Rebecca Head, who works in the marketing division at The One Group, has now enrolled on a Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship course with Anglia Ruskin, following 999 others who have taken on work-based learning courses in subjects as diverse as Nursing, Civil Engineering and Digital and Technology Solutions.
Rebecca, 19 and from Kettering, decided to study for a degree apprenticeship instead of taking the traditional university route after she was impressed by guest speakers while she was still at school.
She said: “We had guest speakers come into school to talk to us about degree apprenticeships and it always appealed to me. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do when I left sixth form, and when it came to applying for university, the traditional route didn’t really feel right.
“I saw an advert for the degree apprenticeship with The One Group on the government website, and decided to go for it. It’s different to what I did at school – I was always into the creative subjects – but it’s exciting to take this new path and see where it leads.
“My experience so far has been fantastic. The One Group and Anglia Ruskin have both provided me with plenty of support and although it is early on in my career I have been welcomed in and am enjoying the interactive experience of studying too – being able to interact online with my fellow apprentices makes you feel part of a group.
“I’m based in a new office in Northampton and the marketing team here is small – however, there’s a real opportunity to help it grow and be part of its success.”
Degree apprenticeships allow employers to develop their emerging talent, while students can achieve a degree or Masters alongside valuable work experience.
Anglia Ruskin works with 153 employers and is one of the top providers of the UK’s degree apprentices, playing a vital role in equipping the UK workforce for the future.
Tom Taylor, Head of Degrees At Work at Anglia Ruskin University, said: “Degree apprenticeships are growing quickly and are an ideal way to get on and earn within a company while studying towards a degree-level qualification. It’s the best of both worlds.
“We work with employers large and small, across the UK, and our portfolio continues to grow with more exciting courses to be launched soon. Anglia Ruskin is committed to this model of education and we are delighted to be working with employers like The One Group to support their talent development ambitions.
“Apprenticeships offer the chance to upskill the UK workforce and will be a vital component of higher education in the future.”