Higher Apprenticeship Prospectus published

25 Jul 2011

The National Apprenticeship Service has published the long-awaited prospectus for applications to the £25 million Higher Apprenticeship Fund Prospectus designed to promote the creation of 10,000 new higher apprenticeships.

The Higher Apprenticeships Fund will support the expansion of apprenticeships up to degree equivalent in companies, particularly SMEs, where there is unmet demand for the higher level skills that are necessary to create additional jobs and growth.

Industry representatives are invited to bid to the fund, which will be delivered via the National Apprenticeship Service, from today. The new apprenticeships will commence from October 2011.

At a launch of the fund at Jaguar Land Rover, Prime Minister David Cameron said: "We are investing in apprenticeships because we know they work - they are good for people who want to get ahead, good for business and good for the country."

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: "The Higher Apprenticeships Fund is a crucial step towards placing vocational learning on a par with academic study, giving bright youngsters the opportunity to work with and build the most dynamic firms in the country."

To download the prospectus and application form, go to the new higher apprenticeship pages of the National Apprenticeship Service.

To find out more about our work on Higher Apprenticeships please visit the Apprenticeship pages of our Centre for Work and Learning website