Leeds Trinity University celebrates National Apprenticeship Week with new milestone and regional collaboration event

The University (@LeedsTrinity) is proud to be offering more higher and degree apprenticeship programmes and work-based learning courses than ever before – with a quarter more learners signed up than this time last year.

This National Apprenticeship Week (7-13 February) Leeds Trinity is celebrating the second anniversary of its Centre for Apprenticeships, Work-based Learning and Skills.

The Centre is home to the University’s higher and degree apprenticeship programmes and work-based learning provision. The University currently boasts 770 apprentices, an increase of 28% compared to this time last year. Additionally, almost 60 new learners are expected to be joining courses before April this year. Meanwhile, the Centre has also seen a 13% rise in the number of employers it works with compared to 12 months ago.

To mark the occasion, on Wednesday 9 February, the University is hosting an online seminar with Leeds City Council Chief Executive Tom Riordan as a keynote speaker, to discuss the value of apprenticeships in the Leeds City Region.

The online event, due to be live streamed via the University’s YouTube channel, will also welcome Rachel Bonner from West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA).

Claire Newhouse, Director of the Centre for Apprenticeships, Work-based Learning and Skills, said:

“We are delighted that our provision is growing from strength to strength and we are able to work with even more businesses than ever before to support the economic growth of the Leeds City Region and beyond.

“We are excited to be launching two new courses from September alongside our already established portfolio, and can’t wait to be supporting even more learners through our provision of high-quality apprenticeships which prepare and develop individuals for a wide variety of different roles and responsibilities.” 

Tom Riordan, Leeds City Council CEO said:“Apprenticeship opportunities continue to grow across Leeds, highlighting the increasing importance placed on apprenticeships by employers and candidates. Apprenticeships are perfect for anybody exploring their first career step, upskilling or changing career, and National Apprenticeship Week is a brilliant chance to celebrate our most successful apprentices and promote work-based learning.”

Leeds Trinity introduced its first degree apprenticeships five years ago with a cohort of just 15 apprentices on the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship programme. 

Since then, the University has welcomed apprentices across nine additional programmes, offering apprenticeships in: Business to Business (B2B) Sales, Chartered Management, Digital Marketing, Software Engineering, Senior Leadership, Supply Chain Leadership, Children, Young People and Families and Police Constable. 

It is set to be introducing two new courses to its portfolio – the Project Manager Degree Apprenticeship andtheSystems Thinking Practitioner Apprenticeship Level 7 – with intakes in September 2022 and January 2023.

A partnership with West Yorkshire Police has seen more than 420 new police officers studying for a Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship and the Graduate Diploma in Professional Policing with the University within the last 12 months.

Chief Inspector Kevin Pickles, PEQF lead for Learning and Development at West Yorkshire Police said:

“The Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship is a great opportunity for individuals who are considering a career with the Force to see what an exciting and rewarding role it is. We are delighted with the success the apprenticeship has seen so far through the work-based programme designed and delivered by Leeds Trinity University in partnership with West Yorkshire Police.”

Many of the apprenticeships at Leeds Trinity are developed using the University’s Work-based Learning Framework, which is a flexible way to give value to the knowledge and skills which are developed in the workplace.