Multiverse becomes first UK apprenticeship provider to award tech undergraduate degrees

Multiverse has become the first independent apprenticeship provider in the UK to grant its own undergraduate degrees, marking a new milestone in vocational education. 

This week, the first group of apprentices graduated from the company’s BSc in Digital and Technology Solutions (Data Analytics) program, with learners employed by organizations including Capita, Mars UK, and IHG Hotels and Resorts.

The degree apprenticeships form part of Multiverse’s Advanced Data Fellowship Level 6 program. Of the 850 participants enrolled in this program, this graduating cohort is the first to receive a Multiverse-awarded degree. According to the National Student Survey, Multiverse’s program has achieved an overall satisfaction rate of 89.5%, a score higher than other providers offering the same qualification.

Multiverse’s program supports employers looking to address data skills gaps and adapt to rapid technological changes. With more than half of the graduates earning promotions during their apprenticeship, and all of them gaining paid, practical experience, this program also offers an alternative to university fees.

The demographic makeup of Multiverse’s apprentices also reflects the program’s commitment to social mobility: around 50% of participants had not pursued higher education previously, and 30% come from backgrounds that meet socio-economic disadvantage criteria. Apprentices contributed to projects of business value during their training, including building an invoice-reading app and developing a dashboard that lowered failed project rates within hotel revenue systems.

One of the apprentices, Liam Cottrell of Mars UK, commented, “I was Mars’ first digital apprentice and I’ve been amazed at how much I’ve learnt throughout the process. Never thought I’d be able to build my own data pipeline to help with a work project, which I did as part of the data engineering module.”

Euan Blair, founder and CEO of Multiverse, added, “I couldn’t be prouder of the apprentices graduating today. CEOs tell me time and time again that they learnt their most important skills on the job, so giving learners the opportunity to apply practical skills to real-world projects is key. We set out to deliver degree-level apprenticeships at Multiverse not because of any attachment to the concept of a degree, but because we believed these programs could deliver real world value that accelerates careers, and delivers value to employers. These apprentices have proved that.”