Week 132: Higher & Degree Apprenticeship overview – the provinces strike back

Latest reflections

The big highlight this week has been the first influx of 2023 vacancies with some of the major accountancy and professional services firms like PwC, BDO, RSM, Mazars and Deloitte, along with a bulk posting of Retail Leadership vacancies with Morrisons. Some of these always pose problems for me in gaining a realistic sense of numbers and/or locations, but some detailed detective work and number-crunching has been surprisingly fruitful on this occasion and hats off to some of these firms for being quite transparent about their vacancies.

After I raised concerns about levelling up last week, there has been quite a surge in the South East, West Midlands, North West, East Midlands and Yorkshire & Humber. For once therefore, Greater London has not been stealing the show.

I also have to make judgments about whether some of these vacancies should count as Level 4/5 or Level 6/7. Life is full of such dilemmas! The way I now approach this is, if I detect a clear intention that apprentices will be expected or encouraged to progress all the way up the ladder to full professional status (subject to performance), then even though they might start for example with AAT or ATT I do now count them in my Level 6/7 numbers. There has therefore been quite a surge this week in Level 7 Accountancy/Tax/Audit Professionals in my occupational analyses.

Meanwhile, I haven’t forgotten Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and I will be reporting on these soon. And with the West Midlands having a decent week, I’ve dusted down another of my Birmingham photos as my featured image.

Background

Since the first ‘lockdown’ started on Monday 23^rd March 2020, I’ve kept a record of new higher and degree apprenticeship vacancies posted in England and in doing so have built up an evolving occupational and regional analysis. I largely use data extracted daily from the government’s ‘Find an Apprenticeship’ website, whilst also keeping a close eye on other national vacancy sources including NHS Jobs, Not Going to Uni and Rate My Apprenticeship.

I collated similar data for a period of 70 weeks prior to the March 2020 lockdown and my weekly headline data compares the pre-lockdown and post-lockdown figures, using the two 70-week periods either side of lockdown as a benchmark.

My target audience is Level 3 school and college leavers and those who influence and advise them. Therefore, I only include vacancies at Levels 4 to 7 that ‘work-ready’ 18/19-year-olds seeking their first permanent role could reasonably apply for, whether at the point of leaving school/college or after a few months of temporary experience. If more than a year’s permanent experience is clearly required, I don’t normally include the vacancy in my figures.

I would emphasise the term ‘work-ready’ because academic qualifications alone will never be enough to compete successfully for a higher or degree apprenticeship. Whilst a UCAS points score of 112 is the most frequently-quoted minimum entry requirement for DAs (sometimes more and quite often less), it’s otherwise much more about the skills, qualities and insights you can bring.

My data will never be fully reliable because not all vacancies are advertised nationally in a way that also gives an indication of actual numbers and locations. However, the analyses that I’ve built up paint an intriguing picture of what’s out there in a changing post-18 career landscape. The figures also suggest that there’s something of a mismatch between supply and demand in terms of volume (there aren’t enough to go around), location (my regional breakdown raises questions about ‘levelling up’) and the range of occupations available (which probably doesn’t align too well with student aspirations).

One further and slightly confusing factor to take into account is that it’s quite normal for some 18/19-year-old school/college leavers to apply for lower level apprenticeships too, especially at Level 3. It’s also true that a proportion of DA and HA opportunities will be snapped up by older applicants or even graduates and therefore work-readiness really matters to enable 18/19-year-olds to compete successfully.

Headline data

In England during the latest period from 26^th September to 2^nd October 2022 I recorded:

584 new Degree & L7 Apprenticeship vacancies and
96 new Higher Apprenticeship vacancies

In the 132 weeks since the start of the first COVID-19 lockdown (23^rd March 2020 to 2^nd October 2022) I’ve now recorded:

14,994 new Degree Apprenticeships (Levels 6/7) and
14,216 new Higher Apprenticeships (Levels 4/5)
giving a total of 29,210

Using the 70 weeks either side of the initial lockdown (on 23/3/20) as a benchmark, my latest comparative figures are as follows:

Weekly average in the 70 weeks before lockdown: 82 DAs + 71 HAs = 153 total
Weekly average in the 70 weeks after lockdown: 84 DAs + 75 HAs = 159 total
Weekly average in the 132 weeks since lockdown: 113 DAs + 108 HAs = 221 total

This shows that both DAs and HAs have more than fully recovered since the initial reductions in the early days of the pandemic. Whilst it’s fair to say that I’m being more thorough in the way I track down and monitor new vacancies than I was in pre-COVID days, I’ve definitely seen an upward trend in volume compared with how things looked two to three years ago. However, with the threat of recession looming, I’ll be keeping my eye very firmly on the ball in the coming weeks to see if there’s any sign of a slowdown.

Updated analysis by county and region

By county (loosely defined), the 29,210 higher and degree apprenticeships advertised in England since the start of lockdown have been distributed as follows:

Greater London (7,763)
Yorkshire (2,608)
West Midlands (1,767)
Greater Manchester (1,495)
Bristol & Gloucestershire (1,128)
Hampshire (992)
Berkshire (885)
Hertfordshire (727)
Surrey (644)
Nottinghamshire (617)
Sussex (545)
Tyne & Wear (544)
Derbyshire (526)
Cheshire (525)
Cambridgeshire (497)
Essex (485)
Lancashire (471)
Warwickshire (470)
Suffolk (455)
Merseyside (400)
Somerset & South Bristol (388)
Devon (377)
Staffordshire (370)
Buckinghamshire (343)
Wiltshire (339)
County Durham (335)
Kent (335)
Leicestershire (331)
Oxfordshire (321)
Bedfordshire (319)
Dorset (291)
Norfolk (278)
Northamptonshire (277)
Cornwall (272)
Cumbria (263)
Worcestershire (205)
Lincolnshire (202)
Shropshire (141)
Isle of Wight (44)
Northumberland (41)
Herefordshire (33)
Rutland (7)
Home working with no central base (33)
Not specified (121)

Regional data: The table below shows how those stats add up regionally in the context of the local 15 to 24 year-old population. The population figures have been extracted from the very latest ONS census data published in June 2022 and my analysis provides the following information:

First number in bold = the latest cumulative number of vacancies for each region
Big number in brackets = the resident population of 15 to 24-year-olds in the region using the new ONS data and rounded to the nearest 100
Third figure in bold indexes my apprenticeship figures against the 15 to 24-year-old population. The ‘index’ shows the combined number of DAs and HAs since March 2020 per 1,000 of that population and the regions are then ‘ranked’ accordingly:

7,763 London (1,078,600: 7.20)
2,814 South West (645,800: 4.36)
2,985 West Midlands (720,900: 4.14)
2,761 East of England (685,300: 4.03)
4,090 South East (1,040,500: 3.93)
2,625 Yorkshire & Humber (670,800: 3.91)
3,151 North West (884,600: 3.56)
1,910 East Midlands (593,700: 3.22)
957 North East (313,000: 3.06)
154 Not specified / Home working

29,210 Total England (6,633,200: 4.40)

Whilst my data is always going to have flaws in it, the above comparisons nonetheless seem to me to raise some continuing questions about ‘levelling up’. That said, the South West being so well-placed is perhaps surprising, but Bristol has to take a lot of the credit for that.

Updated occupational analysis

Each week I update my occupational analysis by breaking down the new vacancies into what I loosely define as ‘occupational areas’, which in some cases differ from the official apprenticeship standards terminology. Since the start of lockdown in March 2020, the complete lists of occupational areas represented in each category are given below. In my view, this provides a fascinating insight into what the emerging occupations are in a changing landscape.

Degree Apprenticeships (Levels 6/7):

In total there have been 14,994 new vacancies spread across 104 occupational areas and minimum starting salaries have ranged from £5,590 to £32,000pa. The occupational breakdown is as follows:

2,988 Police Constables

1,639 Accountancy/Tax/Audit Professionals

1,322 Digital Technology Solutions (general) *see below for details

735 Software Engineers/Developers

729 Chartered Managers (general)

584 Nurses (474 Adult, 86 Mental Health, 19 Learning Disability, 5 Child)

557 Civil Engineers

480 Chartered Quantity Surveyors

452 Data Scientists/Analysts/Engineers

403 Project Managers

370 Chartered Building/Property/Land Surveyors

279 Electrical/Electronic Engineers

273 Design & Development Engineers

266 Supply Chain Leaders

222 Food Technology/Production/Manufacturing Professionals

217 Digital Marketing Professionals

212 Cyber Security Professionals

184 Manufacturing Engineers

161 Nuclear Engineers/Scientists

161 Sales Professionals

159 Retail Leaders

149 Financial Services Professionals

137 Building Services Design Engineers

135 Solicitors

131 Laboratory Scientists

124 Professional Economists

113 Aerospace Engineers

109 Environmental Practitioners

104 Construction Managers

98 Healthcare Science Practitioners (13 Biomedical Science, 13 Cardiac Physiology, 11 Nuclear Medicine Technology, 10 Medical & Clinical Engineering, 10 Neurophysiology, 10 Respiratory Physiology & Sleep Science, 8 Radiation & Radiotherapy Engineering, 7 Radiation & Radiotherapy Physics, 6 Audiology, 5 Digital Healthcare Science, 3 Bioinformatics, 1 Rehabilitation Engineering, 1 Renal Specialist)

95 Network Engineers

78 Hospital Operating Department Practitioners

75 Railway/Rail Systems Engineers

73 Digital User Experience (UX) Design Professionals

67 Control Engineers

60 Non-Destructive Testing Engineers

47 Electro-Mechanical/Mechatronics Engineers

45 Radiographers (30 Diagnostic, 15 Therapeutic)

44 Materials Scientists/Technologists/Engineers

43 Chartered Managers (Hospitality)

40 Internal Audit Professionals

39 Town Planners

38 Manufacturing & Production Managers (non-food)

37 Occupational Therapists

36 Clinical Trials Specialists

36 Creative Digital Design Professionals

36 Podiatrists

36 Project Control Professionals

32 Broadcast/Media Systems Engineers

30 Recruitment Professionals

29 Building Control Surveyors

29 Social Workers

27 Business Analysts

27 Chemical Engineers

25 Packaging Professionals

24 Chartered Rural Surveyors

24 Environmental Health Officers

22 Transport Planners

20 Human Resources Professionals

19 Weapons Munitions & Explosives Engineers

17 Architectural Technologists

17 Journalists

16 Public Health Practitioners

15 Architectural Assistants

15 Geotechnical Engineers

15 Junior Traders (Global Financial Markets)

15 Professional Foresters

14 GIS / Geospatial Mapping & Surveying Professionals

14 Marketing Managers

12 Insurance Professionals

11 Physiotherapists

9 Business Managers (Social Change)

8 Agricultural/Horticultural Advisers

8 Gas Transmission Engineers

8 Propulsion Engineers

6 Actuarial Professionals

6 Sport Development Officers

5 Chartered Legal Executives

5 Fire Safety Engineers

5 Operations Analysts

4 Assistant Teachers / Learning Coaches

4 Compliance & Risk Specialists

4 Speech & Language Therapists

3 Building Information Modelling (BIM) Specialists

3 Buying & Procurement Professionals

3 Digital Transformation Engineers

3 Fitness/Leisure Centre Managers

3 TV Production Managers

2 Education Technology Specialists

2 Midwives

2 Pensions Professionals

2 Tax Technologists

1 Brewer

1 Charity Manager

1 Community Centre Manager

1 Environmental Engineer

1 Events Manager

1 Facilities Manager

1 Human Performance Engineer

1 Investment Banking Specialist

1 Lighting Designer

1 Marine Engineer

1 Population Health Intelligence Analyst

1 Prosthetist & Orthotist

*Digital Technology Solutions (general) has encompassed or led to the following range of specialisms:

Software Engineer, Software Developer, Software Tester, Network Engineer, Data Scientist, Data Analyst, Global Data Analyst, Data Architect, Network Architect, Enterprise Architect, Cyber Security Specialist, IT Consultant, Solutions Consultant, Software Implementation Consultant, Software Consultant, Technical/Tech Consultant, Functional Consultant, Project Manager, Project Co-ordinator, Business Intelligence Specialist, Business Systems Engineer/Developer, Automation Developer, Automation Test Developer, Full Stack Developer, Digital Developer, Digital Solutions Architect, Technology Architect, Technology Manager, Innovation Technologist, Innovation Design Analyst, Agile Analyst, Applications Support Analyst, Technical Support Analyst, Business Analyst, Global Mobility Analyst, Content Analyst, Security Operations Analyst, Process Mining Analyst, SAP Analyst, User Experience Researcher, Junior Product Manager, Infrastructure Specialist, FinTech Specialist, DevOps Engineer, Solutions Engineer, Digital Solutions Engineer, Systems Engineer, Automation Engineer, IT Support Engineer, Service Desk Engineer, Cloud Engineer, Quality Assurance Engineer, Sales Engineer, Sales Account Manager, Sales Operations Manager, Scientific Computing Specialist, Platform Manager, Service Manager, Engineering Information Manager, Amazon Web Services Specialist, Supervisory Control & Data Acquisition Specialist, Fixed Telecoms Specialist, Operations Support Analyst, Support Desk Analyst, IT Support Analyst, IT Service Desk Analyst, IT/Computing Technician, 2^nd Line Support Technician, WordPress Developer, Technology Operations & Service Delivery Specialist, Digital Manufacturing Engineer, Electronic Systems Design & Development Engineer, Solution Engineering & Development Specialist, Client Delivery Specialist, Client Success Specialist, Client Consultant, Operations Resilience & Change Specialist, Microsoft 365 Product Specialist, Innovation Foundry Specialist, Continuous Improvement & Automation Specialist and Railway Signalling Control Systems Specialist.

That’s some list and it keeps growing.

Higher Apprenticeships (Levels 4/5):

In total there have been 14,216 new vacancies spread across 137 occupational areas and minimum starting salaries have ranged from £5,002 to £35,000pa. The occupational breakdown is as follows:

1,401 Sales Executives

1,093 Software Developers

1,026 Data Analysts

998 Project Management Associates

941 Trainee Accountants / Accounting Technicians

582 School/Community Sports Coaches

415 Nursing Associates

395 Manufacturing Engineering Technicians

393 Construction Site Supervisors

384 Business Analysts

337 Network Engineers

333 Taxation Technicians

287 Software Testers

277 Quantity Surveying Technicians

254 Public Relations & Communications Assistants

247 Cyber Security Technologists

240 Commercial Procurement & Supply Practitioners

234 Retail Assistant Managers

229 Civil/Site Engineering Technicians

201 Children/Youth/Family Practitioners

199 Building Services Engineering Technicians

187 Buying & Merchandising Specialists

182 Technician Scientists

175 Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technicians

171 Policy Officers (Central/Local Government)

156 Insurance Practitioners

154 Investment Operations Specialists

150 Reablement Associate Practitioners (NHS)

140 Marketing Executives

131 Associate Ambulance Practitioners

128 DevOps Engineers

118 Regulatory Compliance Officers

114 Early Years Lead Practitioners

96 Junior Management Consultants

87 Construction Design & Build Technicians

82 Healthcare Science Associates (22 Audiology & Hearing Aid Dispensers, 15 Bio/Medical Engineering Technicians, 15 Cardiorespiratory & Sleep Physiology, 8 MRI Radiography, 6 Genetics Technology, 4 Mammography, 4 Speech Therapy, 2 Medical Physics, 2 Phlebotomy, 1 Biochemistry, 1 Neurophysiology, 1 Rehabilitation Engineering, 1 Tissue Retrieval)

80 Human Resources Specialists

77 Food Technology/Engineering/Production Technicians

77 Nuclear Technicians

74 Quality Practitioners

73 Mineral Products Technicians

70 Recruitment Resourcers/Consultants

61 Financial Advisers/Paraplanners

56 Healthcare Associate Practitioners (general/unspecified)

51 Internal Audit Practitioners

50 Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability Practitioners

47 Actuarial Technicians

47 Hospitality Managers

46 Adult Social Care Lead Practitioners

46 Vehicle Damage Assessors

42 Automotive Engineering/Propulsion Technicians

39 Brewers

38 Intelligence Analysts

35 Journalists

34 Revenue & Welfare Benefits Officers

34 TV/Media Production Co-ordinators

33 Business Improvement Practitioners

32 Automation & Control Engineers

32 Learning/Skills & Development Practitioners

31 Dairy Technologists

29 Railway Engineering Technicians

26 Ordnance Munitions & Explosives Technicians

24 Operations Managers

21 Estate Agency Negotiators

21 Housing/Property/Lettings Managers

18 Market Research Executives

15 Fibre Cable Engineers

15 Smart Energy Engineers

14 Countryside Rangers

14 Police Community Support Officers

12 Broadcast & Media Systems Technicians

12 Engineer Surveyors

12 Land Referencers

12 Paralegals

11 Digital Community Managers

11 Hygiene Specialists

10 Football Coaches

10 Information Managers

9 Naval Architects / Marine Engineering Technicians

9 Railway/Passenger Transport Operations Managers

8 Acoustics Technicians

8 Emergency Medical Technicians

8 Employability Practitioners

8 Film/TV Post-Production Technical Operators

7 Computer Games Developers

7 Counter Fraud Investigators

6 Facilities Managers

6 Fire Safety Inspectors

6 School Business Professionals

5 Antisocial Behaviour & Community Safety Officers

5 Architectural Technicians

5 BEMS Control Engineers (Building Energy Management Systems)

5 Rehabilitation Officers (Visual Impairment)

5 Visual Merchandisers

4 Aircraft Certifying Technicians

4 Gymnastics/Trampoline Coaches / Rebound Therapists

4 Unified Communications Trouble Shooters

3 Applications Support Leads

3 Dental Technicians

3 Fashion & Textiles Technologists

3 Pensions Administrators

3 Port Marine Operations Officers

3 Senior Culinary Chefs

3 Space Engineering Technicians

3 Sports Development Officers

3 Town Planning Assistants

3 Utilities Technicians

2 Arboriculturists

2 Auctioneers

2 Building Information Modelling (BIM) Technicians

2 Early Intervention Practitioners

2 Historic Site Advisers

2 Music Recording Technicians

2 Tax Technology Technicians

2 VFX Artists

2 Water Recycling Engineers

1 Chaplain

1 Chemical Process Technician

1 Clinical Coder

1 Community Energy Specialist

1 Cultural Heritage Conservation Technician

1 Customs & Foreign Exchange Expert

1 Digital Accessibility Specialist

1 Fitness Club Manager

1 Fitness Instructor

1 Health Informatics Specialist

1 Horticultural / Landscape Design Practitioner

1 Junior Energy Manager

1 Lighting Designer

1 Metrology Technician

1 Padel Coach

1 Payroll Assistant Manager

1 Tennis Coach

1 Travel Agent

1 Wedding Accessories Designer

1 Wedding Venue Co-ordinator

Going forward

All being well I will continue posting frequent updates, usually on Sunday nights or Monday mornings.

As from 1^st June I have also started to track Degree and Higher Apprenticeships in Wales and Northern Ireland and Level 6/7 apprenticeships in Scotland. I’ve always been very conscious that my blog only covers England and I intend to redress this with occasional reports starting as soon as I have enough data to give it some validity.

https://alanbullockcareers.com/