Loughborough is one of eight UK universities that has been invited to work with some of the world’s leading companies to deliver new Degree Apprenticeships, due to be announced today by the Digital Economy Minister, Ed Vaizey.

Degree Apprenticeships will allow young people to complete a full honours degree alongside their employment. The first Degree Apprenticeships are to be launched in the digital sector, and are expected to suit people embarking on careers ranging from business analysis to software development and technology consultancy. The new programme is intended to be a fully-integrated degree, testing both academic learning and skills gained in the workplace.

The Government and industry-backed qualifications will provide the skills for a wide range of digital jobs, helping to fill the one million vacancies expected in the digital sector in the next decade.

A number of employers involved in the Tech Partnership – a group of firms working together to create the skills and jobs the digital industry needs – have already committed to offering Degree Apprenticeships. These include Accenture, BT, Capgemini, CGI, Ford, Fujitsu, GlaxoSmithKline, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), Hewlett Packard, IBM, John Lewis, Lloyds Banking Group, Network Rail and Tata Consulting Services.

Professor Morag Bell, Pro Vice Chancellor for Teaching at Loughborough University, said: “We are delighted to have been approached to contribute to shaping this new kind of degree programme.

“Loughborough has a long tradition of working in partnership with employers to develop degrees that enable our students to gain the knowledge, experience and qualities that are highly valued. The degree apprenticeships are likely to provide young people with another route through higher education.”

Speaking at the launch of the Tech Partnership at IBM, Digital Economy Minister Ed Vaizey said: “These new digital qualifications are the latest example of Government working in partnership with academia and industry to ensure that education and training routes are providing the skills which employers need now and in the future.

“We have already put coding into the school curriculum and our rollout of superfast broadband, backed by over £1 billion Government investment in our digital infrastructure, has now passed more than 1.5 million homes and businesses and is reaching 40,000 more each week.”

Tech Partnership board member and Capgemini UK Chairman, Christine Hodgson, said: “The Government’s support for this new route into employment will enable young people to build the academic and practical skills needed for success in the tech sector and will help create the talent needed to boost the digital economy.”