Government Apprenticeships in Economics

The University of Kent Centre for Higher and Degree Apprenticeships would like to offer schools and colleges the opportunity to book a talk focused on the Government Economics and Degree Apprenticeship Programme (details below). This degree apprenticeship is a fantastic route for students to be able to forge a career working in the heart of government and also allows students to learn while they earn and gain a degree without the need for taking out a student loan.  Whilst these talks will focus specifically on the programme and provide students with the opportunity to find out more, they will also provide informative insights into Higher and Degree Apprenticeships more generally.

This talk is available to students in Year 12 and 13 within all of our Partner and KMPF schools across Kent and Medway.

To book this activity or to find out more information please contact Lauren Frake via L.Frake@kent.ac.uk

What is the Professional Economist Degree Apprenticeship Programme?

Taught by the University of Kent, the Professional Economist Degree Apprenticeship Programme is the UK’s first degree-level apprenticeship in economics, and recruitment is now underway for the programme starting in September 2020.  The programme

•  lasts for four years and is delivered via a blended learning approach – most of the learning is completed online via weekly webinars, but there are also face-to-face elements.

•  provides people with the opportunity to study an economics degree, while working on some of the most important social, environmental and economic issues our country faces and earning a salary.

•  is fully funded by the apprentice’s employer –  there are no tuition fees.

•  offers a unique opportunity to work in central government departments and agencies, and economist roles across a variety of organisations.

Upon completion of the apprenticeship, learners will have receive a BSc (Hons) in Economics (Professional Economist) degree, a Professional Economist Apprenticeship certificate and four year’s relevant work experience – setting learners up to build a brilliant career as an economist.

What are the entry requirements?
The minimum entry requirements for the programme are at least 5 GCSE passes (or equivalent) including mathematics at grade 6 or above and A-levels CCC (or 96 UCAS points),  (Please note – higher grades may be set by employers.)

Applicants do not need to be studying economics. This apprenticeship is open to people from a range of backgrounds and knowledge who are simply passionate about making changes for the benefit of society.

The Government Economic Service Degree Apprenticeship Programme (GES DAP)

In 2019, The University of Kent partnered with the Government Economic Service (GES) to provide 75 new opportunities to join the Economist Degree Apprenticeship Programme (DAP).

After an extremely successful first year, the GES have committed to providing a further 75 apprenticeships, to begin in September 2020.  The GES DAP creates new routes to careers in the Civil Service for young people who would prefer to study for a degree whilst working at the heart of government and offers a starting salary of about £22k in London and in excess of £20k nationally. Apprentices are also offered a full-time role once they have successful completed their apprenticeship.

Applications for the GES DAP open on 10th December 2019 and close on 21st January 2020.

You can learn more about this apprenticeship here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/civil-service-launch-pioneering-economics-degree-apprenticeship 

Other employers are running the apprenticeships but applications are not yet open. For more information on the other employers we are working with for the next intake, please contact l.frake@kent.ac.uk