Digital apprentice schemes launched

A new suite of degree apprenticeship programmes - aimed at meeting the Welsh demand for digital skills - are set to launch this Spring by two colleges.

The programmes will be delivered on campus in both North and South Wales after Wrexham Glyndwr University and NPTC Group of Colleges were awarded funding under the new degree apprenticeship pilot programme for Wales. 

Universities and other degree awarding institutions were asked to design a new suite of digital programmes reflecting the skills needs of Wales, to enable Welsh organisations to upskill their existing employees or recruit new talent in areas such as Software Engineering, Cyber Security and Data Science for the new digital degree apprenticeships framework. 

The digital sector is one of the North Wales Economic Ambition Board’s key growth sectors - and the fastest growing sector in North Wales.  The degree apprenticeship programmes acknowledge the drive and need for enhanced technological and digital knowledge within the workforce of North Wales and represent significant investment for the whole of Wales.  

Working together, Wrexham Glyndwr University and NPTC Group of Colleges developed two new degree programmes for Applied Software Engineering and Applied Cyber Security Management Pathway, starting in April 2019.

Employer demand has been high for these programmes, ranging from global multi-national companies to local small businesses. 

Wrexham Glyndwr University Pro Vice-Chancellor, Dr Aulay Mackenzie said: “This programme reflects the needs of industry in harnessing the power of digital technology to continue to grow the Welsh economy. 

“Wrexham Glyndwr University is delighted to be one of the first universities in Wales, working in partnership with NPTC Group of Colleges, to be awarded this funding and look forward to the programmes starting in April. 

“This represents a significant investment in skills development in the region and a great opportunity for companies to be able to develop the digital capabilities of their workforce up to degree level.”

Richard Tong, Assistant Principal: Higher Education for NPTC Group of Colleges said: “NPTC Group of Colleges are delighted to be able to work with Wrexham Glyndwr University to provide opportunities to local companies in South Wales to further upskill their workforce via government-funded software engineering and cyber security degree apprenticeships.”

Business Development Manager and lead for Apprenticeships at Wrexham Glyndwr University, Christina Blakey said: “We’ve had a significant amount of demand for these limited places but are always keen to hear from other Welsh employers wishing to engage in degree apprenticeships with us or NPTC Group of Colleges.  We expect the demand for these programmes to continue and are already planning to request additional funding for September 2019.”

Any organisation interested in learning more about these programmes contact Enterprise@glyndwr.ac.uk or pathwaystraining@nptcgroup.ac.uk.

Picture: Aulay Mackenzie