Higher and Degree apprenticeships in construction are up for grabs for 200 students from September by the University of East London, it has been announced this week.

Higher and Degree apprenticeships are being offered by the University of East London for 200 students from September.

The courses are being run by UEL’s School of Architecture, Computing & Engineering.

Employees in these industries can apply for a UEL apprentice in construction site management, construction design management, civil engineering site management and digital and technology solutions.

“We want to provide a seamless transition from education to employment,” the Dean of the School of Architecture Prof Hassan Abdalla said. “The new apprenticeship degree qualification for us is a natural progression.

“We have been offering professionally-accredited degrees for several years, coupled with industry work-placements for students.”

Suitable applicants for the courses learn essential skills, knowledge, behaviours and specialist techniques in their chosen field, leading to academic and vocational qualifications.

The new courses have been designed after consultation with industry, including Costain, Thames Water, Atkins, Crossrail, Fujitsu and Siemens. Helping develop the courses has been input from Network Rail, TfL, BT, Oracle, and Accenture.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Prof Nora Ann Colton said: “Employers are looking for well-qualified, job-ready graduates in an increasingly competitive market, which is what our new courses provide.

“The mix of vocational and professional competency training and solid theoretical learning puts our apprenticeship students in good stead for the future.”

Employers in industry view qualified apprentices as 25 per cent more “employable” than those who take another route into work, government research shows. Those with a Higher apprenticeship could see increased earnings of £150,000 over a lifetime, researchers estimate.

UEL is also to opening a university technical college in September for youngsters aged 14-18 who will get specialist design and engineering apprenticeships at Level 2 and 3, with the chance to get an apprenticeship degree at levels 4 to 6.