Degree apprenticeship partners recognised among the best

Northumbria University, Newcastle, is delivering degree apprenticeship courses for more than one in ten of the organisations recently ranked in a new national league table for top apprenticeship employers.

Recognised as a leading degree apprenticeship training provider, Northumbria University was one of the first in the UK to offer the government-supported programmes. The University now works with around 300 different companies annually – large and small and across the public and private sector – to co-create and deliver tailored and practical degree apprenticeship programmes designed to meet specific business needs.

The Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers is a new leaderboard, developed by the National Apprenticeship Service, in partnership with High Fliers Research.

Joe Hedley, Deputy Director of Business and Enterprise at Northumbria University, said: “It is great to see our business partners recognised for the incredible support they provide to their apprentices and the apprenticeships programme. The collective efforts of employers, apprentices and Northumbria University has a hugely positive impact on people’s lives and the UK workforce.

“From a Northumbria University perspective, working with 12 organisations listed in the top 100 is testament to the relevance and quality of our offer. It also reinforces our prominent role in driving the economy through partnership working with a wide range of different businesses and sectors.”

Degree apprenticeship programmes offer a productive and effective way for any organisation to grow talent and develop a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce. By accessing levy payments or government funding, businesses can provide employees with a recognised and relevant qualification, at little extra cost.

The new apprenticeship rankings recognise the country’s leading employers for: their overall commitment to employing apprentices; their creation of new apprenticeships; the diversity of their new apprentices; and the progression of their apprentices onto further apprenticeships and employment.

Over 400 employers from a wide range of industries and business sectors entered for the inaugural rankings earlier this year. Entries were independently assessed and the data used to compile the top 100 for 2020.

The 12 organisations that Northumbria University currently works with, and their respective rankings, are: Ernst & Young LLP (16th), Cambridge Assessment (31st), Capita PLC (41st), Northumbria Police (44th), Leeds City Council (47th), South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust  (68th), Vinci PLC (69th), Taylor Wimpey PLC (72nd), Home Group Ltd (74th), Arup (78th), Barchester Healthcare (90th) and Durham County Council  (91st).

These new annual rankings are designed to help potential apprentices, parents and careers advisers easily identify apprenticeship opportunities at England’s top employers. A copy of the Top 100 is available to download here: