The School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing has been delivering the Digital and Technology Solutions Apprenticeship Degree for five years. We worked closely with two professional bodies, the British Computer Society (BCS), the Chartered Institute for IT, to agree a set of professional and academic competencies to ensure our apprentices have the skills and knowledge to succeed and thrive in the industry.

Over the last year, five of our degree apprentices have completed their programme with first-class honours and will graduate in the summer.  Achieving such high standards and combining full-time employment with studying towards a degree, during a pandemic, is testament to their dedication, personal commitment and collaboration with their employers. 

How does the Degree Apprenticeship work?

Degree apprentices (DAs) learn in block weeks at the beginning of each semester. Following the teaching week, we run a weekly lecture or seminar to progress their learning and to provide an opportunity for the apprentices to interact with the tutors and module leaders. DAs begin their studies at Level 4 and build a foundation of knowledge across Software Engineering, Fundamentals of Computer Networks, and Information Systems for Business Organisations to help them select a specialism.

They are able to choose a specialism from Software Engineer, Cybersecurity Analyst, Data Analyst or Business Analyst. A Capstone Project (the final project also known as a dissertation) is submitted, making the DAs eligible to be invited for their End Point Assessment (EPA) with their employer and an external examiner. At their EPA, they will be expected to answer questions about their apprenticeship, specialism and their Capstone Project. This then allows our degree apprentices to graduate with a full degree qualification that not only recognises their knowledge but also the skills and behaviours they have developed throughout their studies. DAs are proven to be a huge asset to their employers and ready to work in a professional capacity.

What support do Degree Apprentices get throughout their studies?

While studying towards their degree, DAs get the support of a degree apprenticeship assessor (DAA), a course director and a mentor at their work place who ensures that they are progressing their learning and are also provided with the work opportunities to develop their professional experience and skills. The DAA will specifically help them to identify the areas for further development and agree, in partnership with the DA and their employer, an action plan to provide opportunities for learning on the job to happen. There are formal meetings three times a year called tripartite meetings where these arrangements are discussed, and progress is measured against the BCS’s criteria and standard for apprentices.

In addition to this Bex O’Higgins, who is the DAA for the Digital and Technology Solutions Apprenticeship programme, has regular touch points with the DAs to support them through their degree apprenticeship, ensuring they are able to balance the demands of their studies and work commitments, as well as the challenges that life brings along.

Bex has worked to form strong relationships with our DAs and their employers who appreciate her knowledge and understanding of the programme.

An employed commented, “The meeting with yourself was the first fully engaging meeting I’ve had of this kind. I really liked how you engaged with the degree apprentice and was genuinely interested in their responses and suggestions. Your subject knowledge and understanding of where the apprentice is at, was also really good.”

Thinking about a Degree Apprenticeship?

At the School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing we have lots of apprenticeship activity from open days, online information sessions and taster classes. If you would like to know more about studying a degree apprenticeship please get in touch, we’re here to help guide you towards the most suitable course.

Want to know more about our degree apprenticeships? Visit our website or email us at apprenticeships@leedsbeckett.ac.uk 

School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing

The School of Built Environment & Engineering represents an inclusive and enthusiastic community of staff, students and professional partners who recognise that what they do, design and develop will have a lasting impact on the fabric of society.

More from the blog

All blogs