To coincide with National Apprenticeship Week (8 to 14 February), the University of Gloucestershire will join a panel discussion Degree Apprenticeships, Understanding the Opportunities.

This online forum will focus on the power of apprenticeships to provide career-long employee development and will be live on Wednesday 10th February 11am-12pm.

The digital panel and audience debate will bring together training providers, employers engaged in higher apprenticeship programmes, as well as current business learners - to talk about their personal experience of the process.

The panel will discuss the kind of higher and degree apprenticeships that are on offer and the benefits of these programmes for employers and their staff. Panellists will also consider how far the apprenticeship levy is helping businesses, large and small, to realise their growth ambitions.

Dr Polly Pick, director of business engagement and partnership, University of Gloucestershire said: "Degree apprenticeships are a great way to upskill a workforce. Employers gain from greater productivity and improved competitiveness, whilst apprentices benefit from increased skills and enhanced employability. However, employers who are new to degree apprenticeships typically have lots of questions. Everyone on the panel is looking forward to taking live questions from the audience on Wednesday 10th February."

On the panel with Dr Pick will be employers Stuart Harding (financial planning director at Attivo Group) and Damon Ballinger (manufacturing training & apprentice manager at Dowty Propellers). They will be joined by apprentices Sarah Taylor (studying for her Level 6 Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship) and Ryan Venner (studying for his Level 7 Senior Leader Master's Degree Apprenticeship).

You can register for this event here. 

Find out more about the degree apprenticeships offered by the University of Gloucestershire on the university's website.