Enhancing the degree apprenticeship curriculum through work-based manager and mentor intervention

Purpose Educational policy instruments such as apprenticeship levy and forthcoming lifetime skills guarantee are creating unprecedented opportunities for rapid growth in a range of work-based learning (WBL) programmes, requiring increasingly complex levels collaboration between providers employers. Apprenticeships require to assume responsibility ensuring apprentices’ managers mentors (WBMMs) equipped provide effective support individuals they learn ‘on the job’. After six years higher education institution (HEI) curriculum delivery, there is opportunity examine existing WBMM practice inform design, content delivery shared knowledge base via practical interactive toolkit. By developing clearer understanding WBMMs’ experiences, expectations challenges, study aims reduce potential gaps encourage more employers better apprentices progress through WBL programmes. Design/methodology/approach This paper discusses evolution level degree apprenticeships, explores guidance WBMMs investigates influence motivations WBMMS. Theoretical conceptual foundations relating programme role analysed discussed. Qualitative data drawn from semi-structured surveys thematically investigate common patterns, clarify identify development areas future university provider employer practice. Findings The findings suggest number themes improve apprentice management; further clarity role, greater involvement WBMM’s negotiated learning, unplanned experiences do add value scope richer mentoring dialogues. broader than expected, incorporating performance output improvements, solving problems. Research limitations/implications research an established with five experience. However, context which programmes delivered significantly varies according means factors other those highlighted this may continue emerge field develops. Practical implications can be used cultivate stronger collaboration, providing foundation intended provoke dialogue regarding signal need resources, review restrictions associated funding co-creation national framework. Originality/value builds on limited body examining employers’ perspectives management. Degree apprenticeships have attracted scholarly attention over since their inception (Bowman, 2022) resulting significant paucity that focuses upon role. addresses void by exploring requirements expectations, revealing new insights WBL, employed WBMMs.