University of Bolton announces funding bid success

It comes after the university's central apprenticeship team bid for funding from the Office for Students.

The university has now announced the bid was successful and they have been awarded £344,000 to pay for a new “entry to HE apprenticeship programme.”

University's head of apprenticeships Jo Hornby said: “We are delighted to have been successful in this bid which we believe will give more people opportunities they may not otherwise have had, to study at university and to ‘earn as they learn’.

“Our desire is for our students to achieve the success that they deserve, and which will equip them for their future life as successful global citizens, including having the life skills to secure graduate-level employment and to prepare them for their future career.”

The University of Bolton is based on Deane Road near the town centre (Image: University of Bolton)

She added: “Students are at the heart of everything we do, we are dedicated to enable them to thrive and achieve success.”

The money will be used target care experienced learners, carers, and people in areas of multiple deprivation.

Some of the funding will be used to develop new level six apprenticeships.

These will be public health practitioner, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, registered nurse degree and youth worker courses.

The award of £344,420 was part of a third wave of investment of £14 million from the Office for Students to increase the number of Level Six degree apprenticeships in England.

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It will provide support for 146 degree apprenticeship programmes at 33 universities and colleges across the country.

The bid was put in by the central apprenticeship team together with the University of Bolton’s Schools of Health and Society and Nursing and Midwifery.

Office for Students director for fair access and participation John Blake said: “Since we launched this degree apprenticeships fund last year, I have been particularly pleased to see how universities and colleges have prioritised recruiting and supporting students from all backgrounds.

“Degree apprenticeships are an essential way into higher education for students who may not have followed a traditional route and are also of huge benefit to local and regional communities and economies.”