DEGREE APPRENTICESHIPS Future-proofing government expertise through degree apprenticeships

Kate Deakin

Kate has served as Director of Apprenticeships at the University of the Built Environment for the past five years, leading the operations, delivery, and support functions of a department that oversees more than 2,600 apprentices currently on programme.

Flexible online delivery and long-standing academic expertise make the University of the Built Environment the partner of choice for public sector apprenticeships. Although focussing on central government, much of Kate’s article could equally apply to other public sector organiasetions. 

As government departments face growing skills shortages in specialist roles, many have turned to University of the Built Environment – formerly known as UCEM – to upskill their workforce and safeguard the expertise needed to deliver vital national services. 

With a century-long heritage in built environment education, the University is one of the UK’s leading providers of fully online, accredited degrees – supporting government departments, from the Ministry of Justice to the Department for Education, with flexible degree apprenticeships that lead directly to professional recognition. 

Building skills for national priorities 

The need is acute. Across government, departments face increasing pressure to deliver infrastructure, housing, sustainability goals and essential public services. Whether ensuring compliance with building regulations, managing the government estate, or valuing property for taxation, these responsibilities depend on a steady supply of skilled professionals across surveying, construction, environmental management and property disciplines. 

Angie Leggett, Level 6 Apprenticeship Development Consultant at the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), captures the challenge succinctly: 

“The nature of the VOA is that we need chartered surveyors to be able to carry out the work that the government wants us to do. We’re a government organisation, and the government has particular ways they like things to be done. 

“Our apprenticeship scheme means that we’re able to nurture our own talent and grow the number of chartered surveyors that we have within the agency – to keep that pipeline going and have the people that we need to deliver the government’s priorities.” 

For the VOA, as for many government departments, apprenticeships are not simply a route to workforce development, but a means of futureproofing critical skills. By nurturing their own pipeline of professionals, agencies can reduce reliance on an overstretched external market and build in-house expertise aligned with public sector needs. 

Why University of the Built Environment? 

That alignment between academic rigour and government need is at the core of the University’s apprenticeship offering. Its fully online, supported learning model gives both employers and apprentices the flexibility and control they need to succeed – enabling learners to work full-time while progressing towards professional accreditation. 

The University is unique in combining a century of subject expertise with an entirely digital delivery model. This approach ensures national reach: apprentices can be based anywhere in England while accessing a consistent, high-quality academic experience. 

Meryl Bonser, Director of Business Development at the University, explains: 

“We have been the lead academic provider of Chartered Surveyor degrees for government departments and agencies for many decades. Our flexible, online degrees allow for in-work upskilling to a RICS-accredited degree that is the gateway to Membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. The arrival of degree apprenticeships meant that there was increased demand for our existing provision.” 

That demand has only grown. Today, the University works with numerous departments and agencies, including the Government Property Agency, Defra, the Environment Agency, the Ministry of Defence and its Defence Infrastructure Organisation, the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Justice, the Department for Education and the VOA. 

A model designed for public service 

The University’s apprenticeships cover a wide range of disciplines: 

• Real Estate 

• Building Control 

• Construction Site Management 

• Quantity Surveying 

• Architectural Design Technology. 

Each programme is accredited by professional bodies such as RICS, Chartered Institute of Building and Chartered Association of Building Engineers, ensuring that apprentices graduate with qualifications directly recognised across the sector. For government employers, this provides assurance that their workforce is meeting national and industry standards. 

Crucially, the online model is tailored to the realities of public sector work. Apprentices can balance their studies alongside demanding roles, supported by a dedicated apprenticeship outcomes officer, academic tutors, online learning resources, and a structured virtual learning environment. 

This approach has enabled the University to deliver apprenticeships at scale for large employers, while maintaining the personalised support needed for individual learners to succeed. 

Diversity and social mobility 

Degree apprenticeships are also helping government to widen access and attract talent from more diverse backgrounds. Unlike traditional routes into surveying or property, apprenticeships combine employment with funded study – removing barriers for those unable to afford full-time university education. 

Apprenticeships are uniquely placed to help people into professions that may previously have seemed inaccessible. They enable individuals from different socio-economic backgrounds to earn while they learn, avoiding debt while gaining a degree and a professional accreditation. 

This has particular significance for public sector organisations, which are committed to equality of opportunity in recruitment. Apprenticeships open the door for talented individuals who might not otherwise have entered the profession, bringing fresh perspectives into government departments. 

A case in point is Rachel Harwood, whose journey into higher education began when she was a newly single mum aged 37 and “couldn’t find a job that would pay me more than £14,000”.  She now works as a project manager for the South and East Lincolnshire Council Partnership and enrolled on a Masters Apprenticeship with the University. For her, the combination of work and study was transformative, observing that “there are no real barriers to learning because it’s online, it’s funded. It’s really an opportunity on a plate.” 

Stories like Rachel’s demonstrate the wider societal value of apprenticeships: creating career pathways, widening participation and ensuring that public sector organisations reflect the communities they serve. 

Meeting future challenges 

The built environment is at the heart of many of the challenges facing government: delivering net zero targets, ensuring building safety, managing national infrastructure, and maintaining an efficient government estate. Each requires specialist skills and a pipeline of professionals able to operate at the highest standards. 

University of the Built Environment’s apprenticeship programmes are designed with these challenges in mind. Modules address not only core technical skills, but also the broader competencies needed for modern public service: sustainability, digital construction, regulatory compliance and professional ethics. 

By embedding these themes into its curriculum, the University ensures that apprentices are equipped to contribute to government priorities from day one – and to develop as leaders capable of guiding the public sector through future change. 

A partnership for the long term 

What makes the model particularly powerful is the sustained partnership between the University and its government employers. Programmes are developed collaboratively, with departments shaping content to reflect their operational needs, and the University ensuring academic and professional standards. 

This partnership extends beyond the delivery of courses. The University maintains ongoing dialogue with professional bodies, ensuring that its programmes align with evolving industry expectations and that government apprentices are always on the path to recognised accreditation. 

For the apprentices themselves, the experience provides more than just a qualification. They become part of a community of practice, joining peers across government and industry who are working towards the same professional standards. 

Safeguarding expertise for the nation 

As public sector organisations grapple with tight budgets, competing priorities and demands for updated skillsets, apprenticeships provide a cost-effective and sustainable solution. They enable departments to invest in their people, reduce reliance on external recruitment, and secure the expertise needed to deliver for the public. 

For University of the Built Environment, the mission is clear: to continue supporting government departments with the flexible, rigorous education needed to develop the next generation of surveyors, managers and environmental professionals. 

Apprenticeships are about more than training. They are about building capability across government, ensuring that essential services are delivered by people with the skills, knowledge and professional recognition they need. We are proud to play our part in supporting that mission. 

Conclusion 

The University’s century-long track record, coupled with its pioneering online model, makes it a unique partner for the public sector. By combining flexibility, professional accreditation and a commitment to widening access, it is helping government departments to meet today’s challenges while preparing for tomorrow’s. 

From the VOA to Defra, from the Ministry of Justice to the Cabinet Office, departments across Whitehall are harnessing apprenticeships to futureproof their workforce. And at the centre of that effort is University of the Built Environment: ensuring that government expertise is not only maintained but strengthened for generations to come. 

To find out more visit www.ube.ac.uk/employers or email businessdevelopment@ube.ac.uk