards your yearly quota)

For more information or to make a booking please call 0330 058 4285

• 09.20

  Online Registration 

• 10.10

  Chair’s Opening Remarks 

  Dr Mandy Crawford-Lee, Chief Executive, University Vocational Awards Council (CONFIRMED)

• 10.20

  Keynote: National Guidance and Initiatives for the Expansion and Improvement of Degree Apprenticeships

  • Key challenges and progress made within the degree apprenticeship landscape
  • Reflections and next steps in review of the IfATE 2021-2024 Strategic Plan
  • Navigating the Degree Apprenticeship Development Fund: guidance on preparing to launch new programmes
  • Recommendations for collaborating with leading industry experts to identify skills gaps and demand for new apprenticeships
  • Managing rising programme costs and reviewing the findings of the Exceptional Funding Band Review

  Beth Chaudhary, Strategy Director, Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (CONFIRMED)

• 10.40

  Case Study: Strategies for Widening Access and Supporting Under-Represented Students into Degree Apprenticeships

  • Recommendations for tailoring outreach and marketing to access disadvantaged students
  • Ensuring the application process is accessible and potential apprentices are supported throughout to improve uptake of target demographics
  • Guidance on developing a mature student outreach and support programme
  • Designing digital resources to improve awareness of degree apprenticeships in FE institutions and among employers

  Professor Graeme Atherton, Head of the Centre for Inequality and Levelling Up, UWL, Director, National Education Opportunities Network (CONFIRMED)

• 11.00

  Questions and Answers 

• 11.20

  Comfort Break

• 11.35

  Case Study: Levelling the Playing Field: Improving Access and Outreach for Degree Apprenticeships

  • Developing a robust outreach policy with local schools and colleges
  • Strategies for accessing hard to reach groups and communities to improve apprenticeship uptake
  • Guidance on engaging local employers to assess local needs and skills requirements
  • Delivering tailored support for applicants to assist them across the application process

  Janet Rowson, Head of Degree Apprenticeships, University of West London (CONFIRMED)

• 11.55

  Case Study: Monitoring the Progress of Apprentices and Providing Support to Improve Completion Rates

  • Developing appropriate monitoring tools to chart and support the progress of apprentices
  • Establishing and communicating key performance targets to communicate mutual expectations
  • Creating pastoral and mental health resources to improve apprentice wellbeing
  • Personalising support plans to prevent apprentice drop-outs and identify barriers to completion

  Patrick Leonard, Head of Apprenticeships, Academic Development and Quality, Teesside University (CONFIRMED)

   

• 12.15

  Case Study: Managing and Monitoring Degree Apprenticeships With Digital Tools

  • Guidance on employing monitoring tools like Aptem to evidence course progression and completion rates
  • Real time reporting: basing course management decisions on readily accessible apprenticeship data
  • Improving learner engagement through accessible and intuitive administrative software

  Sammy Shummo, Group Director of Apprenticeships, London South Bank University and Sean Baker, Head of New Business, Aptem (CONFIRMED)

• 12.35

  Questions and Answers 

• 12.55

  Lunch Break

• 13.35

  Keynote: Ensuring Apprenticeship Accountability Compliance and Preparing for Ofsted Inspections

  • The Education Inspection Framework: ensuring all staff are aware of Ofsted procedures, vocabulary and methodology
  • Experience of becoming inspection ready and the importance of a robust Self-Assessment process and Quality Improvement Plan.
  • Recommendations for ensuring safeguarding policies, the prevent agenda and ensuring British Values are embedded through modules
  • Compliance Data, ensuring PDSAT and the Apprenticeship Accountability Framework is central to reporting

  Thomas Burton, Head of Apprenticeship Delivery, York St John University (CONFIRMED)

• 13.55

  Keynote: Recommendations For Launching and Supporting New Level 6 and 7 Programmes  

  • Establishing core learning outcomes for degree apprenticeship programmes to govern course design
  • Understanding the regulatory landscape to avoid common pitfalls whilst expanding course provision
  • Collaborating with employers to improve the integration of on and off the job training
  • Recommendations for reviewing existing course completion rates and post-graduation outcomes to gauge impact and avenues for improvement

  Catherine Large, Executive Director Vocational and Technical Qualifications, Ofqual (invited)

• 14.15

  Questions and Answers

• 14.35

  Breakout Networking: Improving Access and Bolstering Relationships Between FE Providers and Employers

  This session will provide you with the opportunity to discuss the main challenges you face in widening access to degree apprenticeships, particularly amongst underrepresented groups, as well as strategies to improve engagement with schools, colleges and employers to this end.

• 15.05

  Comfort Break

• 15.20

  Case Study: Creating a Successful Marketing Campaign to Attract a Diverse Body of Apprentices  

  • Conducting outreach days at colleges and FE institutions to improve student awareness and interest
  • Strategies for identifying and engaging key groups of potential apprentices and underrepresented demographics
  • Incorporating feedback from current and graduated apprentices to finetune advertising campaigns
  • Promoting the benefits of degree apprenticeship programmes as a distinct alternative to other forms of higher education
  • Developing an effective social media strategy to engage both students and employers

  Simon Longhurst, Apprenticeships Manager, University of Northampton (invited)

• 15.40

  Case Study: Training and Supporting University Staff to Deliver High-Quality Teaching

  • Strategies for recruiting and retaining staff to maintain adequate staff capacity for effective course delivery
  • Delivering workshops and online resources to upskill staff and improve understanding of university teaching’s role alongside workplace learning
  • Creating a best practice handbook and learning resources to support staff making the transition from traditional degree teaching
  • Guidance on increasing the managerial department and supporting apprenticeship managers to prevent excessive workloads

  Emma Ward, Apprenticeships Manager, University of Buckingham (CONFIRMED)

• 16.00

  Questions and Answers 

• 16.20

  Chair’s Closing Remarks

  *programme subject to change without notice

Delegates who will have an interest in this event will be staff within Higher Education looking to improve and create degree apprenticeships. 

*This Conference is open to Public, Private and Third Sectors

For more information or to make a booking please call 0330 058 4285

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If your products, services, and solutions can support our audiences in their roles, and you want to make connections and generate new business with key stakeholders, decision makers, and influencers, then please contact Chris and Ali today at sponsorship@governmentevents.co.uk or complete our enquiry form here and we will contact you.

Benefits of partnering with us include:

• Brand awareness: Be seen by a highly targeted and engaged audience before, during, and after the conference.
• Lead generation: Meet the decision-makers and influencers responsible for making purchasing decisions on cyber security and data protection.
• Thought leadership: Position your organisation and experts as thought leaders and the ‘go to’ experts.
• Networking: Make valuable connections with potential new customers and partners across government and the wider public sector
• Grow your business: Reach decision makers in a single event on just one day and in one location (with no travel/accommodation required), saving you time and money.
• Gain valuable insights: Hear the latest from key stakeholders in government, and across the public and voluntary sectors.

IMPORTANT: There are only a small number of sponsorship opportunities available to ensure maximum exposure and ROI – contact us today to secure your place.

All packages include:

• Extensive branding – before, during, after the conference
• 15-20 min morning speaking session with Q&A
• Virtual stand to showcase your organisation, products, services, and solutions
• Opportunities to network during the day
• Half to full page ad in the E-Guide
• Banner ad on the virtual events platform
• Announcement post on LinkedIn
• Announcement within delegate communication
• 1-3 delegate places (worth upto £1,947)
• Access to the delegate details after the event
• Ongoing exposure through OnDemand (coming soon)

For more information and discuss your specific objectives, please contact Chris and Ali at sponsorship@governmentevents.co.uk or complete our enquiry form here

Virtual vs F2F

Whilst F2F provide better options for networking, there are many distinct advantages of sponsoring our online conferences including:

• Wider geographical reach of delegates and a different audience who prefer online to f2f
• Lower sponsorship package costs
• No travel/accommodation
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• No stand materials required (lower costs)
• 1 of only 2 sponsors involved – less competition on the day
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• Receive all delegate data after the conference to follow-up directly with those who attend and don’t attend (small % but still key stakeholders)
• Ongoing exposure via OnDemand access (coming soon)

To find out more and discuss your specific objectives, please contact Chris and Ali at sponsorship@governmentevents.co.uk or complete our enquiry form here

• Public Sector Rate:: £449.00+VAT
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• Private Sector Rate:: £649.00+VAT