Healthy success for degree apprenticeships at York St John University

Latest degree apprentices graduate with flying colours at York Minster.  

Four employees from York-based private healthcare provider Benenden Health have achieved a degree apprenticeship from York Business School and join almost 2,000 students graduating in November 2022. 

Naomi Thompson, Head of Organisational Development at Benenden Health, describes the benefits of degree apprenticeships:  

“The degree apprenticeships have not only been an excellent learning experience for those who have completed them, but the blend of academic and business focused learning has been instrumental to supporting the career development for those involved. Most of our apprentices have secured promotions and exciting new development opportunities. Having a number of degree apprenticeships has enabled accelerated growth of our internal talent into senior positions and I am really proud that we have been able to support our people to achieve their career goals.” 

Neil Wilford, Benenden Wellbeing Ltd Manager, completed a Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship: BA (Hons) Management and Leadership. He added: 

“Being able to undertake this degree apprenticeship at York St John University with the support of my employer has been an amazing opportunity and challenge. Mixing academic theory and business practice has been hugely relevant and beneficial to my role at Benenden Health and I have already been able to put much of my learning in practice, having secured a new management position towards the end of the course. The sense of achievement at having completed a BA Hons degree whilst working is huge and I’m very grateful for the support provided by family and colleagues alike.” 

York St John has been offering degree apprenticeships since 2018. The University works closely with employers to co-design apprenticeship programmes and delivery models to ensure they fit industry needs. Apprentices get cutting-edge and relevant training during a work-based degree apprenticeship, typically working full-time and studying part-time either at the University’s York or London campus.  

York St John currently offers a Senior Leaders Degree Apprenticeship, Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship, Data Science Degree Apprenticeship, Project Management Degree Apprenticeship, Laboratory Science Degree Apprenticeship, Healthcare Science Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship, and Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship.  

The University is the training provider of choice to over 140 employers, including the government, local authorities and NHS trusts, Unilever, E.ON, DRAX, Ocado and the BBC. 

Zoe Wilde, Business Development Manager at York St John University said:  

“We are delivering applied, industry-led teaching and learning at York St John University. Degree apprenticeships are proving to be a real incentive to young people as a way into a career and, for those in established careers, as a way to develop and progress. Modern degree apprenticeships enable contextualized learning whilst you are earning.   

“Our growing portfolio of national clients use our courses to support their talent acquisition and upskill their workforce. We are delighted to congratulate this year’s graduating degree apprentices and wish them every success in their future career.” 

Further information about the degree apprenticeship programmes offered at York St John can be found on the University website.