THE University of Brighton is planning to offer more degree apprenticeships in a range of sectors including health, management and the built environment.

The news follows a Universities UK report predicting a sharp rise in the number of people opting for degree apprenticeships in England, and the publication of a new Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers which includes the university.

Viki Faulkner, head of apprenticeships, said: “We see degree apprenticeships as attracting back part-time students, especially mature learners and those from under-represented student groups.

“This will give them a huge step up into the local jobs market.”

Mrs Faulkner said the university is working with Brighton and Hove Council, East Sussex County Council, Sussex Council of Training Providers, Local Enterprise Partnerships, Chambers of Commerce, colleges and further education providers to raise awareness among employers to “show them that apprenticeships can be a ladder of progression”.

She said: “The university is currently educating 34 apprentices and is planning to take on more next year in a range of sectors, from management to health and construction.”

Degree apprenticeships enable apprentices to split their time between university study and the workplace and, as with other apprenticeships, the cost of course fees are shared between government and employers.

The UUK report showed a range of employers are already working with universities to offer degree apprenticeships, including Mercedes-Benz, Nestlé, IBM, Airbus and Transport for London.

The report found there will be a 658 per cent increase in degree apprentice entrants from 640 in 2015-16 to 4,850 in 2017-18 .

It said that degree apprenticeships are addressing key skills shortages with chartered management, digital and technology solutions, and engineering representing the top three areas of provision.

They also provide opportunities for people who might not have considered university including part-time and mature students whose numbers have dropped drastically in recent years

Dame Julia Goodfellow, president of UUK UK and vice-chancellor of the University of Kent, said: “The artificial dividing line between academic and vocational education is gradually disappearing.

“Degree apprenticeships build on the work that universities already do to deliver skills that employers need.”

A massive 88 per cent of universities said their apprentices are mostly based locally while 91 per cent of universities surveyed are actively involved with degree apprenticeships.

For more information on University of Brighton apprenticeship degrees visit www.brighton.ac.uk/apprenticeships