Force for Impact
Force for Impact
Introduction
In 2021 we published our first impact report, Force for Change. This highlighted how degree apprenticeships help to improve social mobility and increase opportunities for learners from diverse backgrounds.
Our follow-up report, Force for Impact goes one step further by demonstrating the impact for individuals, employers, and the wider economy. Our findings are based on data from:
- 5,467 Manchester Met apprentices
- 603 employer partners
- one of the largest-ever surveys of alumni, employers, and active apprentices, conducted in January 2024
- apprentice and employer case studies
- desk-based research
Impact at a glance
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Apprentices eligible for free school meals now earn an average salary of £53,350 per year
23% of alumni revealed they were entitled to free school meals when growing up in the UK. This is substantially higher than the national average for degree apprenticeships of 5% (reported by the Sutton Trust, 2022).
To qualify for free school meals in the UK, household income must be less than £7,400 (after tax and not including any benefits). The average salary of these alumni is an impressive £53,350, representing a substantial improvement in their financial circumstances.
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61% were the first generation in their family to attend university
Degree apprenticeships are fostering equity and diversity in the workplace. Overall, our data shows that:
- 61% were the first generation in their family to attend university
- 19% of our degree apprentices are from minority ethnic backgrounds
- 12% disclose a disability
- 54% of all of our apprentices are female
- 42% of our science, technology, engineering and mathematics apprentices are women
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61% of SMEs use degree apprenticeships to support their talent pipeline
For SME employer partners, the top three motivations for engaging with degree apprenticeships were:
- to support their talent pipeline: 61%
- bring new talent into the organisation: 58%
- address skills gaps: 56%
When asked for additional feedback, many employers also said that succession planning for an aging workforce was another motivating factor.
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91% of employers agreed that degree apprenticeships addressed technical and professional skills gaps
93% of employer partners agreed that apprenticeships supported their talent pipeline. 91% agreed that they addressed technical and professional skills gaps.
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76% of our apprentices received a pay rise and 39% received a promotion during their studies
Overall, 76% of our apprentices received a pay rise and 39% received a promotion during their studies. 85% of employers agreed that apprenticeships were supporting career progression.
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70% of Manchester Met employer partners reported productivity gains
There is also evidence to suggest degree apprenticeships directly increase productivity. 70% of Manchester Met’s employer partners reported productivity growth, up from 56% in our last report.
Discover our findings
Hear from our network
Impact case studies
We are creating career pathways to retain and retrain staff which never existed before. Not only does this motivate and engage staff, but it stops us as an organisation from wasting the talent that we have in our support services. None of this would have been possible without the range of degree apprenticeships available to us.
Careers and Apprenticeships Lead
I’m proud of what I’ve achieved so far. The apprenticeship route isn’t an easy one; it requires hard work and a mature mindset, but the rewards have been fantastic.
Digital and Technology Solutions Graduate
I feel that completing the course has helped me to expand my technical expertise and opened many different career paths that I would not have considered previously.
Digital and Technology Solutions Professional Graduate
Through the degree apprenticeship, I’ve matured, accelerated my career, travelled widely, and achieved financial and educational goals my teenage self could never have dreamed of.
Digital Technology Solutions Professional Graduate
About degree apprenticeships
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Become a degree apprentice
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Offer degree apprenticeships
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Want to learn more?
Our degree apprenticeships can help you develop and retain talent, enhance productivity, and diversify your workforce. Speak to an expert to find out how.