Creating brighter futures

In today’s business landscape, digital skills are not just an advantage—they’re essential. Yet, many businesses, particularly smaller ones, struggle to find or afford the right talent to optimise their digital presence. Degree apprenticeships are emerging as a powerful solution to bridge this gap, enabling companies to access fresh talent and develop in-house expertise without the high costs of hiring fully qualified professionals. Weston College’s Higher Education arm, University Centre Weston (UCW) now offers two innovative pathways: the Digital User Experience (UX) Degree Apprenticeship and the Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprenticeship, BSc (Hons), both of which provide accessible routes to high-level digital skills essential for your business.

What are these qualifications?

Digital User Experience (UX) Degree Apprenticeship Combines digital development with sociological, psychological and traditional design approaches to achieve your creative goals. This approach enables a member of your team to design, prototype, and build interactive user interfaces, data visualisations, responsive installations, and other user-focused experiences.

Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprenticeship, BSc (Hons) is a multidisciplinary programme designed to equip apprentices with a broad set of technical and analytical skills to support the digital transformation needs of businesses across industries. This degree covers core areas like data analytics, software engineering, cyber security, and Network Engineering, giving apprentices a robust foundation in technology solutions.

Dispelling a Common Myth: Degree Apprenticeships Are Not Just for Big Businesses

Many small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) mistakenly assume that degree apprenticeships are primarily for large corporations. However, SMEs can absolutely benefit from these programmes, gaining access to emerging talent that will enhance their digital strategies and support long-term growth. UCW’s apprenticeships start at a post-A Level (Level 3) stage and progress each year in complexity until reaching degree level (Level 6), enabling businesses to reap the benefits of an apprentice’s learning at every stage.

Why Digital Degree Apprenticeships Are Smart Investments for Your Business

These Apprenticeships allow your business to close the digital skills gap by building user-centred digital experiences tailored to your customers. With training in UX research, design, and usability, an apprentice can enhance your products’ and services’ appeal, contributing to stronger customer satisfaction and loyalty. Likewise, the Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprenticeship equips apprentices with practical experience in areas like software, cyber, data and network engineering enabling them to contribute to digital solutions that streamline business operations, increase productivity, and ensure resilient and responsive customer service, plus:

Affordable Access to High-Caliber Talent, for SMEs with limited budgets, both the UX and Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprenticeships offer cost-effective ways to access high-calibre talent without the expense of hiring fully trained professionals. Government initiatives and apprenticeship levy funds can further reduce costs, making it easier for smaller companies to take advantage of this opportunity.

Create a Pathway for Emerging Talent, many A Level students aspire to degree apprenticeships, but the shortage of opportunities with employers limits their access. By hiring a degree apprentice, your company helps bridge this gap, offering young people the chance to earn a degree while gaining practical, career-relevant experience. This positions your business as a supporter of accessible education and professional development, which appeals to both potential employees and customers.

Invest in Long-Term Workforce Development, a degree apprenticeship not only provides immediate support but also prepares an apprentice for future growth within your company. Apprentices in both UX and Digital Technology Solutions develop strong loyalty to employers who support their growth, reducing turnover and creating a pipeline for future leaders. By training apprentices in specialised skills, you’re investing in a skilled, adaptable workforce capable of supporting your business’s digital strategy for years to come.

Flexible, On-the-Job Learning and Immediate Impact, with hands-on, workplace-focused training, degree apprenticeships ensure that your apprentice adds value from day one. Under the guidance of experienced professionals, apprentices in UX can immediately contribute to tasks like usability testing, developing user flows, and designing interfaces. Those in the Digital and Technology Solutions programme bring fresh perspectives to complex challenges in areas like software development, cybersecurity, and systems analysis.

Join the Movement—Help Us Bring More Degree Apprenticeships to SMEs

Degree apprenticeships are powerful tools for tackling the digital skills gap, yet many SMEs have yet to embrace this opportunity. By choosing to support degree apprenticeships, you’ll join a forward-thinking movement that enhances business capabilities, provides young people with opportunities, and brings essential skills into our local economy.

UCW is ready to support you in bringing on a UX Degree Apprentice this January or a Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprentice, BSc (Hons) in 2025. The return on investment goes beyond improved digital products; it’s a step toward building a resilient, adaptable, and skilled team ready to lead your business into the future.

To get started, contact me by emailing me at joe.smith@weston.ac.uk or calling on 01934 411 594.

Last Tuesday, we hosted the Youth External Ethics Committee in collaboration with Avon & Somerset Police at our Loxton Campus Bistro.

This dynamic event brought together our students and police representatives for an open and insightful discussion about ethics, accountability, and the challenges of modern policing.

The focus of the event was the use of Stop and Search policies. Our students shared their thoughts on how these practices impact communities, offering honest and thought-provoking perspectives. Police representatives responded by explaining the role of Stop and Search in preventing crime and keeping the public safe.

The session was a powerful example of the importance of open communication. It encouraged mutual understanding, with both groups gaining valuable insights into each other’s experiences and challenges.

We are incredibly proud to provide opportunities like this that empower young voices and engage with important societal issues.

Jason Shears, Superintendent at Avon and Somerset Police, said: “It was a pleasure to be part of such a thoughtful and dynamic conversation.

“I was particularly impressed with how articulate and respectful everyone was, even when there were differing viewpoints – the enthusiasm from the learners was both refreshing and inspiring.”

A huge thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to the success of the event.

By hosting initiatives like this, we’re building bridges between our students and the wider community, fostering transparency and collaboration that can drive meaningful change.

Last week, one of our apprentices, Salka, won highly commended at the Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards in the Creative, Media and Marketing category, representing Weston College and her employer, Mindful Education! 

Salka started her apprenticeship in 2023 as a Marketing Assistant, joining Mindful Education, an educational course provider. At first, she was shy and a little nervous, though throughout time she gained a plethora of knowledge, boosting her confidence and developing skills. Quickly, Mindful Education recognised her incredible abilities, happily taking on additional responsibilities.  

Georgina Monk, Salka’s assessor at Weston College, said “Salka demonstrates an exceptional work ethic. She is highly organised and consistently completes all tasks to an excellent standard and a timely matter. She thrives under pressure, employing effective problem-solving techniques.” Her skills and confidence were evident not only in her coursework, but in her end point assessment too, where she worked hard to achieve all the criteria and received a distinction grade for both assessments. 

Salka shows an unwavering dedication to ethics within her marketing role. She always makes sure that each marketing effort is done with care and transparency, not only aligning with industry standards but also enhancing her employer’s reputation.  

Salka is now rapidly progressing onto her Level 4 Apprenticeship with The JGA Group, and we couldn’t be prouder of how confident and skilled she is, thanks to her assessor and employer.  

For Salka’s incredible commitment and hard work in her coursework and during her time at Mindful Education, we’re proud to have her as one of our many fantastic apprentices. Interested in browsing the apprenticeships we have to offer here at Weston College? Click here.