Information for employers

Connecting you with the talent your industry needs. Higher and degree apprenticeships are an effective way for your business to grow by recruiting new talent to develop and motivate a skilled and qualified workforce.

University of Staffordshire is a modern, connected University, offering everything that your business and your apprentices need to succeed. Our professional apprenticeships programmes help employers to deliver a high quality learning experience for new and existing employees.

Why hire an apprentice?

Hiring an apprentice for your business with expert support from us can accelerate your recruitment time and reduce recruitment costs.

Futureproof your workforce

We will help you to identify and fill in the gaps in your workforce, allowing you to remain competitive in growing industries. Developing staff through apprenticeships means you are essentially shaping your own workforce, growing strengths where you need them.

Access to skilled talent

We can tailor the training to meet specific business needs, ensuring that the apprentice gains relevant skills to your company’s operations. Apprentices also bring fresh ideas and the latest knowledge from their studies.

Diverse workforce

Apprenticeships open opportunities to a broader range of candidates, including those who might not follow the traditional university route, contributing to a more diverse workforce.

Reduce recruitment costs

Apprenticeships empower your employees to carry out their roles at a higher, more skilled level and create a pool of skilled employees who can be promoted into senior roles on completion of their apprenticeship – meaning a reduction in the need to externally recruit new talent or retrain. 

Increased employee retention and loyalty

Boost talent retention through apprentices building strong loyalty with your company as they learn and grow. Furthermore, you can offer clear progression pathways off the back of the apprenticeship to reduce your turnover costs.

Filling skills gaps

Your company can address specific skills shortages within the industry by training apprentices in those areas, ensuring the business remains competitive.

How we support you

We offer complete employer support to help you get the most out of Higher and Degree Apprenticeships from a business perspective. You'll receive a dedicated account manager who will have expertise in developing recruitment and training strategies and can offer advice on how to make the most out of the Apprenticeship Levy and your funds. They will also be your go-to when it comes to the compliance and paperwork that goes hand-in-hand with apprentice employees. 

As an employer, you will get access to webinars, online tools and marketing support to help drive internal and external recruitment, as well as networking opportunities with academics who are experienced and connected within their fields of work.

Our expert team

We are experts in providing over 20 different Higher and Degree Apprenticeships for over 200 businesses across a variety of industries including BT, Merlin Entertainments, NHS, Police Forces, and Bentley Motors. We have a team of experts who will support, guide and educate your business through the apprenticeship process.

How our team can help you

  • Partner with employers and industry to trailblaze apprenticeships that are relevant to the needs of business

  • Meet with you to understand your business requirements

  • Work to develop a bespoke workforce strategy designed to meet the needs of your business

  • Help with the implementation of strategy and employee selection/recruitment process

  • Demystify the apprenticeship levy and how to access funding to make sure your business gets the most out of it

Employers we work with

We've established long-standing relationships with many employers, driven by our passion and commitment towards the apprenticeships scheme.


Our facilities

The exterior of the Catalyst building lit up at night time

The Catalyst

As part of our commitment to work-based learning, we're excited to announce a new learning environment on campus, the Catalyst. This space brings together the delivery of apprenticeships and skills to meet employer demands, in a flexible, high-quality, digitally enabled space.

Explore the Catalyst

More information

Get in touch

Contact the apprenticeships team

We're on a mission to demystify apprenticeships. If you want to find out more, contact our friendly team who'll guide you through the whole process.

in the UK for Quality Education

Sustainable Development Goal 4, Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

Top 5 for Social Inclusion

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

for First Generation Students

The Mail University Guide 2025

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021