Degree Apprenticeships Employer Guide 2025
Welcome
Thank you for your interest in apprenticeships at Bournemouth University. Our mission is to be the region’s degree apprenticeship provider of choice, strengthening the regional workforce meeting national and regional workforce challenges.
To achieve this, we have developed a range of higher apprenticeships to meet your needs, building on our well-established employer relationships that help co-design our apprenticeship programmes.
As an Ofsted Outstanding provider of apprenticeships, you can be confident your apprentices will receive a high quality, up to date programme that blends with their job role. Ofsted said “Apprentices see lecturers as aspirational role models who encourage them to enjoy their training and become highly motivated” while “Leaders and managers provide a varied, flexible and effective careers programme that is tailored to meet the needs of the different apprenticeship pathways.”
There has never been a more important time to build a skilled workforce for Dorset in key areas, such as health and social care, digital technology and creative, and advanced manufacturing and engineering. We look forward to working with you to meet your workforce needs – whether that is through upskilling your current staff or developing new talent in your business.
Professor Philip Sewell Director of Apprenticeships & Skills
Apprenticeships
Introduction
At Bournemouth University (BU), we offer higher level apprenticeships. Level 6 is equivalent to a full Bachelor’s degree, and Level 7 is equivalent to a Master’s degree.
They are a great opportunity to ‘grow your own’ trained workforce and support succession planning for your future workforce. They also provide an excellent opportunity for your organisation to work together with us to build the skills that you require to deliver your business outcomes.
Higher level apprentices usually study part-time at BU with apprenticeships taking between 18 months and five years to complete depending on the apprenticeship standard.
Benefits of an apprenticeship
• Build your talent pipeline and support succession planning for future business needs
• Collaborate with BU to develop the skills needed to achieve your business outcomes
• Introduce fresh talent and ideas to your organisation
• Upskill your existing staff
• Boost staff loyalty and motivation, and reduce staff turnover
• Address skills shortages in your workforce
• Enhance your company’s image.
Courses
Health and social care apprenticeships
• Nurse Associate*
• Registered Nurse (Adult)
• Registered Nurse (Mental Health)
• Advanced Clinical Practitioner
• Enhanced Clinical Practitioner
• Operating Department Practitioner
• Biomedical Scientist
• Social Worker.
Law, business and accounting apprenticeships
• Accounting Finance Manager
• Digital Marketer
• Graduate Solicitor. Engineering
• Manufacturing Engineer*
• Product Design and Development Engineer*
• Engineer.*
* Delivered
Funding an apprenticeship
Apprenticeships are funded in one of three ways:
Apprenticeship Levy
The Apprenticeship Levy is paid by large employers with a pay bill of over three million pounds. This tax, paid by employers, is then stored in a fund which can be accessed to help pay for apprenticeship training costs.
Levy transfer
Non-levy paying employers can receive funds from larger levy paying employers to
cover the cost of apprenticeships (e.g the large trusts will transfer funds to smaller GP practices).
Non-levy co-investment
Non-levy paying employers pay the training provider 5% contribution and the remaining 95% is paid by the Government.
Apprenticeship Levy guide
Less than 50 employees and a salary bill of less than £3 million.
Eligible for fullyfunded free training for 16-18 year olds.
Funding is available to train up existing staff or recruit new apprentices into the business.
19 year olds and over will receive 95% funding.
£1,000 cash incentive for employers who recruit an apprentice aged 16-18.
Support funding for employers
More than 50 employees and a salary bill of less than £3 million.
Employer contributes to 5% of total costs in monthly instalments.
Funding is available to train up existing staff or recruit new apprentices into the business.
£1,000 cash incentive for employers who recruit an apprentice aged 16-18.
You can receive £1,000 to help cover costs if your apprentice is:
• Aged 16–18 (or 15 if they turn 16 between the last Friday in June and 31 August)
• Aged 19–24 with an EHC (education, health and care) plan, or have been in care
This funding can be used towards salary, travel, uniforms, or other employment-related costs.
Salary bill of more than £3 million.
Employer contributes 0.5% of anything over £3million salary bill into the Apprenticeship Levy. £1.10 will be available for every £1 deposited to be used for training.
Funding is available to train up existing staff, or recruit new apprentices using funds in the digital account. Funds expire after 24 months.
£1,000 cash incentive for employers who recruit an apprentice aged 16-18.
Levy-paying employers can transfer 25% of funds to other employers to pay for training and assessment.
Employer information
On-the-Job Training (OJT)
OJT is training related to an apprentices’ job role or employer but not directly related to the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs).
Examples of On-the-Job Training can include:
• Work shadowing where learning is not new or does not support KSB achievement
• Mentoring others or mentorship where the apprentice’s learning does not support their KSB achievement
• Real-time project involvement where learning does not support KSB achievement
• Job rotation where learning does not support KSB achievement.
Apprentice wages
As an employer, when taking on an apprentice, you agree to pay them an appropriate wage for their age. Many employers choose to pay a competitive wage in line with their industry standard as this assists with ongoing costs that the apprentice will incur such as travel etc.
For apprentices aged between 16 and 18 years, or in the first year of their apprenticeship, they should meet at least the National Minimum or Living Wage rates as outlined on GOV.UK.
For apprentices aged 19 years and over and who have completed their first year of their apprenticeship, current rates are available on GOV.UK (www.gov.uk/nationalminimum-wage-rates).
N.B Apprentices must be paid for their time on the job but also for all their training time whether that is on-the-job or off-the-job.
Off-the-Job Training (OTJ)
In addition to OJT, apprentices are required to spend on average, at least 6 hours of their working week on off-the-job training.
OTJ is a compulsory component of an apprenticeship. It involves training received by the apprentice, within their normal working hours (meaning the hours for which the apprentice is usually paid and not including any overtime), when they develop the knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) – core elements defined by each apprenticeship standard.
OTJ training can occur within or outside the work environment but must be new learning which enables apprentices to achieve the knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) — core elements defined by each apprenticeship standard, directly relevant to their apprenticeship standard.
More information about OTJ will be provided during your employer onboarding journey.
Examples of OTJ can include:
• Attending seminars, lectures, lab or skills sessions, tutorials etc at BU
• Practising knowledge, skills, and behaviours in the workplace, providing it is new learning
• Writing assignments
• Work shadowing where learning is new and supports KSB achievement.
End-Point Assessment (EPA) for
Apprenticeships
The EPA is the final stage of an apprenticeship. It is an impartial evaluation to determine if the apprentice has acquired the knowledge, skills and behaviours specified in the apprenticeship standard. The length of the EPA depends on the relevant apprenticeship standard and is embedded into the overall timeframe of the apprenticeship.
The method of assessment used in the EPA is decided by the trailblazer group who designed the apprenticeship, which includes employers who work in the occupational sector.
There are two types of degree apprenticeships:
1. Integrated
This is where the training provider (usually a Higher Education Institution) conducts the EPA.
Employer commitments
2. Non-integrated
This is where the training provider, with agreement of the apprentice’s employer, contracts with an independent body to conduct the EPA.
In both cases, BU will ensure that all apprentices and employers fully understand what is required during the assessment process early in the apprenticeship journey.
Upon completion of all apprenticeship components, the apprentice will receive their apprenticeship certificate.
If an apprentice does not pass the EPA, there will be at least one opportunity to resit the assessment at an additional cost.
Before completing the EPA, the apprentice may need to fulfil additional requirements as detailed in the apprenticeship standard. This could include mandatory English and Maths qualifications.
As an employer, you’ll commit to a training plan for your apprentice and agree to:
• Provide appropriate support and supervision
• Release the apprentice for required offthe-job (OTJ) training
• Support the application of new knowledge, skills, and behaviours in the workplace
• Take part in progress reviews every three months
• Ensure OTJ training takes place during paid working hours (including English and Maths if needed)
• Confirm the apprentice works in England for at least 50% of their time
• Complete right-to-work checks and pay a lawful wage
• Not require the apprentice to contribute to training costs
• Offer opportunities to practise and embed new skills on the job.
New to apprenticeships?
Here’s what you need to know:
What is a degree apprenticeship?
A degree apprenticeship combines academic study with workplace training, allowing apprentices to gain a university qualification while working in a paid job role.
How much does it cost?
If you’re a non-levy paying employer, the government funds 95–100% of training costs.
Larger employers (pay bill over £3 million) can use their Apprenticeship Levy to fully fund training.
What are my responsibilities?
• Provide a paid job role and release time for study
• Support the apprentice’s learning in the workplace
• Take part in regular progress reviews.
Why choose Bournemouth University?
• Rated Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ for apprenticeship provision
• Flexible programme delivery and strong employer collaboration
• Access to a wide range of courses and support for both you and your apprentice.
