The partnership between the Welsh Government, HEFCW, the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and Welsh universities, should see the first cohort of apprentices starting their courses as early as September 2024.

The new degree apprenticeships being created will, subject to external consultation with industry, include civil engineering, quantity and/or building surveying, building control, design and construction management.

Gareth Drought, Chair of TAC, said: “This positive step forward drives consistency across the skills profile for built environment professionals; it represents a step change in provision, and provides a blueprint for future developments in the degree apprenticeship space in Wales.”

An overarching steering committee has been formed for the development of these degree apprenticeships, with involvement from key industry bodies and employers. This includes the Technical Apprenticeship Consortium (TAC), and employer and professional institution members from the TAC National Group. CIHT is a member of TAC and supports the focus on technical apprenticeships. 

TAC lead, Caroline Sudworth, said: “Degree apprenticeships are vital to support employers across Wales to attract, recruit and retain talent. Degree apprenticeships also provide a structured progression pathway, enabling apprentices to enter technical and managerial roles in their chosen profession. This also presents industry with an opportunity to shape the curriculum to skill future talent, and to address the digital and net-zero challenges now being faced in this sector”.

University of South Wales (USW), University of Wales Trinity St David’s and Wrexham Glyndwr University accepted the invitation by the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) to offer the degree apprenticeship programmes.

These new programmes will allow apprentice employees to combine work with part-time study, with apprentices gaining practical experience as well as the higher-level knowledge that comes with a professionally accredited degree qualification.

Although the degree apprenticeships are expected to last up to five years, prior learning such as a HNC qualification, or higher apprenticeship, could reduce programme length.

Under the plans, the degree apprenticeships would be fully funded by the Welsh Government, after it agreed to include construction as a priority sector.

More information on degree apprenticeships in Wales can be found here: Degree Apprenticeships | Careers Wales (gov.wales)