News | Monday, 12th February 2024

Celebrating our highlights from National Apprenticeship Week 2024

During National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) 2024, we celebrated the incredible impact that apprenticeships have, including the achievements and successes of our apprentices and employers.

A group of Manchester Met Staff and Apprentices at the All-Party Parliamentary Group Apprenticeships Fair held at the House of Commons. Stood around a table with Manchester Met banners and marketing collateral
Manchester Met Stakeholders and Apprentices at the All-Party Parliamentary Group Apprenticeships Fair held at the House of Commons, London.

Championing degree apprenticeships 

To highlight the benefits of apprenticeships, Liz Gorb MBE, Director of Apprenticeships at Manchester Metropolitan University, joined forces with Scott Young, Director of RedEye and their apprentice, Aaron Morrow; Harriet Bean, Laboratory Scientist Apprentice at BASF, and Howard Smith, Digital and Technology Solutions Apprentice at IBM. They promoted the positive impact of apprenticeships at the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Apprenticeships Fair held at the House of Commons in London, with MPs and industry leaders. We joined the discussion about the indispensable role of degree apprenticeships in enriching life opportunities and imparting essential skills for the nation's prosperity. 

As part of NAW, we also hosted an SME-focused event in collaboration with the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, the Centre for Enterprise, and the Greater Manchester Learning Provider Network (GMLPN) on Wednesday, 8 February. SMEs from across Greater Manchester and the Northwest attended the event to learn more about how apprenticeships can support business growth, highlighting the support our university can offer to support the development of their organisations. 

The informative discussion looked at key areas affecting SMEs, including the importance of spending time away from your organisation to focus on your business aims, and how soft skills (for example, leadership) are relevant for managers at all levels. The discussion also covered topics such as how apprentices from diverse backgrounds can support innovation through an understanding of how to connect with marginalised audiences.  

We also shared inspiring apprenticeship stories on our social media during NAW. Click below to read the apprentice stories we highlighted: 

200 years of driving progress  

Manchester Met is 200 this year. To celebrate our 200-year history of driving progress and transforming lives through the power of excellent education and research, we shared two amazing stories of our employer partners, Siemens and Ciptex, and how our programmes helped these companies achieve sustainable economic growth and innovation. Watch the video to learn more about Siemens' partnership with us and read Ciptex’s insightful story about their collaboration journey with our university. 
 
We also took over the digital display outside the John Dalton Building on Oxford Road to share with the public the positive impact degree apprenticeships have in society and shared these images on our social media platforms throughout the week.  
 
As a top-rated university provider of degree apprenticeships for five years (2019-2023), Manchester Metropolitan University is not only transforming the lives of our students by accelerating their careers and earnings, but also working with employers to champion diversity in the workplace and develop our future workforce. These are some of the core practices that contribute to Manchester Met being an Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ university provider for degree apprenticeships, and just some of the messages that we proudly shared along Oxford Road. 

Collaborating with external organisations 

As part of our efforts to dispel myths about apprenticeships, Manchester Met took part in the Festival of Apprenticeships Online Fair, where we showcased a brand new videocast featuring our Outreach Officer, Emma Chu, and two digital apprentices, Rosie Jones, Digital Marketer Degree Apprentice at Ciptex, and Ibraheem Iqbal, Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprentice at IBM. They talked about their apprenticeship journey and providing insights for future apprentices on the applications process and how to balance work and academic life. 
 
During National Apprenticeship Week 2024, our team attended the Manchester Digital Skills Festival and took part in the discussion of how apprenticeships can benefit the digital industry. For over 10 years, the Manchester Digital Skills Festival has brought together the technology community in Greater Manchester and beyond. The event was packed with opportunities to learn, connect and inform the tech sector of tomorrow. Plus, they had dedicated sessions for current tech professionals, individuals and businesses interested in apprenticeships.  
 
Our Outreach Team delivered in-person presentations, providing valuable insights into entry requirements, application procedures, and programme details at schools across Manchester. These visits included stops at Ashton Sixth Form College, Manchester College, and Cheadle Hulme School, where they actively advocated for degree apprenticeships among the younger generation. 
 
We also delivered several webinars to discuss our programmes with employers, covering topics such as the application process, entry requirements, programme overviews, and more. These webinars were a great opportunity for businesses to delve into the world of apprenticeships and to understand the positive impact one apprentice can bring to their organisation. 

What’s next 

If you couldn’t be part of this discussion during National Apprenticeship Week 2024, don’t worry! We are hosting a Degree Apprenticeship Open Evening on 7 March 2024 at our Business School. Attend our Open Evening to hear more about our programmes from the academic team who deliver them, speak to employers, and meet some of our current degree apprentices who will be sharing their insight and experience. 
 
During the event, talks will cover details on how to apply and provide an overview of our apprenticeship's programmes. Find out more. 
 
But the discussion about the benefits of apprenticeships doesn't end here. You can: 

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