Wolverhampton University is set to deliver more degree apprenticeships as part of a government scheme endorsed by Stuart Anderson MP. The University is one of the latest institutions to benefit from funding to expand and diversify the high-quality training opportunities, made possible by the Government’s £1.4 billion Strategic Grant Priorities Fund. Stuart said that the scheme will help to boost productivity and social mobility by widening participation in higher education and employment.
Since 2010, the Government has delivered over 5.7 million apprenticeships, offering more opportunities for young people to gain the skills they need to succeed and help to grow the economy. Building on this strong track record, the Office for Students launched the £40 million Degree Apprenticeship Development Fund in September 2023 to expand degree apprenticeships via three funding waves between January 2024 and July 2025.
32 higher education providers, including Wolverhampton are set to benefit from the second wave of the Degree Apprenticeship Development Fund, totalling £14 million. This will provide support to 151 level six degree apprenticeship programmes, increasing the number of students on level six degree apprenticeships, as well as the quality of opportunity for students into and during level six degree apprenticeships.
The funding for Wolverhampton, worth £737,622, will drive up local provision, increasing the number of starts and improving the diversity of the recruits, prioritising young people, individuals from underrepresented groups, and those least likely to access and succeed at university.
Stuart Anderson MP said: “I am delighted that the University of Wolverhampton has received this funding to help more people benefit from the high-quality training that degree-level apprenticeships offer. This will ensure that Wolverhampton’s young people get the skills they need to secure high-skilled jobs for a brighter future, helping them to gain the skills they need to succeed and realise their full potential.”
There has been year-on-year growth of degree-level apprenticeships, with over 195,000 starts since their introduction and 46,800 degree level apprenticeship starts in the 2022/23 academic year, an increase of 8.2% on 2021/22. Students can now see apprenticeship vacancies on their UCAS Hub alongside undergraduate courses.
