From hands-on skills to higher-level qualifications: how degree apprenticeships unlock growth
Ike Shackleton’s story starts with joining Westek Technology in 2016 as a computer support apprentice, growing his career step-by-step within the business and moving through various different roles to become the company’s Research and Development Engineer.
That internal progression matters, because it frames the degree apprenticeship for what it is in Ike’s case: not a “new job” move, but a structured way to build on years of experience and keep moving forward.
A major theme in Ike’s story is that apprenticeships aren’t only for school leavers and that this can be a surprise even to people already thriving at work.
“I’ve been at Westek since 2016. It hadn’t even occurred to me that doing an apprenticeship after being at work for a number of years would be a thing.”
The turning point came through a supportive workplace conversation with Wendy Dorkin, Head of Human Resources, spotting his potential and pointing him towards the right route.
“We’d been discussing additional training for a couple of years, and I’ve done a couple of smaller courses over that time. Then we found this degree apprenticeship and then found Newbury College.”
Ike is clear that the degree apprenticeship isn’t replacing what he’s already learned on the job, it’s strengthening it. He describes the value in a way many experienced employees will recognise: you become capable through doing, but formal learning helps you see the gaps and connect the dots.
“It’s building on the foundational skills that I’d already built through working at the company. It’s giving me the extra knowledge that I didn’t have. I’ve got a lot of hands-on skills and bits and pieces of knowledge, and this is just building on that foundation. Filling in the gaps that I wouldn’t have otherwise known I was missing.”
The programme, part of University Centre Newbury (UCN), combines academic study with practical experience and leads to a Level 6 degree with a BEng (Hons) awarded by Bournemouth University. UCN’s degree apprenticeship model explicitly supports the ‘stay in your job’ model: apprentices typically study one day a week while continuing their day job as paid employees, applying their learning in the workplace.
“I’ve really enjoyed working and having the hands-on practical experience that I’ve gained from working and then coming into the college environment. I’ve got support at work, so that if there’s any time I need for focusing on the studies that I’ve got to do for college, that’s available. It balances out really well.”
A core advantage of this route, especially for experienced employees, is that it supports progression without needing to relocate to access higher-level study. That principle is built into UCN’s offer: it positions higher education as a local solution for businesses and adults, delivered through university partnerships “without the need to relocate.”
Another theme Ike returns to is the value of learning with people outside his own organisation.
“Working with other engineers from different businesses, different environments… it gives me a broader understanding of the challenges and the technologies that they’re working with. We’ve got a couple of group projects, and working together on things is going to benefit all of us in the long run as well.”
Ike’s closing message is direct and perfectly sums up the case for apprenticeships for existing staff.
“Even if you’ve already been in a job for a while, an apprenticeship is still something to consider.”