Following the confirmation of government funding, Sheffield Hallam University has given the go-ahead for over 1,200 new apprenticeships to be created across the health and engineering sectors, covering areas such as digital and quantity surveying and physiotherapy and paramedic practice.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) will pump over £500,000 into this project following the success of the bid, which comes as even more good news for Sheffield Hallam University who have also announced a partnership with the University of Sheffield that will see the creation of a new engineering programme available for 90 apprentices.

The latter sees the first ever cross-city university collaboration that is specifically for engineering, and will be catering to the industry’s needs by combining both university’s strengths and expertise in the field through Sheffield Hallam’s Materials and Engineering Research Institute (MERI) and University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).

Filling the skills gap in engineering is a crucial issue for the UK’s economy said vice-chancellor of the University of Sheffield, Professor Sir Keith Burnett. Universities have an important part to play in developing this workforce that will play a key element in driving economic growth.

I am delighted that the University of Sheffield is able to work with HEFCE and Sheffield Hallam University to develop this innovative new degree level apprenticeship programme that will provide young people with an alternative route to higher education through the highest quality vocational qualifications.

The two universities have managed to highlight the importance of apprenticeships, as they offer young people the opportunity to learn whilst gaining industry experience and picking up the necessary skill set that is needed to work full time in a particular industry at the same time.

The need to employ overseas workers in industries such as construction and engineering has been growing in recent years based on the lack of people in the UK that have the required skills to go straight into full time work in the industries, however the apprentices that come out of programmes such as these will be much more equipped to do so.

September 2017 is the start date for the new degree apprenticeships, where many hopefuls will be looking to make their first steps in the industry.