Dispelled: four myths about degree apprenticeships in healthcare

Finding the right talent in a tight employment market can be difficult. In fact, the OECD Skills for Jobs database indicates that 26% of the UK workforce are underqualified for their occupation. In comparison, the average OECD country sits at 18%. As such, it’s no surprise that the UK healthcare industry is struggling to source the skills it needs.

Healthcare needs to upskill its employees, while also trying to fill the skills gap. In other words, it needs the people today – not tomorrow. 

Degree apprenticeships are a key way to help tackle this issue. These apprenticeships encourage people to earn while learning and give employees a degree qualification on completion. They offer relevant on-the-job experience and give employees the confidence to tackle ongoing industry challenges and changes. 

• “Doing the degree apprenticeship was probably the best decision I could have made”

Degree apprenticeships also allow businesses to invest in the talent they already have, helping them reach their full potential and keep pace with the industry’s ever-changing landscape.

But it’s fair to say that degree apprenticeships remain subject to some misconceptions, which has resulted in some organisations being hesitant about adopting them. 

Below, I explore (and debunk) some common myths about degree apprenticeships.

Myth 1: they’re only for school leavers

One misconception is that degree apprenticeships are exclusively for young people, such as school leavers.

In fact, degree apprenticeships are a great way of onboarding or upskilling and retaining existing talent, with a national study showing that most employers believe degree apprenticeships are key to attracting talent and growing their business. As such, they’re great for midlife professionals, where upskilling can help them feel more engaged. 

On top of this, offering degree apprenticeships is a good way to increase diversity levels within a business – especially within leadership teams. Degree apprenticeships can present opportunities for those from under-represented or less privileged backgrounds, enabling them to obtain a degree that they may not have had the opportunity to complete as a school leaver.