Supply chain firms win approval to fund degrees from apprenticeship levy schemes

A UK group of businesses have been successful in their attempt to create a work-based supply chain leadership degree apprenticeship, which can be funded from employers’ apprenticeship levy pots.

UK 3PL Uniserve said that the Supply Chain Leadership Degree Apprenticeship standard – which it had developed in conjunction with the Supply Chain Academy, Leeds Trinity University and a trailblazer employer’s group that included Sainsbury’s, Nestle, Royal Mail, United Biscuits and Siemens amongst other – has been approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships, and will be deliverable by the middle of this year.

Uniserve HR director Paul Stone said: “The degree can largely be funded through the apprenticeship levy, meaning companies can benefit from minimal investment while developing their most prized assets – their people.

“We are finding that lots of companies are still not making proper use of the funds that are generated from the apprenticeship levy, which can now be invested in creating fully functional and efficient supply chains.”

The work-based supply chain degree is suitable for all ages and requires only 20 days per year off-site learning, completion of which, usually over a four-year period, results in a full Bachelor degree.

“We are absolutely delighted with this news and looking forward to seeing relevant business-led qualifications and standards recognised in our profession. Our group is also communicating with government to map career paths from entry level up to the degree level, but more on that later,” Mr Stone added.

The degree apprenticeship approval follows news last week that Uniserve subsidiary CP Training Services was successful in its application to be an apprenticeship training provider and can now deliver apprenticeships and the required 20 days learning at the Supply Chain Academy.