Million Plus

MillionPlus, the Association for Modern Universities, has today (07 December) commented on the Education Select Committee’s report ‘Nursing degree apprenticeships: in poor health?’ which examines why so few nursing degree apprenticeships have been created and explores what action could be taken to ensure that anyone who wants to train as a nurse via a degree apprenticeship route is able to access a degree apprenticeship.

Dr Greg Walker, Chief Executive of MillionPlus, said:

“The Education Select Committee’s report into nursing degree apprenticeships is a much needed, timely intervention into the debate around degree apprenticeships.

“Modern universities are long-standing experts in the training and development of the nursing workforce in England, which includes offering opportunities to people from disadvantaged backgrounds and older students to ensure a diverse, representative nursing staff. They have many years of experience working in partnership with health trusts and hospitals to provide high-quality, highly-skilled nurse graduates into the NHS. They can only do this with sufficient, sustainable investment into both their own provision and into placement capacity with health care settings.

“The Committee is right to call for the IfA to consider increasing the investment into nursing degree apprenticeships, and to support the progression of nurses into post-graduate specialisms. The government should heed the advice of the select committee and ensure that universities and the NHS have the resources they need to work together to provide the highest quality nursing workforce.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

• For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact Jayne Hope on 07527 336 795 or email press@millionplus.ac.uk.
• MillionPlus is the Association for Modern Universities in the UK, and the voice of 21st century higher education. We champion, promote and raise awareness of the essential role and impact of modern universities in the UK’s world-leading higher education sector. More information can be found at www.millionplus.ac.uk
• The Education Select Committee report is available at: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmeduc/1017/101702.htm
• What are modern universities? Modern universities are long established centres of higher education in their communities with roots that stretch back decades, if not centuries. Many gained university title following legislation agreed by parliament in 1992. They make up almost half of the UK university sector with over a million students studying at modern universities every year.
• Modern universities: key facts 2018