Why you should choose an apprenticeship with the University of Salford, whether as a learner or employer

There can often be misconceptions about apprenticeships - but taking this route can provide a wealth of benefits for both employers and apprentices.

They provide an excellent investment in future productivity for businesses and are a great way for people to either upskill, retrain or change careers, whether they are 18 or in their 50s.

This alternative route to higher-level qualifications can be accessed by current employees or used as a tool to attract new talent to the business.

The University of Salford offers a varied programme of apprenticeships across sectors, including healthcare, society, construction, engineering and science from level four to seven.

Each year, the university celebrates National Apprenticeship Week with an awards ceremony to celebrate the continuous hard work of the apprentices, their employers and university staff.

Having provided apprenticeships since 2017, the university has educated more than 2,500 apprentices.

Quantity surveying apprentice Cara said: “I chose to study an apprenticeship as I felt it was a better way of completing a degree in that I would get five years of valuable industry experience while studying at the same time.

“Starting my apprenticeship at 18 also helped me develop and mature as a person in a way that I would not have done had I gone to University full-time. The support from the University of Salford has been great throughout, with regular catch-ups with link tutors and access to lecturers for help and support with learning.”

A major provider of degree apprenticeships, the University of Salford has seen a dramatic growth in the number of learners over the last five years and it has bucked the trend of a national decline in students doing engineering apprenticeships.